Bermuda Partnership
The Special Education Online Bermuda Programme is a graduate level offering for educators wishing to develop expertise in designing and implementing educational programs and services for Bermudian school children requiring mild to moderate support.
In partnership with the Bermuda Ministry of Education and Bermuda College, Miami University provides a pathway for Bermudians to earn a State of Ohio initial certification and a master degree in Special Education.
The program prepares and develops Intervention Specialists who can:
- Identify and support learners with all types of developmental differences in the Mild to Moderate range
- Collaborate effectively with students, family members, colleagues and community members for best outcomes for students
- Interpret assessment data effectively and pair this with personal knowledge of students as individuals to design the best educational instruction, strategies
and supports that optimize learning outcomes and social interactions - Advocate for socially just practices in schools with a deep awareness of issues of dis/ability, race, class, gender and sexuality and the ways in which they may impact identification of and/or service delivery for children
- Demonstrate leadership in the field for promoting productive changes consistent with social change and growth
Program Curriculum Tracks
The program offers five* curricular tracks:
- For candidates seeking their first teaching credential
- May include 14 courses, counting a 16-week supervised field experience (49 credit hours)
- Can be completed in 2 years
- For candidates holding teaching credentials in any other discipline
- May include 13 courses (37 credit hours)
- Can be completed in fewer than 2 years
- For candidates holding teaching credentials as intervention specialists or candidates seeking alternative licensure
- May include 10 courses (30 credit hours)
- Can be completed in fewer than 2 years
- For candidates holding teaching credentials in any other discipline, and who only wish to add intervention specialist license
- May include 9 courses (25 credit hours)
- Can be completed within a year
*Students in the Bermuda partnership who do not hold a teaching credential in another discipline but do not wish to earn a master's degree may pursue the Licensure only option above if they complete a student teaching semester. All tracks that include licensure include the necessary coursework to apply for an Ohio, USA K-12 Mild-Moderate Intervention Specialist teaching license.
Course Format
Coursework is primarily web-based and asynchronous utilizing a web-based course management system and audio/video conferencing. Courses also include three live, synchronous sessions per semester. Live sessions are on a weekend morning or weekday evening and generally occur once a month. They provide students
Attractive Features
- Live course meetings held in a Bermuda College classroom with other special education students
- Pathway to license and degree available to students without previous teacher education training
- Faculty offer a mix of exceptionally strong commitment to teaching with extensive special ed practitioner experience
- Practicum placements will be made in Bermuda and supervised locally
Admission
Prospective students interested in joining a future cohort are first encouraged to submit an inquiry form. Formal program application recommendations will be made after receipt of the inquiry form.
Prospective students may refer questions locally to Romeo Ruddock, Programme Coordinator of External Programmes at Bermuda College.