The Master of Arts degree in Special Education builds upon the competencies developed in the Preliminary Education Specialist and Induction Education Specialist Credential programs. This degree is designed to prepare graduates for positions of leadership, advocacy and scholarship in schools, the community and within the overall profession of special education. Toward this end, faculty members facilitate the development of student competencies in reflective dialogue, presentations and written avenues of expression. The Special Education department at CSUN is committed to preparing educators who advocate for and provide service to students with all levels of support needs. Our program strives to dismantle systems that categorize, segregate, or limit student expectations on the basis of perceived disability label, level of support need, assumptions about language access or cultural/linguistic background, with special attention to multiply-marginalized students. In this way, we prepare educators to be strength-based service providers and advocates who focus on adaptation of the learning environment and materials to meet the support needs of each student and their family.