MA in Special Education / Teaching – Sp. Ed. – Masters in Special Education

MA in Special Education / Teaching – Sp. Ed.

If you have an interest in special education, there are a number of educational paths you could pursue. A master of arts (MA) in special education is a good choice for students interested in a special education research career.

An MA in special education allows you to pursue study in a specific area of special education. While this degree won’t prepare you for a teaching career, you will be able to work in special education research, allowing you to have an impact on educational policy and law. This degree also allows you to pursue further education through a PhD program.

As a graduate with an MA in special education, you could work in administration, curriculum development, educational psychology research, and more. Some programs also allow you to go through student teaching so you can work as a practicing teacher in special education. Typically, if you’re getting an MA in special education, you come from a non-teaching background, so you’ll qualify for entry-level special education teaching jobs at both public and private schools. (If you’re a teacher already, you may want to instead consider an MEd program, which focuses more on education and qualifies you for advanced teaching or education administration positions.) The average starting salary with a master’s degree in special education is $40,000 to $50,000 annually for teachers, and you can generally expect to make more as a researcher in this field, depending on your employer.

In order to enter an MA degree program in this field, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as special education or psychology. Some programs also require you to have experience working in the field, and most require you to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The classes you’ll take as part of an MA in special education program will focus more on research than learning to teach, and most colleges require MA students to complete and present a thesis paper on a special education topic of interest.

Online MA in Special Education / Teaching Degrees

Ashford University — MA in Special Education (non-licensure)
Liberty University Online — MA in Special Education
Walden University — MA in Special Education: Behavioral Disorders
Walden University — MA in Special Education: Learning Disabilities

Top Master of Special Education Degrees

Special education is teaching that caters to the individual differences of students with special needs, including autism, communication difficulties, developmental disorders, learning difficulties, emotional disorders, and physical disabilities. Teachers of special education programs are usually required to have a master's degree in teaching, education, or special ed. The following schools each offer online degrees in these subjects.

MS: Special Ed (K-12 Non-Lic.) MA: Sp Edu Behavioral Disorders MA: Sp Edu Learning Disabilities More Degrees...	Walden University – The Walden University Master of Science in Special Education (K-12) degree program infuses the latest in neuroscience, assessment, and intervention training to offer a students a unique learning environment. Graduates are able to successfully touch the lives of young people throughout the field of special education. Related degrees offered online by Walden include the MA in special education for behavioral disorders, MA in special education for learning disabilities, and PhD in special education
MA: Teaching Special Edu w/Lic. MEd: Special Edu w/Lic.	Liberty University – At Liberty University's Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education program (M.Ed. also available), teachers are prepared to pass the following endorsements: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education. The Advanced Master of Education degree likewise prepares graduates for a license in and Administration/Supervision, School Counseling, and Program Specialization.
MS: Special Education	Saint Joseph's University – Saint Joseph's University MS in Special Education program provides students an on-demand online master's program in special education designed for teachers that currently hold a Level 1 early childhood/elementary teaching certificate, are already certified in special education , or desire a master's degree in education.
MEd: Special Edu (With Cert) MEd: Special Edu (No Cert) More Degrees...	Grand Canyon University – The MED in Special Education (with certification or without certification) from Grand Canyon University provides current teachers advanced training in teaching students with special needs. The curriculum is designed around the idea that students with disabilities deserve the same opportunities in education as traditional students. GCU also offers an MED in Special Education for those who are already certified to teach special ed.
MEd: Exceptional Student Edu EdD: Exceptional Student Edu PhD: Exceptional Student Edu	Northcentral University – Northcentral University offers one master's level degree in special education and two doctorate degrees in special education. Their Master of Education in exceptional student education prepares its students for teaching and working with individuals who may suffer from a variety of disabilities, whether behavioral, learning, mental, or physical. Two related doctorate programs are the Doctor of Education in exceptional student education and the PhD in Education with a concentration in exceptional student education.
MSEd: Inclusion Education	University of New England – The University of New England's MSEd in Inclusion Education degree program provides classroom teachers and school administrators with knowledge of critical theories and practices pertaining to special education inclusion. Upon completion of this program, graduates will have a thorough grasp of the latest research in the field of special education.