MEd in Special Education (With IR and Cert)
MEd in special education programs help current teachers learn more about the special education field. If you choose a program with institutional recommendation (IR)/certification, you’ll have an easier road to becoming a special education teacher.
An MEd in special education degree program is perfect for those who want to practice in this field, rather than do research. Public schools require teachers to be certified in most locations, and in many states, private and religious schools strongly prefer certified teachers, even if the laws in that state don’t require it. Programs that prepare you for certification ensure that you receive the required number of hours both in the classroom and as a student teacher.
After completing an MEd in special education program that includes IR/certification, you’ll be prepared to work as a special education teacher. While many master’s degree programs do not ask you to specify, you typically have three main educational choices – early childhood, elementary, or secondary. Most teachers stick to the level they were teaching prior to earning their MEd in this field, whether they were teaching special education students or not. You can expect to earn about $10,000 per year more with your MEd in special education when compared to your salary as a typical teacher with a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, having your master’s degree qualifies you for administrative or leadership positions, giving you the opportunity to earn even more in this field.
Before you enter an MEd program, you must first have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and, at most colleges, a valid teaching certificate (though it does not have to be in special education). Your MEd program will include both classroom work, with courses such as developmental/education psychology, curriculum development, and behavior modification, and student teaching, where you’ll get hands-on experience with students. Most MEd programs also require you to complete a thesis project as the capstone to your education.
Online MEd in Special Education Degrees
Concordia University, Portland — MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Special Education- Graceland University — MEd in Mild /Moderate Special Education
- Grand Canyon University — MEd in Special Education (With IR and Cert)
- Liberty University — MEd in Teaching and Learning – Special Education
- Southern New Hampshire University — MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Special Education
- University of Cincinnati — MEd in Special Education
