Mastering Special Education: Requirements and Curriculum for a Master's Degree

A Master of Arts in Special Education is a graduate-level program designed to provide professional educators with advanced knowledge and specialized skills necessary to support students with disabilities. This article explores the requirements, curriculum, and various specializations available within a Master of Arts in Special Education program, offering a comprehensive overview for prospective students.

Understanding the Master of Arts in Special Education

The Master of Arts degree in Special Education provides the professional educator with advanced knowledge and skills in special education. This degree empowers educators to become expert practitioners, equipped with the advanced knowledge and skills to foster inclusive and supportive learning environments. This degree has many requirements in common with the Education Specialist Clear/Induction Credentials in Special Education and may be earned concurrently with those credentials.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the M.A. typically include a prerequisite course, such as SPED 527, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 from credential and undergraduate studies.

Program Structure and Credit Requirements

To receive the Master of Arts in Special Education, students must complete 30-31 units. Completion of 30 credits, including 21 core credits and 9 credits from a concentration, is required to earn your master’s degree.

Curriculum Overview

Coursework will provide you with a critical foundation in special education, including coursework on collaboration, law, intervention, assessment, and research practices. The curriculum often includes courses that cover procedures for gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information; reviewing the literature; and designing studies.

SPED 681A & SPED 681B: These courses often involve intensive study in selected areas of education, culminating in a written project.
Educational Foundations: Courses covering educational legislation, theories, philosophies, research findings, issues, and trends in the area of exceptionality.
Cultural Pluralism: Exploration of historical and philosophical perspectives of cultural pluralism in special education and programs related to diverse students with disabilities.
Curricular Approaches and Instructional Needs: Research on curricular approaches and instructional needs.

Culminating Experience Options

In general, applicants will be programmed for Plan B, the seminar plan. After the student is approximately halfway through the program, has secured an adviser, and established a thesis plan, permission to transfer to Plan A may be requested. Plan A is designed for students who have a particular research problem they wish to investigate in some detail.

Students will be required to complete one of the following options for the approved culminating experience, following advancement to candidacy:

Option 1: SPED 890: Culminating Experience Seminar One graduate seminar outside of the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.
Option 2: SPED 894 Creative Work Project in Special Education One graduate seminar outside the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.
Option 3: SPED 898 Master's Thesis One graduate seminar outside the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.

Specialization and Concentration Areas

Many Master of Arts in Special Education programs offer various concentrations to allow students to specialize in a specific area of interest.

Special Education Administration: The Special Education Administration concentration focuses on leadership roles in special education at the school- and district-levels.
Autism: The Autism concentration focuses on providing students with an understanding of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ways to positively engage them in the classroom. Students will learn a basic overview of ASD and potential interventions that may be used to both teach new and change existing behavior using evidence-based methods of applied behavior analysis.
Deaf Education: The Deaf Education concentration prepares educators to support the diverse linguistic, academic, and social needs of deaf and hard of hearing students in P-12 settings. Through this concentration, students will explore aspects of educational settings, Deaf culture, and communication strategies while gaining foundational knowledge of speech and language development. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based instruction, assessment, and curriculum development specifically designed for deaf and hard of hearing learners.
Early Childhood Special Education: The concentration in Early Childhood Special Education focuses on the education of infants and toddlers with disabilities. This interest area focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to lead and collaborate in a variety of early childhood settings that include young children with disabilities. This includes settings in which children are receiving special education services through early intervention (birth-age 3) as well as within early childhood education programs (preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten).
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: The Emotional and Behavioral Disorders concentration focuses on the design of educational services for individuals with emotional and/or behavioral conditions (EBD), which adversely affect their educational performance.
Intense Interventions: The Intense Interventions concentration focuses on the education of children and youth with intense intervention needs. Students will gain experience in academic and behavioral assessment, evidence-based instructional methods and intervention, and designing legally defensible IEPs tailored to the unique needs of students with intense intervention needs.
Mild Interventions: The Mild Interventions concentration focuses on the education of children and youth with high incidence disabilities who require mild to moderate academic and behavioral intervention and supports. Students will be prepared to make data-based instructional and programmatic decisions within an MTSS framework.
Visual Impairments: This interest area prepares professionals to teach people of all ages who have visual impairments (including those with multiple disabilities) how to navigate their environment safely and efficiently using a white cane or effective use of residual vision. The curriculum includes such things as independent travel in indoor and outdoor environments; sensory and motor development; daily living skills; use of low vision, GPS, and other electronic devices in travel. This interest area prepares personnel to empower a diverse range of blind and low vision students and their families. This diversity ranges in age from birth to 22 years and is inclusive of those with additional disabilities including deafblindness. Our program commits to culturally responsive pedagogy as aligned with principles of anti-racism and anti-ableism. Graduates are prepared to bridge current evidence-based literature with practice-oriented instructional strategies that are focused on promoting students' access to core and expanded core curriculum areas while emphasizing barrier-free membership in school, home, and community settings.
Learners with Mild to Moderate Support Needs: This interest area is designed to provide professionals with the knowledge and skills to educate learners with mild to moderate support needs from diverse backgrounds who have a range of learning, developmental, social and emotional needs.
Learners with Extensive Support Needs: Candidates in this interest area must demonstrate their competence in providing quality educational services to students with extensive support needs (e.g., moderate/severe disabilities) including access to standards-based academic curricula and the use of systematic, data-based approaches to instruction and models of curricular adaptation and social supports. Competencies in supporting students in inclusive settings, interacting effectively with families of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and in developing educational goals using a transdisciplinary team approach are also essential components of the program emphasis.

Core Program Courses

The core program typically includes foundational courses essential for all special education professionals.

SPED 788 Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning:3 units

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Select One:3 units
- ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research
- SPED 881 Research in Special Education
Select One:3 units
- SPED 747 Physical Disabilities and Sensory Impairments
- SPED 779 Family-Centered Practices and Services for Young Children with Disabilities
- SPED 801 Development, Diversity, and English Language Learners: Special Education
SPED 779 is recommended for students interested in early childhood special education. SPED 747 is recommended for students interested in working in the area of orientation & mobility needs.

Additional Course Examples

Behavioral Intervention Strategies and Applied Behavior Analysis: This course prepares special education teachers to work effectively with students exhibiting challenging behaviors, with a focus on students with behavioral and emotional exceptionalities. This course provides an overview of behavior disorders and their characteristics, as well as appropriate research-based intervention strategies, including positive behavior intervention and supports, multitiered systems of support (MTSS), applied behavior analysis, replacement behavior, and reinforcement strategies, culturally responsive practices, and data collection and assessment methods. This course also examines behavioral assessment and analysis, functional behavior assessment (FBA), and the creation and monitoring of behavioral improvement plans (BIP) that can be implemented in an authentic learning environment.
Special Education Law, Policies, and Procedures: This course prepares special education teachers to practice within legal and ethical guidelines as they navigate the Special Education processes, stakeholder interactions, and other complex situations. This course provides an overview of the professional ethics and professional practice standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), which guides candidates to act in a professionally conscientious manner. Candidates will explore special education legal foundations and case laws to apply legal foundations and ethical practices in special education process compliance.
Assessment for Special Education: This course prepares special education teachers to use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions concerning the student and their learning environment. This course is designed to help provide an understanding of how assessment data is used during screening in multitiered systems of support (MTSS), the eligibility process, the evaluation process, progress monitoring, and data-based instructional decision making.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Collaboration and Communication with Parents and School Staff: This course prepares special education teachers to collaborate effectively with parents, school staff, and other professionals to plan programs and access services for students with exceptionalities. This includes applying culturally responsive communication strategies within school, educational settings, and the community.
Special Education Curriculum: This course is designed for candidates who plan to teach in a special education program at any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12.
Considerations for Instructional Planning for Learners: This course is designed to introduce special education teachers to a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance the learning of students with exceptionalities.
Elementary Literacy and Mathematics Strategies and Assistive Technologies: This course prepares special education teachers to use progress monitoring and evidence-based instructional practices appropriate for elementary students with exceptionalities.
Secondary Literacy and Mathematics Strategies and Assistive Technologies: This course prepares special education teachers to use progress monitoring and evidence-based instructional practices appropriate for use with secondary students with exceptionalities.
Early Literacy Methods: This course offers an in-depth exploration of the foundational concepts and practices essential for promoting literacy development in early childhood through the science of reading. Emphasizing the critical development in grades PK to third grade, the curriculum covers topics such as phonemic awareness, language acquisition, and emergent reading and writing skills. Candidates learn how to create stimulating and inclusive literacy environments, use developmentally appropriate materials, and engage with a variety of high-quality core instruction as part of Tier 1 multi-tiered systems of support and assessment (MTSS) suited to the various needs of young learners, including learners with dyslexia. Additionally, the course incorporates the latest research in early childhood literacy focusing on the science of reading and best practices for how children learn to read and write.
Elementary Mathematics Curriculum: This course provides the essential mathematical concepts suitable for young learners, including numbers, operations, and algebraic thinking, spanning through the domains of geometry, measurement, data, statistics, and probability. Emphasis is placed on engaging with a curriculum that not only aligns with educational standards but also nurtures a love for mathematics.
Early Mathematics Methods and Interventions: This course emphasizes innovative and research-based teaching methods for developing mathematical understanding in young children, particularly in the crucial developmental stages in PK through the early elementary grades Participants will explore a variety of instructional strategies to support conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in areas such as number sense, basic operations, and early problem-solving skills. A significant aspect of the course involves identifying and addressing learning needs through targeted interventions, personalized instruction, and the use of manipulatives and digital tools. The curriculum also highlights the importance of creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment that encourages exploration and curiosity in mathematics.
Elementary Literacy Curriculum: This course explores critical elements of the science of reading and writing, including applying key theories and research used to support the development of literacy, evaluating diverse resources, and utilizing purposeful oral, written, and digital communication in elementary curriculum. Candidates delve into the foundational aspects of literacy, including phonological awareness, phonics, word analysis, fluency, and comprehension, while also gaining insights into how these elements shape and influence literacy development. This dynamic course empowers educators to create a solid foundation for students' literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading and writing within diverse learning environments.
Elementary Literacy Methods: This course reviews the fundamental principles of literacy education through science of reading, but takes a more specialized focus on vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and the deeply complex literacy skills developed in grades 4 to 6. Candidates explore a variety of instructional approaches and materials tailored to support all learners in the elementary classroom, including learners with dyslexia.
Foundations of Literacy through Literature: This course delves into the role of varied and age-appropriate literary works in the science of reading to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities in learners. Students examine a broad range of genres to understand how different texts can be used to enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. This analysis allows the candidate to not only successfully integrate literature into meaningful instruction, but it is designed to cultivate a deep appreciation for reading itself. The curriculum emphasizes interactive and creative teaching strategies to engage learners effectively and integrate culture into their literacy instruction. The candidate is given real-world examples for how to create an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates different perspectives through quality text.
Literacy Assessment and Interventions: This course reviews the science of reading associated with a wide range of assessments and techniques used to evaluate reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students learn to administer and interpret assessments, using the data to identify specific literacy needs and learning gaps. A significant focus of the course is on designing and implementing targeted intervention strategies to support student learning in areas, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary development.
Elementary Mathematics Methods and Interventions: This course focuses on practical, research-supported strategies for teaching essential mathematical concepts, including number operations, geometry, measurement, and data analysis. This course includes resources for all elementary grade levels with a significant focus on grades 3 to 6. Participants learn to identify and assess students' mathematical understanding, create different…
Student Teaching I: This course provides a supervised classroom experience in a real-world setting, allowing candidates to demonstrate and reflect upon professional ethics and dispositions, collaborate with experienced teachers, and implement instructional strategies rooted in students' learning and developmental patterns.

Program Delivery Methods

Master of Arts in Special Education programs are offered through various delivery methods to accommodate different student needs.

Online Programs: Ball State University’s 100 percent online Master of Arts in Special Education prepares you for numerous employment opportunities to serve children and adults with disabilities. Designed for busy professionals, our flexible online program allows you to advance your career while balancing your personal and professional commitments.
Traditional Face-to-Face Programs
Hybrid Programs: The NC State M.Ed. degree in special education has great flexibility in that the courses are delivered online, face-to-face, hybrid (i.e., online and face-to-face), and through Distance Education (i.e., off-campus at nearby schools).

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a Master of Arts in Special Education are prepared for a variety of roles in the field.

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Special Education Teacher: Make a difference in K-12 classrooms as a special education teacher.
Leadership Roles: The Special Education Administration concentration focuses on leadership roles in special education at the school- and district-levels.
Non-Certification Roles: This graduate degree will prepare you for roles that do not require certification in K-12 special education.

Accreditation

Accreditation ensures that the program meets certain standards of quality. WGU's program is accredited by both AAQEP and CAEP, ensuring that you receive a quality education that is recognized nationwide.

Financial Considerations

It's important to understand the expenses associated with your education. Ball State University encourages you to utilize their cost calculator to gauge the anticipated cost of your education to plan for your future. Tuition charged per term-rather than per credit-helps you control the ultimate cost of earning your teaching degree online. Academic Tuition Waiver Information: Tuition reduction through Aan academic tuition waiver is available depending on applicant eligibility and need.

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