2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Special Education

St. John’s University is a private, nonprofit, Catholic faith-based institution offering an online Master of Science in Education - Teaching Children with Disabilities in Childhood Education (1-6) for students holding current New York State teaching certification. Students must complete 33 semester credit hours and a 150-hour practicum to graduate, which may take two years of full-time attendance.

St. John’s delivers online course content and instruction via the Blackboard learning management system (LMS). Distance learners use Blackboard to participate in classes within the Teaching Children with Disabilities curricula, such as Curriculum Adaptation and Modification Planning for Exceptional Students, Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Supports in K-12, and Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities. Students must also pass a comprehensive exam to graduate.

California State University - Fullerton (CSUF) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Special Education. This 21-month program requires completing 30 semester credit hours to graduate. Students generally take two or three courses in each of the four semesters, and there is also a summer session. They can concentrate on Individuals with Mild/Moderate Disabilities or Individuals with Moderate/Severe Disabilities.

CSUF uses Canvas as its chosen LMS for asynchronous and synchronous online curriculum delivery. Distance learners in the special education master’s program enroll in courses such as Positive Behavior Support, Current Trends/Issues in Special Education, Research Methods and Statistics, and Advanced Proficiency in Educational Technologies. Students can also choose to complete a thesis, project, or comprehensive exam.

The University of Washington - Seattle (UW) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education - Applied Behavior Analysis. Students complete 45 quarter credit hours to graduate, which takes approximately two years of full-time attendance. Credit hours include completing the coursework requirements to sit for tor the Board Certified Behavior Analysts exam. Classes are sequential and require starting the program at the beginning of the school year.

UW distance learners in this program participate synchronously in classes via Canvas. Classes are scheduled late in the afternoons to accommodate most schedules. Students participate in courses such as History and Philosophy of ABA, Designing Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Analysts in Schools, and Supervision in ABA. Completing a comprehensive exam and practicum is also required.

National University (NU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education - Special Education with accelerated four-week courses enabling students to start at any time throughout the year. Graduating in this emphasis area requires completing 45 quarter credit hours, which may take full-time students less than two years.

NU delivers online coursework and instruction via the Brightspace LMS. Students in the special education program can choose from classes such as Effective Classroom and Behavior Management, Assessment and Intervention, Transition/Community Resources, and Collaborative Partners. They must also complete experiential learning and a research project to graduate. However, some may be eligible to choose a guided study option instead.

Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, Catholic faith-based institution offering an online Master of Science in Teaching - Childhood Special Education for those seeking initial teaching certification for grades 1-6. Students must complete 45 quarter credit hours to graduate, which takes a little over two years of full-time attendance. Those interested in teaching younger children may opt for Fordham’s online Master of Science in Teaching - Early Childhood Special Education.

Fordham provides distance learners with Blackboard so they can complete coursework 100% online. Courses in the childhood special education program include Children’s Literature In a Multicultural Society, Literacy Across The Curriculum In Inclusive Classrooms, and Integrating Technology Into Elementary Education. To graduate, students must also take Reflective Practice and Field Experience In an Inclusive Childhood Classroom.

Located in New York City's Upper West Side, the Bank Street College of Education (BSCE) is a private, nonprofit school offering an online Master of Education in Childhood Special Education to work with children in grades 1 through 6 with diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, which generally takes full-time students two years. Additionally, Bank Street offers an online Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education to work with younger children.

BSCE delivers its online programming via the Canvas learning management system. However, students may also use web conferencing platforms to participate in weekly group activities. Childhood special education distance learners take courses such as Approaches to Teaching Decoding to Diverse Students, Developmental Variations, and Integrating Technology into the Curriculum in Inclusive and Special Education Settings. Field experience is also required to graduate.

Touro University (TU) in New York is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Education & Special Education - Childhood Education and Special Education, Grades 1-6, which is identical to TU's on-campus program. Students complete 36 credits to graduate, which typically takes two years of full-time enrollment.

Other options include an online Master of Science in Education & Special Education - Early Childhood Education and Special Education, Birth-Grade 2 as well as an online Master of Science in Education & Special Education - Teaching Students with Disabilities, Grades 7-12.

TU uses the platform Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction asynchronously to suit diverse schedules. Students in the online childhood education and special education program participate in classes such as Child Development and Learning in Cultural Context, Introduction to Teaching Students with Disabilities, and Educational Technology in General and Special Education.

Honolulu's University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education - Interdisciplinary for graduate candidates, allowing them to work with faculty advisors to individualize coursework based on previous education, work experience, and career aspirations. Graduating requires completing 31 credits, which typically takes two years of full-time study.

An online Master of Education in Special Education - Literacy Specialist is also offered for students interested in developing expertise in the area of literacy.

UHM's distance learners access asynchronous coursework and instruction via Sakai (Laulima). Those enrolled in the special education leadership and research program engage with each other in a range of online classes, such as Issues in Special Education (Foundations), Special Education Leadership, and Issues in Special Education (Evidence-Based Practices). A research practicum is also required to graduate.

At the heart of our nation's capital, George Washington University (GWU) is a private institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in Interdisciplinary Secondary Transition Services to help prepare graduate candidates to work with youth who have disabilities as well as at-risk youth transitioning to high school, college, and work life. Students complete 36 credits to graduate, which takes about two years of full-time enrollment.

Additionally, GWU offers an online Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in Special Education for Cultural Responsiveness and Equity in Teaching for those interested in working with students whose diversity and exceptionalities impact their success in school.

GWU delivers its online curriculum via the platform Blackboard. Interdisciplinary secondary transition services distance learners take courses such as Universal Design for Learning Assessment, Leadership in Disability Public Policy, Culturally Responsive Curriculum in Special Education, and Person-Centered Career Development Practices and Outcomes. Students also complete a community-based internship to graduate.

Washington State University (WSU) is a public institution in Pullman offering an online Master of Education (EdM) in Special Education through its Global Campus for educational professionals eager for career advancement to pursue leadership roles. All program instructors have experience teaching K-12 students with disabilities, including autism spectrum and emotional/behavioral disorders. Graduating requires completing at least 35 credits, generally taking about two years of full-time study.

WSU uses Canvas for online coursework and instruction delivery. Special education distance learners complete courses such as Professional Skills in Special Education, Education of Exceptional Children, Social Foundations of Education, and Inclusion Strategies for Special Education Teachers. Students pursuing a special endorsement must take a course called Special Problems as part of the required curriculum.

Virginia's George Mason University (GMU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education, with tracks in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that do not require field experience or a prior degree in an education-related field. These 30-credit programs take full-time students two years to complete and help students prepare for certification specific to their chosen study track.

GMU delivers its online programming via the Blackboard learning management system. Depending on their course of study, students in the online master's degree program in special education take courses such as Characteristics of Individuals with Autism, Interventions for Individuals with Autism, Philosophical and Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis, and Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysis. A research capstone is required to graduate.

Rowan University (RU) in New Jersey is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Special Education so new and continuing teachers can develop the advanced skills needed to meet the educational, psychological, and sociological needs of children and youth with disabilities. Students can choose from three tracks: (1) Graduate Endorsement, (2) Learning Disabilities, and (3) Early Childhood Special Education. Graduating requires completing between 30 and 36 credits, which may be done in five to seven semesters if attending full time.

RU uses Canvas to deliver its online curriculum to distance learners. Depending on the track chosen, those enrolled in the online master's program in special education complete courses such as Implementing Positive Behavior Strategies, Technologies for Students with Disabilities, Neurological Basis of Educational Disorders, and Methods for Assessing and Teaching Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities.

Located outside of Atlanta, the University of West Georgia (UWG) is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Special Education. Students can choose from a General Curriculum track to work with children with mild disabilities and an Adapted Curriculum track to work with students who experience moderate to severe disabilities. This 33-credit program takes approximately two years if enrolled full time. Students must be able to complete the year-long internship required for program completion within the state of Georgia.

UWG uses CourseDen to deliver online coursework and instruction. Depending on the track students choose, special education distance learners may take courses such as Classroom Behavior Management, Assessment of Students with Severe Disabilities, Educational Characteristics of Learners: Mild Disabilities, and Behavioral Strategies for Students with Severe Disabilities. Additionally, a comprehensive exam is required to graduate.

Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Education - Gifted Education to help current educators and administrators strengthen skills in areas such as curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This part-time program requires completing 33 credits, which can take some students as few as two years. The program adheres to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and the Council for Exceptional Children and Completion (CECC) standards.

JHU delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Students enrolled in the online gifted education master's program participate in courses such as Creativity in Education, The Gifted Learner, Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted, and Twice Exceptional Learners. Students not pursuing state certification also take Research in Gifted Education and Talent Development instead of a practicum.

New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public institution outside the city offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education with an endorsement in Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD). Graduating requires completing 33 credits, which generally takes full-time students at least two years. Students must pass a comprehensive or Praxis II exam at the end of the program in order to graduate. NJCU also offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education - Autism Specialization as an alternative option in this field.

NJCU’s distance learners access online instruction and coursework via Blackboard. The online MAT in Special Education program courses include Emotional and Behavior Disorders in Children and Youth, Teaching The Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders in School and at Home, Advanced Procedures for Teaching Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Corrective Techniques for Teaching the Exceptional Student.

The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public institution located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex offering an online Master of Education in Special Education: Autism Intervention to help prepare graduate candidates for roles as classroom teachers, autism specialists, and coordinators/case managers of home-based family services. Graduating requires completing 33 credits, which may take full-time students as few as 15 months.

Additionally, UNT offers an online Master of Education in Special Education: Educational Diagnostician.

UNT uses Canvas to deliver its online curriculum to distance learners. Online autism intervention students enroll in courses such as Supporting High-Functioning Students with Autism in General Education, Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Positive Behavioral Interventions in Educational and Related Settings. Passing a master's comprehensive exam is also required to graduate.

With two campuses in Texas, Midwestern State University (MSU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education. Students can choose between non-educational and educational diagnostician pathways (certification) paths. They may also choose between non-Texas and dyslexia emphasis certification options. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, which generally takes full-time students two years.

MSU delivers its online program content via Desire2Learn (D2L). Depending on the pathway and certification option, special education distance learners take courses such as Teaching Strategies for Affective Disorders; Ethics and Practice Standards in Special Education; Special Education Law for Non-Texas Certification Majors; and Vocational, Motor Skills, and Assistive Technology Assessment.

Texas' Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is a public institution in Huntsville offering an online Master of Education in Special Education. This program has five degree paths: Special Education, Transition Services Certification, Educational Diagnostician Certification, Educational and Bilingual Diagnostician Certifications, and Principal Certification. This program requires completing 36 credits, which generally takes full-time students two years to finish.

SHSU uses the Blackboard learning management system for online curriculum delivery. Depending on the degree path chosen, special education distance learners enroll in courses such as 2nd Language Acquisition and Development, Outcomes in Behavior Intervention, Education of Individuals with Disabilities, and In-Home Training and Family Issues. Courses may be delivered asynchronously or synchronously.

California's Alliant International University (AIU) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education - Special Education that covers the 12 disability categories listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). This is a 30-credit accelerated program designed for students to complete in less than a year.

An online Master of Arts in Education - Special Education with Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential is also offered at AIU.

AIU delivers its online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Special education distance learners engage in courses such as Positive Behavior Support, Technology in the Curriculum, Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Mild-Moderate Disabilities, and Techniques of Teaching Reading and Writing to Second Language Learners. The curriculum also addresses the unique needs of English Language Learners (ELLs).

Georgia’s Valdosta State University (VSU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education, with concentrations in General Curriculum and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing. The program curriculum focuses on research, learning, educational assessment, ethics, and special education law. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, and this process may take full-time students approximately two years to complete.

VSU’s distance learners use Brightspace to access online course content and virtual instruction. Depending on the concentration, courses in the online special education program include Technological Support Planning for Children and Youth with Disabilities, Language and Learning Disabilities, Deaf Education and Language Learning, and Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing to Deaf Students.

Florida International University (FIU) in Miami is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Special Education - Endorsement in Autism. This online special education program is designed to help teachers develop leadership skills, use data effectively, and learn about the latest technologies so they can address the complex needs of multicultural students with disabilities. Students complete 36 credits, generally taking two years of full-time attendance. Graduate candidates must hold a valid Teacher Certification in Exceptional Student Education (ESE).

FIU uses Canvas to provide distance learners access to their courses. Those enrolled in the special education - endorsement in autism program take classes such as Assessment and Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nature and Needs of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Behavioral Management and Positive Behavioral Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Northern Minnesota's Bemidji State University (BSU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Special Education. Students must complete 36 credits, generally taking two years if attending full time. Graduate candidates holding teaching degrees also have an opportunity to obtain ASD, EBD, and SLD special education teaching licensure by taking additional classes within this program.

BSU delivers its online course content via Brightspace, a popular learning management system. Special education distance learners complete courses such as Math Difficulties: Diagnosis and Prevention, Survey of Mild Disabilities, Teaching the Learner with Emotional Behavioral Disorders, and Curriculum Techniques with Special Populations. Students must also complete a professional application track of three courses and a capstone to graduate.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Special Education with five specializations: (1) Curriculum and Instruction, (2) Reading, (3) Bilingual Education, (4) Educational Leadership, and (5) Educational Diagnostics. Graduating requires completing 33 credit hours, which some full-time students may complete in a year due to the program's seven-week term accelerated format. Those choosing the Educational Diagnostics specialization must have at least three years of teaching experience to enroll.

Similarly, TAMIU also offers an online Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction - Special Education.

TAMIU's online program delivery is conducted via Blackboard. Depending on the specialization students choose, special education distance learners complete classes such as Foundations of Curriculum, Advanced Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties, Bilingual/Multicultural Teaching Strategies, and Education Policy for Curriculum Leaders.

Concordia University - Chicago (CUC) is a private, Lutheran faith-based, and Hispanic-serving institution offering an online Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education designed for early childhood certificate/endorsement or LBS 1 endorsement-holding educators who desire to become special education teachers. This is a 30-credit program that takes full-time students approximately two years to complete.

Similar programs include an online Master of Arts in Gifted Education and an online Master of Arts in Special Education Leadership.

CUC uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online curriculum. Those enrolled in the online early childhood special education graduate program take courses such as Characteristics of the Young Exceptional Learner, Child Development and Ethics in Early Childhood Education, Early Intervention Methods and Transitional Planning, and Language Development in Early Childhood Special Education. Field experience is also required to graduate.

Juno's Univerity of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education focusing on the unique needs of Alaska's diverse Native/non-Native communities and its remote and rural communities. Graduating requires completing 39 credit hours, generally taking two years of full-time study.

UAS online coursework and instruction are delivered via Blackboard and other online platforms. Courses are offered in the evenings, both asynchronously and synchronously, to accommodate various schedules. The online special education curriculum classes include Alaska Literature for Young People, Perspectives in Multicultural Education, Supporting Student Engagement, and Transition Planning for Secondary Students. Students must also pass the Praxis II exam with scores meeting the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development requirements for initial teacher certification to graduate.

Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education with an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) concentration to help prepare graduate candidates to engage in stakeholder collaboration to improve student/client outcomes in various settings. This online graduate program helps prepare students to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. Students must complete 36 credits, generally taking two years of full-time attendance. Students enroll as part of a cohort.

TTU delivers its online curriculum through Blackboard. Special education distance learners take online courses such as Behavior Change Procedures, Philosophical Underpinnings of ABA, Behavior Analytic Supervision and Management of Personnel, and Strategies for Children with Low Incidence Disabilities.

Bethel University - MN is a private, Baptist faith-based institution in St. Paul offering an online Master of Arts in Education K-12 - Special Education designed for teachers already working in K-12 classrooms eager to advance to the next step in their careers so that they can meet the needs of special education students. This is a 33-credit program that students typically complete in 1.5 years if they maintain a full-time schedule throughout their studies.

Bethel uses Moodle as its online learning management system. Students enrolled in the online special education graduate program use it to access courses such as Improving Instruction, Characteristics of Mild-Moderate Disabilities, Responsive Pedagogy for English Language Learners, and Culturally Responsive Intervention. A thesis is also required to graduate.

Texas' Lamar University (LU) is a public institution in Beaumont offering an online Master of Education in Special Education to help graduate candidates learn to design curricula and learning environments that nurture special education students. This remote program features multiple start dates each year to accommodate busy schedules. Graduating requires 36 credits, which can take full-time students as few as 18 months to complete.

LU's distance learners access Blackboard for the online curriculum. Those enrolled in the online special education master's degree program participate in courses, such as Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children, Models for Change Through Collaboration, Transition for Students with Exceptionalities, and Reading and Language Arts for Diverse Learners. The program curriculum does not provide special education certification eligibility.

Ball State University (BSU) in Indiana is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Special Education recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children with a behavior analysis course sequence verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Focus areas include six graduate certificates and five licensing options. Students need 30 credit hours to graduate, which generally takes two years of full-time study. Additionally, BSU offers an online Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis - Autism.

BSU delivers its online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Courses within the special education curriculum include Theory and Practice in Early Childhood Education, Policies and Issues in Special Education, Multi-Tier System of Supports/ Response to Intervention, and Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person. Students also complete a research methods course in either behavior analysis or special education.

Delaware's Wilmington University (WilmU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Education in Special Education Teacher of Students with Disabilities K-12 (Traditional Route). This online graduate program in special education is designed for candidates with bachelor's degrees in fields other than education who wish to teach and become certified. Concentrations include Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary. Graduating requires a minimum of 54 credits, which may take full-time students up to three years.

Other programs include an online Master of Education in Education Studies - Special Education K-12 (Non-Licensure) as well as an online Master of Education in Special Education - Instruction (Traditional Route).

WilmU uses Canvas to deliver online degree program content. Depending on the concentration, distance learners may enroll in courses such as Differentiation of Instruction for Young Children, Instructional Strategies in Elementary Education, and Classroom Culture and Student Behavior.