Master’s in Special Education Online Degree

MS in Special Education

The accredited Master of Science in Special Education program equips teaching professionals with the fundamental skills, knowledge and competencies needed to meet the needs of students with disabilities in multiple settings. The program is a flexible and convenient part-time graduate program that gives current teachers a comprehensive understanding of developing the potential of students with disabilities.

Special Education PreK-12 Certification

Included in the curriculum for the MS in Special Education is the coursework necessary to pursue the Pennsylvania (PA) Special Education PreK-12 certification. Candidates seeking PA Special Education certification must have an active PA Instructional I or Instructional II teaching certificate. Out-of-state teachers may also earn their Pennsylvania Special Education PreK-12 certification if they transfer their current teacher certification to PA.

Those who do not have teaching certification have the following options:

• Earn a Instructional I certificate through our Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certification Program before applying to the MS in Special Education program.
• Apply instead to the MS Teaching, Learning and Curriculum: Teacher Certification Track program, which includes Special Education electives.
• Take the MS in Special Education program as a non-certification student. Those who choose this option will not be able to teach in public schools in Pennsylvania. However, many teachers in states outside of Pennsylvania choose this option after contacting their state’s Department of Education to determine special education certification requirements in their state.

Concentrations

• Applied Behavior Analysis
  Applied Behavior Analysis is a well-developed, scientifically-based discipline that investigates and describes how the environment and the individual interact, and how that interaction impacts behavior. It has been used effectively to teach new skills and behavioral repertoires to all populations, but is perhaps best known for assessing and treating those with an autism spectrum disorder.
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
  The number of children diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome has increased drastically over the past decade. Consequently, there is an increasingly high-demand for professionals trained in educating children diagnosed with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The Autism concentration is designed for those who seek additional expertise in this critical field. The concentration’s curriculum provides knowledge and skills for working with these students. Effective teaching methods, interventions, and support will also be emphasized.
• Collaborative Special Education Law and Process
  Special Education is a dynamic field, continually impacted by legislation, regulation and litigation. This concentration is designed for those interested in enhancing their proficiency in the procedural and substantive rules that guide the development and implementation of an appropriate education for students with disabilities. Leadership skills in areas such as collaboration, special education advocacy, IEP meeting facilitation, collaborative problem solving and dispute resolution will be emphasized.
• Dyslexia Specialist
  It is estimated that up to 20% of school age children experience difficulty with some aspect of literacy. This course sequence gives teachers the necessary skills to provide direct instruction in a multisensory phonetic-based program to students with decoding deficits. With successful completion of the coursework, you'll be eligible for WRS Level 1 Certification. The WRS is recognized nationwide and is a highly desirable certification to have in Special Education.
• Initial Education Certification
  In this concentration you will learn all competencies and standards required to earn your Special Education Certification. You will also be prepared to be a lead teacher in your own classroom and to meet the needs of children with various disabilities.
• Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness
  This concentration will prepare you to help address non-academic barriers to learning. You will learn the best techniques for building collaborative partnerships with families, students, and the larger educational community, and developing evidence-based, age-appropriate strategies to support PreK-12 students.
• Special Education Leadership
  The concentration prepares you to be a supervisor of special education programs. Graduates are equipped with the advanced skills, knowledge, and competencies to head initiatives that meet the needs of students at risk for and with disabilities in a variety of environments. With successful completion of the coursework, you'll be eligible for the Supervisor of Special Education Certification.

Archived Webinar

• Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis Programs

Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants applying for a Fall 2020 start to the MS in Special Education program with a concentration in Dyslexia Specialist are eligible to be selected for one of two individual $5,000 scholarships.

Eligibility:

• New students in the MS in Special Education with the Dyslexia Specialist concentration
• Must start classes in the Fall 2020 term
• $5,000 scholarship will be applied toward tuition when selected students take EDLS 622 Basic Word Study I

Our Graduates Make a Difference

Recent graduate Ashley Swestyn worked to help parents learn their rights in regards to their children’s special needs education. Read her story.

Related Program

• Dual Master's Degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Special Education

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.