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School of Education - George Mason University

Upcoming Infosession

Mason’s Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (ASTL) special education concentration builds advanced expertise in educators, administrators, and other professionals providing services to individuals with special needs.

Students in the concentration select 18 credits of special education course work in consultation with an advisor. Course work options include the following areas of emphasis:

  • applied behavior analysis (ABA)
  • assistive technology
  • students with disabilities who access an adapted curriculum
  • students with disabilities who access the general curriculum
  • autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
  • blindness and visual impairments licensure
  • add-on endorsement in special education: general curriculum graduate certificate

Why Is Special Education Important?

Individuals with special needs require unique instruction by specially trained professionals to prepare them to access the same opportunities (e.g., education, employment, and community engagement) available to typically developing peers.

What Is Unique about This Concentration at Mason?

Along with core ASTL courses, our special education concentration requires students to work alongside a special education advisor to choose an 18-credit specialization area. This enables them to bring a focused area of expertise to their own school and community.

Who Should Apply?

Educators holding a bachelor's degree with or without a master's degree may apply for the full master's degree program, which includes 12 credits of core education courses and 18 credits of special education courses chosen with support from a Mason advisor.

Do Any of the Special Education Emphases lead to licensure?

Both the blindness and visual impairments emphasis and the add-on endorsement in special education: general curriculum graduate certificate emphasis contain courses that can be applied to VDOE for licensure.