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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Core Courses (12 credits)
Concentration Courses (18 credits)
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:
Do you have an elementary or secondary VDOE teaching license or are you interested in earning a secondary certificate as part of your degree program? If so, you can earn the Add-on Endorsement in Special Education: General Curriculum Graduate Certificate as part of your ASTL degree program. If you are licensed by the VDOE in either elementary or secondary education, the coursework in this certificate can be applied to the Virginia Department of Education for the Add-on Endorsement in Special Education: General Curriculum.
Once you have been admitted to the ASTL M.Ed. program, you can pursue the certificate as part of your ASTL: Special Education Concentration coursework.
Certificate Requirements:
Note: Students seeking to add an endorsement to an elementary license must take EDSE 627: Assessment (3 credits). All others must take EDSE 544: Adapted Instructional Methods and Transition for Secondary Learners (3 credits).
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
Delivery format: Students may choose between a face-to-face or online format.
Face-to-face courses are held at the Fairfax campus. Students must begin the ABA courses in the fall semester. Two ABA courses are offered each semester (fall, spring, summer). In-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount are available for those who qualify.
The online format provides asynchronous courses in an 8-week modular calendar. Students take one course each 8 weeks. The online ABA courses are not eligible for in-state tuition or the VA Educator Discount. Tuition price aligns with the College of Education and Human Development Online Programs Tuition. When taking ASTL Core courses, students transition to the standard calendar and tuition pricing. ASTL core classes are eligible for in-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount is available for those who qualify.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
Delivery format: Assistive Technology courses are offered 100% online. In-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount are available for those who qualify. Students may start in fall, spring, or summer.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
Delivery format: Offered 100% online. Asynchronous ASD courses are offered in an 8-week modular calendar. ASD courses are not eligible for in-state tuition or the VA Educator Discount. Tuition price aligns with the College of Education and Human Development Online Programs Tuition. When taking core courses, students transition to the standard calendar and tuition pricing. Core classes are eligible for in-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount is available for those who qualify. Student should meet with a Special Education advisor to outline a program plan.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
Delivery format: Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure coursework is offered primarily online, asynchronous and synchronous, with a face-to-face weekend in Fairfax for hands-on education in orientation and mobility. In-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount are available for those who qualify. Students may start their Visual Impairments courses in fall, spring, or summer.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
1 Online option available.
2 Face-to-face option available.
Delivery format: Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum courses are primarily face-to-face classes held at the Fairfax campus with some online course options. In-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount are available for those who qualify. Students may start these courses in fall, spring, or summer.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
Choose 18 credits from the following
Delivery format: Students with Disabilities who Access the Adapted Curriculum courses are offered 100% online, in synchronous and asynchronous classes. In-state tuition and the VA Educator Discount are available for those who qualify. Students may start these emphasis courses in fall, spring, or summer.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
- Includes both online and on-campus courses; 100% online options available
- On-campus courses are held in the evenings at Mason’s Fairfax campus
- Designed to be completed in approximately two years while working full-time as a teacher
- New students begin program in June and August (Summer and Fall admissions only)
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 15 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 5 |
Priority*: February 1
Space Available: May 15 |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below. Please review the FAQ page for more information.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, and/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study when evaluating the GPA requirement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia resident |
$709.70
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia resident |
$909.70
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,624.25) |
| VA resident and PK-12 VA educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$603.25
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD course fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
| Total cost for Virginia residents per credit |
$734.70 - $793.70 |
| Total cost for non-Virginia residents per credit |
$934.70 - $993.70 |
| Total cost for VA resident and PK-12 VA educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** per credit |
$628.25 - $687.25 |
Graduate new student fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $150.25
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Special Education Concentration: Academic Advisor
Jancy Templeton
ASTL Academic Advisors guide students through their program of study. After admission, reach out to your advisor to plan your program of study and plan for your first course! Stay in touch with your advisor each semester to consult on your course selection and program progress.
Stephanie Dodman
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Nancy Holincheck
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Pamela Baker
Special Education