Our highly regarded master’s degree program provides skills and knowledge for working in the field of special education. The Accelerated Master’s program is a pathway for students to finish their Master’s in an accelerated timeframe.
Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s program and obtain their BA or BS in any degree area and a Masters in Special Education within an accelerated time frame. The MEd, Special Education Accelerated Master’s is commonly paired with undergraduate degrees in Special Education, individualized studies, integrative studies and other fields focused on supporting the development of others.
- Students in the BSEd, Special Education can earn a second special education licensure endorsement, develop a specialization in the field, or earn a certificate in applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorders, or assistive technology.
- Students in other BA and BS degrees at Mason can develop specialized skills and knowledge in areas such as assistive technology, autism, behavior, mild disabilities, multiple/severe disabilities, or visual impairments to further development in their field or to diversify career opportunities.
- Students working in the schools can pair a BIS or BAIS with the MEd in Special Education to begin licensure coursework as an undergraduate which can be completed in graduate work.
Admitted students can take up to 12 credits of coursework that can count for both undergraduate and graduate credit. Additionally, students may take up to 6 additional credits of graduate coursework to reserve for use solely in their graduate program. Upon completion of their undergraduate degree requirements, eligible students transition directly into the graduate program, which can then be completed within one year.
Many of our graduates excel working as educators, but an understanding of special education can be important in settings beyond the classroom. Studying special education benefits aspiring consultants, advocates, tutors, parents, curriculum specialists, school leaders, coordinators, and other practitioners.
The special education program was ranked fifteenth nationally (and fourteenth among public institutions) in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings.
Our online special education graduate program was ranked nineteenth in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 2021. It’s our third straight year in the top twenty and highlights our program’s flexibility.
Mason houses both Mason LIFE, a program providing a supportive academic environment for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities. Our graduate students can often be found working on projects done by these leading organizations, giving them valuable real-world experience.
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit (to be determined by the student and their advisor):
Select one from the following:
EDSE approved electives up to 9 credits
Meet with an advisor early to choose courses that are individualized to your career plans.
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 19 |
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.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s application
- 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.
- One letter of recommendation from your Mason undergraduate advisor
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:
The College of Education and Human Development offers a number of combined bachelor's and accelerated master's (BAM) degree programs for academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to learning advanced skills in a specialized field of study. Applicants receive a waiver of the graduate application fee, and admitted students may obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree after satisfactory completion of 144 to 150 credits (number of required credits depends on the graduate program).
Students can submit an application to a BAM program once they have earned between 75 and 100 credits. Faculty admissions review includes a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
BAM students can take graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate, depending on the program. Please
meet with an admissions counselor to discuss your program options.
Undergraduate Tuition
TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
Virginia Resident |
$575.50 (includes MSF*) |
Non-Virginia Resident |
$1,582.50 (includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee
($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, RECR, and RMGT courses) |
$25.00 - $257.00 |
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$600.50 - $832.50 |
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$1,607.50 - $1,839.50 |
Undergraduate New Student Fee (non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$360 | $285 for transfer students |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $155.00
Graduate Tuition
TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
Virginia Resident |
$727.00 (includes MSF*) |
Non-Virginia Resident |
$927.00 (includes MSF*; discounted from $1,641.50) |
VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$617.95 (includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$752.00 - $811.00 |
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$952.00 - $1,011.00 |
Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$642.95 - $701.95 |
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): $155.00
**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.
To be successful in your program, it is important to remember that each student is responsible for knowing Mason’s rules, regulations, requirements, administrative policies and academic policies. Every student must meet with his advisor upon admission to the program to create a program of study. Even if students know which program/s they will pursue and their sequence of coursework, it is beneficial to discuss plans for internships, testing requirements, transfer options if applicable, etc. It is highly recommended that you meet with your advisor at least once per semester to review degree progress and plan for future semesters. The University Catalog, your program advisors, and the staff in the Student and Academic Affairs Office are key resources to assist you as you work toward completion of your degree requirements.
Advisors
Crystal Trebing |
Jancy Templeton |
Undergraduates and Graduate students (non-cohort) with last names A-R
FCPS Special Education-General cohorts
PWCS Special Education-General cohorts
|
Undergraduates and Graduate students (non-cohort) with last names S-Z
LCPS & FCPS Adapted cohorts
|
cgolden3@gmu.edu
(703) 993-4361
M, R 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
T 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
W, F 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Appointments available virtually or face-to-face.
|
jtemple1@gmu.edu
(703) 993-2387
M 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
T 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
W, F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
R 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Appointments available virtually or face-to-face.
|
Click HERE to schedule a meeting with Crystal Trebing. |
Click HERE to schedule a meeting with Jancy Templeton. |
Schedule an Appointment
Current students may schedule or cancel appointments no less than 24 hours in advance. Advisor calendars are open two weeks in advance. If no appointments show as available with your assigned advisor, please check back in a day or two to see if new times have opened up. You can also e-mail general questions to your advisor.
Contact speced@gmu.edu if you have any questions or sschelp@gmu.edu if you have any issues with the scheduling system.
Drop-In Advising
Drop-in advising hours are available virtually through Blackboard or face-to-face in Finley 102. During these sessions, students receive one-on-one advising on a first-come, first-served basis. To access the virtual advising session please use the links below during the times listed:
Mondays: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sessions are cancelled when Mason is closed or if otherwise indicated.
Mason Life: The Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) Program is an innovative post-secondary program at Mason. Students focusing on special education have an opportunity to work as instructors, resident advisors and mentors in the LIFE program which provides them with field experience in a supportive, supervised setting.
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.