Master of Education in Special Education

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 fifth in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.

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.

For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website (New Window).

* 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 George Mason’s online graduate application (New Window). In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements (New Window), applicants will need to provide the requirements below.

To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:

• Graduate application and fee (New Window)
• 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 (New Window) 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 (New Window) 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 (New Window) for more information.
• A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply, addressing previous academic challenges and highlighting evidence for future success in their goal statement.
• International students should reference Admission of International Students (New Window) for additional requirements.

Online

On-Campus/Blended

Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office (New Window) website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee (New Window) to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.

*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $159.50

**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount (New Window) 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 (New Window). 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.