Designed to inform both educators in the classroom and individuals working in a special education context outside of the classroom of the specialized skills and content knowledge needed to support the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Special Education, MEd
The MEd provides skills and knowledge for working in the field of special education. The flexibility of the program allows students to pair the MEd with a graduate certificate in order to focus their studies on a specific area, or students can individualize their program content by selecting electives based on their interests or career focus.
Application to Fully Online ABA or Autism (non-teaching) Programs
Application to On Campus/Blended Programs
Required Courses (15 credits)
Electives (15 credits)
Select 15 credits of electives from Graduate EDSE or EDAT prefixes courses.
Total: 30 credits
Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's program and obtain either a BA or BS in any degree area and an MEd in Special Education within an accelerated time frame. The Accelerated Master’s program allows students to apply six credits, taken while an undergraduate, toward both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Additionally, students can take an additional six credits as reserve graduate credit in order to start their MEd program with twelve graduate credits already completed. Students planning to pursue Virginia teacher licensure in Adapted Curriculum, Special Education-General Curriculum or Visual Impairments can maximize their program by taking Accelerated Master’s courses that will also apply towards teacher licensure.
This campus-based program offers face-to-face classes, online courses and hybrid courses.
LIFE Graduate Assistantships: The Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) Program is an innovative post-secondary program at Mason. Students have an opportunity to work as instructors in the LIFE program which provides them with field experience in a supportive, supervised setting.
Graduate Research Assistantships: Part time positions are available for students interested in providing research support to faculty.
Virginia Educator Discount: A 15% discount off the university’s approved tuition rate is available for qualifying in-state graduate students who are educators in Virginia.
Program Highlights
Special Education Students Employed by the Mason LIFE Program
The Mason LIFE Program provides our special education students opportunities such as: instructor, resident advisor, internship, practicum, licensure, independent study, field work, mentor, Best Buddy, and volunteer to gain important experiences and knowledge to work successfully with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
