Master of Arts in Special Education
At a Glance
Program Focus
Special education licensure preparation
Schedule
Live online classes 1-2 evenings per week and 1 Saturday per month
Accreditation
Semester Credit Hours
40
Cost per Semester Credit Hour
$824
Tuition Cost for Entire Program
$32,960
* All stated financial information is subject to change. Financial aid available.
Cultivate Confidence. Break Barriers.
Leverage your compassion for students with learning challenges and help them be the best versions of themselves. Grounded in an ethic of care, our Master of Arts in Special Education program will empower you as a source of hope for students and families and a go-to resource in your school and community.
Help Students Navigate a Path to Success
Develop creative strategies to meet unique student needs in a learning community that's committed to thinking critically, transforming practice and promoting justice.
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Practical & Focused
Save time and money in one of the few programs in Oregon that prepares you to be a licensed special education teacher without becoming a regular classroom teacher first.
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Built Around Your Life
Take advantage of virtual classes and flexible degree timelines, and finish your practicum in your current classroom if you’re a special ed teacher on an emergency or a restricted license.
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Professionally Transformative
Gain invaluable insights from caring faculty mentors and peers who encourage you to think beyond the status quo and inspire you to teach from the heart.
Accelerate Your Career in Special Education
Take the fast track to a master’s degree while preparing for licensure in special education. This program is ideal if you already have a special ed job or view special education as a lifelong calling. School administrators are eager to hire and retain licensed special ed teachers, and this is a faster pathway than getting a regular teaching license before or alongside a special education license.
Help Meet a Growing Need
Schools across Oregon and the nation are experiencing teacher shortages, particularly in the area of special education. In the 2022-23 school year, the state of Oregon issued teachers, many of whom have limited experience caring for the needs of students with disabilities. We designed this program to fill that gap, and the knowledge you gain will transform the way you approach special education.
Activate Your Expertise
Deepen your understanding of exceptionalities like autism and dyslexia, explore the intersection of ethics and public policy, and become highly skilled at assessment. You’ll learn how to adjust curriculum, evaluate assistive supports and develop customized tools for students who are classified as mild to moderate, as well as moderate to severe. We’ll also encourage you to complete your practicum in your special ed classroom if you have an emergency license.
Related: What Is a Special Education Teacher, and What Do They Do?
Find Inspiration in a Caring Community
Build enduring relationships with professors and peers who care about special education just as much as you do. You’ll go beyond the coursework to discuss emerging trends, share experiences that are unique to the field and push through challenges – together. The perspective you gain will inform your life’s work, and the professional connections you develop will be sources of strength throughout your life.
Make an Impact for Life
This is more than a chance to transform the lives of students who need an extra measure of patience and understanding. As a special education instructor, you’ll bring hope to countless families by opening the door to critical resources. And as you grow into your role, you’ll realize just how much of an impact you can make in your school and community. Generate knowledge that improves teaching practice, galvanize support for exceptional learners, and be a voice of wisdom and understanding wherever your career path leads.
Questions?
Kipp Wilfong
Admissions Counselor, Graduate Education Programs