Master’s in Special Education | Graduate Studies | Monmouth University

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About

Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education
Online, 30 credits
Certificates available in
- Advanced-Level Special Education
- Autism
- Autism/ABA
- Teach of Student with Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant Track
- Special Education Supervisor Endorsement

Application Deadlines

Summer
May 1

Fall
July 15

Spring
December 1

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Program Overview

Special education teachers collaborate with general education teachers, learning specialists, administrators, and family members to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for each student. With a master’s degree in special education, you can expand your skills and knowledge to better serve your students—and advance into specialized and leadership roles within your school and district.

Monmouth University’s MSEd. in Special Education allows you to focus in areas like autism, assessment, behavior analysis, and/or supervision. Our programs are aligned with standards set by the Council for Exceptional Children. You’ll learn from caring, compassionate faculty members and benefit from our long-standing relationships with 30+ school districts in New Jersey.

Career Outcomes

Today, there’s a record number of students with disabilities enrolled in public schools. As thousands of teachers reach retirement age, there’s an immediate need for educators, especially those trained to work with students of differing needs.

Whether you’re looking to stay in the classroom or want to move into administration, a master’s in special education can help you reach your unique career goals. After earning your MSEd, you could pursue roles such as:

Special education teacher
Director of special education
Early childhood intervention specialist
Special education curriculum designer
Student transition specialist
Educational consultant
Program manager
Learning Disability Teacher Consultant
Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Special Education Tracks, Endorsements & Certificates

Customize your special education master’s degree or build upon your existing credentials with a specialized track, endorsement, or certificate that aligns with your career goals.

Advanced Level Track

This 30-credit program is our main MSEd in Special Education option and is considered advanced-level because it’s designed specifically for licensed special education teachers who are seeking a master’s degree.

Autism Track

Our fully online master’s in autism track offers in-depth instruction on evidence-based practices, assessment, behavior management, laws and policies, and research. The program also includes hands-on learning and fieldwork experiences. Additionally, we offer an 18-credit online certificate in Autism.

Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Track

The only program of its kind in New Jersey, this 39-credit degree combines our core autism track curriculum with seven courses from our ABA certificate. This online program was designed to prepare you to sit for the national Board Certification in Behavior Analysis exam. We also offer a standalone ABA certificate.

Teacher of Student with Disabilities Track

Ideal for general education teachers, this online master’s track also prepares you for the teacher of student with disabilities endorsement. We also offer a standalone Teacher of Student with Disabilities graduate endorsement.

Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant Track

This hybrid program prepares you to specialize in assessing students with special needs and serve as learning consultants on child study teams. We also offer a standalone Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant post-master’s endorsement.

Upon completion, you must provide documentation evidencing completion of three years of successful teaching experience under a Standard NJ or out-of-state instructional certificate to be eligible for the endorsement. Of note, the LDT-C program is aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) national standards and CEC Advanced Specialty Set: Educational Diagnostician Specialist standards.

Special Education Supervisor Endorsement

Intended for licensed special education teachers, the Special Education Supervisor Endorsement program prepares you to expand your expertise or advance into leadership roles within your school or district.

Students applying to the MSEd Supervisor Track must submit, at the time of application, a letter from their administrator stating that the student has completed at least three (3) years of full time teaching in a public school or New Jersey Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities.

Degree Requirements

Our innovative curriculum encompasses coursework in teaching practices, assessment, special education law, behavior management, and professional issues in the field.

Special Education Master’s Curriculum

The core special education curriculum includes topics such as:

Autism
Accommodating learners with special needs in inclusive settings
Research issues and trends in special education
Technology and students with disabilities
Collaborating with families, students, and professionals in community and educational settings
Special education law
Learning theories and applications in educational settings
Experimental design
Literacy instruction
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
Evidence based practices in special education
Implementing Individual Education Programs (IEP)

Track Course Requirements

If you’re pursuing a master’s track, you’ll complete core courses in the master’s in special education, plus additional coursework related to your area of interest. View individual requirements:

Autism Track (30 credits)
Autism/ABA Track (39 credits)
Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant Track (30 credits)
- Upon completion, you must provide documentation evidencing completion of three years of successful teaching experience under a Standard NJ or out-of-state instructional certificate to be eligible for the endorsement. Of note, the LDT-C program is aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) national standards and CEC Advanced Specialty Set: Educational Diagnostician Specialist standards.
Teacher of Students with Disabilities Track (30 credits)
Supervisor Endorsement (30 credits)
- Students applying to the MSEd Supervisor Track must submit, at the time of application, a letter from their administrator stating that the student has completed at least three (3) years of full time teaching in a public school or New Jersey Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities.

Certificate and Endorsement Curriculum

View individual certificate, endorsement, and post-master’s course requirements:

Graduate Certificate: Autism
Graduate Certificate: Applied Behavior Analysis
Post-Master’s Endorsement: Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant: meets requirements for NJDOE licensure
- Upon completion, you must provide documentation evidencing completion of three years of successful teaching experience under a Standard NJ or out-of-state instructional certificate to be eligible for the endorsement. Of note, the LDT-C program is aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) national standards and CEC Advanced Specialty Set: Educational Diagnostician Specialist standards.
Graduate Endorsement: Teacher of Students with Disabilities: meets requirements for NJDOE licensure
- Students applying to the MSEd Supervisor Track must submit, at the time of application, a letter from their administrator stating that the student has completed at least three (3) years of full time teaching in a public school or New Jersey Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities.

Admissions Requirements

Here’s an overview of the admissions requirements and application process for our master’s degree in special education.

Admissions Criteria & Application Requirements

To be considered for admission:

A four-year baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate major
Teaching certification may be required for some programs

Your application must also include:

Two letters of recommendation related to the applicants preparedness for a graduate special education program
Essay (500 words or more) highlight students goals for the program

Accreditation

A CAEP-Accredited Program

Monmouth University’s Master of Science in Special Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This signifies that our program of study meets the highest standards of quality in preparing competent, caring, and qualified professionals who will teach and lead in public and private schools.

Why Monmouth for Your Special Education Master’s?

Convenient Schedule

Complete more of your graduate coursework online, on your time.

Bachelor’s + Master’s

Explore Bachelor’s + Master’s options for Special Education programs at Monmouth Universisy.

Expert, Caring Faculty

Learn from expert educators and compassionate advocates.

Testimonial

“The graduate program at Monmouth University has guided me in my transformation from paraprofessional to successful special education teacher. The flexibility of the program allowed me to continue to work to support my household while growing as a professional. The faculty provided challenges and support that lead me to increase my ability to lead, work with peers, learn new evidence-based practices and incorporate technology to enhance lessons for students with different abilities.”
—Star Tener

Special Education Faculty & Staff

The special education faculty at Monmouth includes scholars, educators, and industry leaders with a range of expertise and professional experience. Their research interests include IEP development, reading instruction, policy, technology, skills acquisition, autism, teacher retention, and teacher education in special education.