Master of Teaching - Special Education (Charlottesville)
Do you want to be teacher for children with mild to moderate disabilities? Join UVA School of Education and Human Development's top-ranked program for a path to a truly rewarding and important career—and one that is in high demand.
The School of Education and Human Development is proud to offer a Master of Teaching (M.T.) degree and teacher licensure with an endorsement in Special Education - General Curriculum (grades K-12). The general curriculum endorsement is appropriate for teachers who will work with students with mild to moderate disabilities. It differs from the Special Education - Adapted Curriculum endorsement, which the School of Education and Human Development does not offer. This is a post-graduate program for those who have already completed an undergraduate degree.
Getting Started
Check out our Special Education Advising Guide for a comprehensive list of program offerings, requirements, and resources
Subscribe to our pre-teacher education list serv.
Special Education Fellowship Opportunity: Project VIDEO
The School of Education and Human Development is offering $12,000 fellowships to well-qualified individuals seeking to become special education teachers who plan to work in P-12 schools. The purpose of Project VIDEO (Virginia Intensification for Individuals with Dyslexia who need Explicitness and Ongoing Tiered Supports) is to prepare special education teachers alongside speech-language pathologists as they learn to support students with learning disabilities, including dyslexia. Scholars who accept funding from the federal government are expected to work with students with disabilities in schools for two years for every one year they accept funding. See the Project VIDEO webpage for more information.
Fellowship Opportunities
The School offers a range of fellowship and scholarship opportunities. Review the complete list.
Other Special Education Pathways at the School of Education and Human Development
Students interested in our part-time, online special education program should visit our Special Education - Online program page.
Teachers who hold a professional license and wish to add the special education endorsement can do so by taking our Special Education - General Curriculum Add-on course series. This course series can also be applied toward a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Our Success Is Your Success
Best Grad School for Special Education in the Nation, Says U.S. News & World Report
Program Details
-
Admission Requirements
1. Possess an undergraduate degree prior to matriculation. Applicants are expected to have a minimum GPA of 2.7 with a 3.0 GPA in the major, though applicants not meeting this requirement will be considered. Faculty review applications holistically and will consider academic record, goals, relevant experience, and letters of recommendation.
2. Provide test scores per the guidelines listed here
-
Application Due Date
Prospective students must complete the online application for admission and submit supporting materials, including official transcripts and test scores by April 1. Admissions are rolling, and decisions will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the application is submitted. Prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications by February 1. Applications reviewed after February 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.
**All application fees have been waived for PGMT students applying to start in Summer 2021.**
-
Early Admission for UVA Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students at UVA may apply early to the Master of Teaching program during the 2nd or 3rd year.
Students can apply early through UVA School of Education and Human Development's undergraduate application. Students admitted to the program will be guaranteed admission to the PGMT program as long as they meet all program prerequisites outlined in the PGMT Admissions Requirements above. These include:
- Providing required test scores
- Maintaining cumulative and major GPAs as noted above
Questions about early admissions and test scores: contact Jillian McGraw, Director of Teacher Education
Questions about the special education program: contact Michael Kennedy, Special Education Program Coordinator
-
Course Overview
The summer 2021 cohort will begin June 3, 2021. Mandatory orientation will take place June 3-4. Classes begin June 7.
Summer (early June through August)
- Orientation: June 3-4, 2021
- Classes Run: June 7, 2021 - August 6, 2021
Coursework:
- EDLF 5010: Childhood Learning and Development*
- EDIS 5000: Exceptional Learner**
- EDIS 5800: Understanding Educational Contexts
- EDIS 5140: Methods of Instruction and Collaboration in Special Education
- EDIS 5221: Reading Foundations
- EDIS 5141: IEP and Transition Planning
*UVA undergrads entering the program are encouraged to take EDLF 3170 or EDLF 5011 as an undergraduate student if their schedules allow. Students from other undergraduate institutions may be able to substitute learning and development coursework for this requirement. Contact Jillian McGraw to verify course substitutions.
**UVA undergrads entering the program are encouraged to take EDIS 5000 as an undergraduate student if their schedules allow. Students from other undergraduate institutions may be able to substitute introductory special education coursework for this requirement. Contact Jillian McGraw to verify course substitutions.
Additional Requirements: (send copies of certificates and score reports to [email protected])
- Pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment
- Complete the Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators module
- Complete the VDOE Dyslexia Awareness module
- Provide evidence of hands-on training in CPR, AED, and First Aid
Fall
- School Placements Begin: August 9, 2021 (pending school division calendar approval; date may change if teacher report later than August 9)
Coursework:
- EDIS 5011: Classroom Management and Behavioral Assessment
- EDIS 5060: Mathematics Instruction for Special Education
- EDIS 5730: Diagnosis and Remediation I: Grades PreK-2
- EDHS 5010: Clinical Phonetics
- EDIS 5857: Content Area Seminar in Special Education
- EDIS 5867: Clinical Experience in Special Education
Additional Requirements:
- Pass the Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary and Special Education Exam
Spring
- School Placements Begin: The first day schools are back in session in January (based on individual school division calendars)
Coursework:
- EDIS 5071: Special Education Technology
- EDIS 5877: Seminar: Teaching Internship - Special Education
- EDIS 5877: Teaching Internship - Special Education
- EDIS 6990: Professional Capstone
-
Related Articles
Program Innovations
- Digital Kids Test Classroom Management Skills of Teachers-in-Training
- Future Teachers Respond Better to Multimedia Lessons than Text
Faculty Contributions and Research
- Curry School Professors Contribute to Legal Victory for Flint Students
- Professor Kennedy Launches Free Video Series to Support Teachers
- Person-Centered and Community-Based: An Autism Awareness Month Conversation
- Unlocking The Mysteries of Autism: It Takes a Village
- UVA's Kennedy Wins $400K Early Career Award to Boost Teachers' Students' Performance in Spec. Ed.
- Two Senior Faculty Named Co-Editors of No. 1 Special Ed Journal
-
Public Professional Licensure Disclosures
As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).
Upon completion of the Master of Teaching program at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state. Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))
Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php.