Master of Teaching - Special Education (Charlottesville)

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.

Current UVA students who hold a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above qualify as direct admit applicants and are not required to submit reference letters. Admission is not guaranteed for direct admit applicants. 

2. Meet or be prepared to meet the content studies requirements for your intended program. A list of content studies requirements can be found in each program advising guide.

• Elementary
• English as a Second Language
• Secondary English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies
• Special Education (note: no content studies requirements)

*We strongly encourage applicants to spend time in schools and/or work with youth prior to applying. Access a list of suggested opportunities here.

Prospective students must complete the online application and submit supporting materials 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 Post-Graduate Master of Teaching (PGMT) students applying to start in Summer 2022.**

Undergraduate students at UVA may apply early to the Master of Teaching program during the 2nd or 3rd year. Students admitted to the program will be guaranteed admission to the PGMT program as long as they meet all program prerequisites and maintain a strong academic record. Contact Jillian McGraw, Director of Teacher Education, with questions about the early admission process. 

Students can apply early through the EHD undergraduate application. When applying, you will not see the correct summer start terms available to you because we share this application portal with undergraduate admissions. Choose any future start term, and we will adjust your entry term during the review process. 

Refer to the Advising Guide in the Getting Started section above for a detailed list of courses and additional requirements. We have received confirmed program dates from the university. Every session will be in person, and students will need to be in Charlottesville for classes and placements all year. The fall and spring placement dates are conditional on the approval of school division calendars, which are typically approved in the spring. We do not anticipate a change but will inform you of any updates.  

June 8-10: School and program orientation. You must be in Charlottesville by June 7 so you can attend the June 8-10 orientation dates in person. You will also have time to take care of logistical tasks, such as obtaining a university ID. This date is later than the date we originally posted in your welcome letters. The university summer session dates are later than anticipated, and our schedule has shifted accordingly.  

June 13: Summer classes begin. Most classes are in-person classes between 9am and 4pm. The instructors will also assign work to complete outside of class. There are a few classes that are online, asynchronous classes, but these do not represent the majority of the coursework. The official summer schedule goes live in March, though we will share any details we have as soon as we have them. Each program’s schedule is slightly different, but you should plan on the summer semester to be an intensive experience with coursework that moves at a fast pace. The summer session is typically broken into three, three-week sessions. There are no extended breaks during the summer semester. Please do not plan extended vacations or trips during the summer session (6/13-8/12) or your internships. Because many courses run for just three weeks, missing any time means missing a significant portion of the course. We intend to build a long weekend into each session.  

August 12: Summer classes end. UVA classes end. 

August 15: Fall internships begin. You will begin your half-time internship (Internship I) during the schools’ professional development week. You will attend full-time this week so you can participate in professional learning, staff meetings, and classroom preparation activities. You will also meet with your content area seminar this week.  

August 23: Fall classes begin. Your internship will drop to half-time, and the rest of your classes will begin this week. For the rest of the semester, your week will include your regular class schedule and your half-time internship. 

November 22: Fall internships end. The fall internship ends prior to Thanksgiving. You are expected to be in the internship November 21 and 22 to work with your mentor teacher and students. You should not plan to leave Charlottesville early for the holiday. After the internship ends, you will continue to attend UVA classes. 

December 6: Fall classes end. Class meetings end, though you may have final projects due after this date. The exam period ends December 16. Your course instructors will provide a detailed schedule and calendar of assignments. 

January 3: Spring internships begin. Internship II is a full-time internship, also known as “student teaching.” You will attend the full contract day and additional activities such as back-to-school nights and family conferences. Your spring seminar may also begin this week.  

January 18: Spring courses begin. The rest of your UVA courses will begin this date. Your internship will still be a full-time internship, so you will have courses in the spring than you did in the fall.  

April 28: Spring internships end. This is currently the last scheduled date for the internship. Your UVA classes are still in session into the following week, and you will have final projects to complete. If you miss time during your internship due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., a medical emergency), you may need to make up the time after April 28. Therefore, you should not plan on leaving Charlottesville immediately after April 28.  

May 2: UVA classes end. Class meetings end, though you may have final projects due after this date. The exam period ends May 12. Your course instructors will provide a detailed schedule and calendar of assignments. 

May 19-21: Finals weekend. All students who have completed their degree and licensure requirements will be eligible to attend finals weekend activities.

Student and Alumni Profiles

• Class of 2021: Jody London
• Class of 2021: Kion Brown
• Tamara Dias: Pandemic Can't Stop this Alumni from Getting More Black Teachers in the Classroom
• Abbey Plein: Impeachment offers Chance to Teach Mutual Respect and Understanding
• Julia Braxton: What Does it Take to Combat Intolerance? Students at a Virginia High School Found Out
• Class of 2018: Cameron Fleming
• EHD Grad Awarded Fullbright Scholarship: Jenné Nurse
• Alumni Profile: Vina Nguyen
• Alumni Profile: Deanna Isley

Program Innovations

• The Power of Place: Future Social Studies Teachers Learn from Montpelier
• Digital Kids Test Classroom Management Skills of Teachers-in-Training
• Sublime Slide: Where Biology and Engineering Meet, High School Students Benefit

Faculty Contributions and Research

• Professor Kennedy Creates New App to Support Teacher Professional Development
• Seven Learning Experiences Get Students Excited about STEM
• Back-to-School 2021: The Need for Trauma Sensitive Teaching
• How Crowdsourcing Could Transform Special Education Research
• UVA and the History of Race: Allies of Integration
• What Learning Experiences Prepare Effective Future Teachers?
• Q&A: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Robert Q. Berry
• UVA Design-Thinking Collaboration Helps Local Elementary School Win National Award

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).