Master of Teaching—Special Education (Online)
Designed specifically for working professional, this part-time program provides the flexibility you need to earn a master's degree while fulfilling the requirements for a professional license!
The UVA School of Education and Human Development is proud to offer a Master of Teaching (MT) degree with licensure and endorsement in Special Education-General Curriculum (i.e. mild to moderate disabilities). We offer a part-time program 
designed specifically for current and future teachers who already hold an undergraduate degree. This is an initial licensure program.
Who can benefit from this program?
This program is an ideal option for:
- Paraprofessionals in general curriculum SPED classrooms who want to earn their professional teaching licenses
- Teachers in general curriculum SPED classrooms who need to convert a provisional license to a professional license and want to earn a master's degree while doing so
- Recent college graduates who have determined that working in a Special Education classroom is the right career move
The UVA School of Education and Human Development K-12 tuition discount applies to those currently working in K-12 education. Tuition Information
Getting Started
Check out our Special Education Northern Virginia Advising Guide for a comprehensive list of program offerings, requirements, and resources.
See the Student Handbook for specific program policies and procedures. Review the Clinical Experiences FAQ document for more information about clinical experiences. For more information about teacher licensure and the UVA School of Education and Human Development, please visit our Licensure page.
Other Special Education Pathways
Students interested in our Charlottesville-based program should visit our Special Education on-grounds 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
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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
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Application Due Date
Admissions are rolling with deadlines as follows:
- Fall entry: May 1
- Spring entry: November 1
- Summer entry: April 1
**All application fees have been waived for Master of Teaching students applying to start in 2020 and 2021.**
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Funding Opportunities
Teacher Education students may be eligible for federal loans, grants, scholarships, work study and other categories of need-based financial aid. Once admitted, we encourage you to review the Student Financial Services website and submit your application for financial aid early so the Office of Financial Aid can provide you with an estimate of your eligibility for the upcoming summer and academic year.
The School of Education and Human Development PreK-12 tuition discount applies to those currently working in PreK-12 education. Tuition Information
Additional financial aid information can be found on the School of Education and Human Development's Financial Aid webpage and on the Financial Resources for Teacher Ed Students page.
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Course Overview
Program requirements:
- Evidence of hands-on training in CPR, First Aid, and AED
- Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention online module certificate
- Teaching with Technology online module certificate (please email Courtney Sullivan at [email protected] for a Technology Module link)
- Dyslexia Training online module certificate
- Understanding the Regulations Governing the use of Restraint and Seclusion Module
- Passing scores on RVE (we recommend you sit for this exam after taking your reading courses)
- Passing scores on VCLA (we recommend taking this exam during the first two semesters of the program)
- 30 academic credits at 5000 level or above for the Master’s degree (a B- or above is required)
- Participation in required surveys (sent by the Teacher Education Office) as part of the School of Education and Human Development Participant Pool
Recommended 3 YEAR PLAN OF STUDY (For applicants after Spring 2020)
For those who may need additional electives to meet 30 credit hour requirement, we recommend the following courses (in no particular order):
- (3) EDIS 5422 Education Across Cultures - online
- (3) EDIS 7220 Intro to the Gifted - online
- (3) EDIS 7720 Word Study: Language Structures and Phonics - online
- (3) EDIS 5435 Writing Across the Curriculum - online
- (3) EDIS 7000 Introduction to Instructional Design - online
- (3) EDLF 7390 Differentiating Instruction - online
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Related Articles
Meeting Major Need, UVA Offers First Special Ed Master of Teaching Program in NOVA
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
- School of Education and Human Development 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
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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.