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Special Education: M.Ed. - Master of Education

Our students learn research-based strategies and best practices for supporting students with disabilities, through top-ranked curriculum and top-tier faculty, in an interactive flexible online experience.

At a Glance

Program Results

M.Ed. - Master of Education

Special Education

Career Outcomes

  • Special education leader 
  • Special educator
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Best Suited To

  • Individuals who already hold bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • International educators
  • Individuals who want to become special education leaders in schools or other academic settings 
  • Individuals who wish to sit for the BCBA exam 
  • Individuals seeking an add-on Special Education General Curriculum endorsement in Virginia
  • The program offers a guaranteed admission option for recent graduates of the UVA B.S.Ed. Teacher Education programs who meet eligibility requirements
     

Program Type

  • Full Time
  • Part Time

Location

  • Online

Estimated Length

1 year (full time) or 2-3 years (part time) 

Application Deadline

Spring entry: November 1

Summer entry:

  • February 1 (priority deadline)
  • May 1 (final deadline)

Fall entry:

  • March 1 (priority deadline)
  • July 1 (final deadline)

About This Program

This program is designed to support special educators in deepening their skills, broadening their knowledge base, and pursuing new roles within special education. This program is 100% online and asynchronous.

All students in this program will complete 5 core requirements to include:

  1. Legal Foundations of Special Education
  2. Contemporary Issues in Special Education
  3. Basic Principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis
  4. Behavior Observation and Analysis
  5. Master’s Comprehensive in Special Education (final course)

In addition to core requirements, students will select an area of emphasis from the following areas:

  1. Applied Behavior Analysis (BCBA)
    • Includes a verified course sequence required to sit for the BCBA examination
  2. Special Education General Curriculum
    • Meets the requirements to add an endorsement in Special Education General Curriculum K-6, 6-8 or 6-12 in Virginia. Please see the coursework tab for add-on endorsement eligibility requirements
  3. Special Education Leadership
    • Utilizes the Council for Exceptional Children’s Advanced Preparation Standards to prepare educators for special education leadership roles across settings

Courses are taught by faculty with years of experience and depth of expertise, with a strong commitment to students’ education and personal development. 

This program is not an approved initial licensure program. However, if you are interested in adding an endorsement in Special Education General Curriculum, please reach out to the licensure specialist listed as the contact on our Become a Teacher page.
 

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Students may enter the program during the summer, fall, or spring semesters. Admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below:

Prerequisites

  • Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

Admission Requirements:

  • Two recommendations solicited through the online application from faculty and/or employers
  • A goal statement that integrates past experiences, explains how this program supports professional goals, and describes how this program and the chosen area of emphasis is a good -fit for the applicant. It should be 1-2 double-spaced pages or no more than 500 words in length.
  • An updated resume
  • Transcripts (uploaded to the online application).
  • Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be canceled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application. Decisions are typically made within three weeks of the application deadline.

Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full admission process.

Transferring Credits

A maximum of 6 credit hours can be transferred into the program if the course is determined by the advisor to meet a number of conditions (e.g., graduate-level, is equivalent in rigor and focus to a course offered in the program of study, the student earned a grade of B- or higher, and the course was successfully completed less than 5 years from the date of admission to the program).

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are NOT required as part of the application process. International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must not be more than 2 years old. Applicants who have or will have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction do not need to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. 
 

Information for Current UVA Undergraduates
If you are a current UVA undergraduate interested in a direct admission option into this program, please view our Direct Admission Option page.

Guaranteed Admission for UVA Undergraduate
For UVA B.S.Ed. graduates, the UVA School of Education and Human Development offers a guaranteed admission option for recent teacher education graduates who meet eligibility requirements. Review the Guaranteed Admission page for more information. This option also requires a simplified application.

Graduate Admission

Application for admission is made to the School of Education and Human Development Office of Admission & Enrollment. For more information about the graduate admission process, please visit our Graduate Admission page.

Graduate Admission

Coursework

All students in this program will complete 5 core requirements to include:

  1. Legal Foundations of Special Education
  2. Contemporary Issues in Special Education
  3. Basic Principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis
  4. Behavior Observation and Analysis
  5. Master’s Comprehensive in Special Education (final course)

In addition to core requirements, students will select an area of emphasis from the following areas:

  1. Applied Behavior Analysis (BCBA)
    • Includes a verified course sequence required to sit for the BCBA examination
  2. Special Education General Curriculum
    • Meets the requirements to add an endorsement in Special Education General Curriculum K-6, 6-8 or 6-12 in Virginia
    • Prerequisites For Obtaining An Add-On Endorsement in Virginia:
      • Teachers holding an Elementary Education (such as preK-3 or preK-6) endorsement are eligible for the Special Education – General Curriculum K-6 add-on endorsement.
      • Teachers holding a Middle Education (grades 6-8) endorsement are eligible for the Special Education – General Curriculum Middle Grades 6-8 add-on endorsement.
      • Teachers holding a Secondary Education endorsement in English, History and Social Sciences, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics are eligible for the Special Education – General Curriculum Secondary Grades 6-12 add-on endorsement.
      • Teachers holding any other endorsement, including K-12 or preK-12 endorsements, are not eligible to add the special education endorsement through this course series.
  3. Special Education Leadership
    • Utilizes the Council for Exceptional Children’s Advanced Preparation Standards to prepare educators for special education leadership roles across settings

Areas of Emphasis

Courses part of the Applied Behavior Analysis (BCBA) emphasis:

  • Behavioral Intervention
  • Ethics and Professional Conduct of Behavior Analysts
  •  Advanced Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Personnel Supervision and Management
  • Single-Subject Research

Courses part of the Special Education General Curriculum* emphasis:

  • Exceptional Learner
  • IEP Development and Implementation
  • Mathematics Instruction for Special Education
  • Reading and Writing Instruction for Special Education
  • Select one: Assessment and Evaluation (for K-6 add-on) or Transition Planning (for middle grades and secondary add-on)

*Must complete a 45-hour practicum or year of teaching for add-on (not required for degree). For those opting for the practicum route, a practicum will be embedded into the methods courses (EDIS 5230 and/or EDIS 5060) during the spring or fall semesters. EDIS 5060 is offered in the spring and fall, EDIS 5230 is offered in the spring and summer. A practicum is not available in the summer section of EDIS 5230. Please plan your schedule accordingly.

Courses part of the Special Education Leadership emphasis:

  • Understanding and Applying Special Education Research
  • Multiculturalism in Special Education
  • Advanced Methods in Special Education 
  • Instructional Coaching and Leadership 
  • Single-Subject Research
     

Additional Program Details

In 2024, the UVA School of Education & Human Development is ranked #4 in special education for online graduate schools of education in the U.S. by the U.S. News and World Report.

The school also jumped up 18 spots to tie for second best online graduate education program in the country.

Info Sessions and Open Houses

All Admission Events

The school hosts a variety of admission events including information sessions and open houses for prospective students as they explore our degree program offerings. View upcoming opportunities to engage with faculty and staff.

Online Master of Education Degree Programs Information Session

  • - EDT
  • Virtual
Register

UVA Club of Washington DC: UVA Graduate School Fair

  • - EDT
  • ICPH Conference Center, Fairfax, VA
Register Now

M.Ed. in Special Education News

All School News

Program Faculty

All Program Faculty
Lysandra Cook

Lysandra Cook

  • Professor
Mandy Rispoli

Mandy Rispoli

  • Quantitative Foundation Bicentennial Professor
William J Therrien

William J. Therrien

  • Thomas G. Jewell Professor of Education

Contact Us

Disclosures

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), 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)). Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs.

Upon completion of the Master of Education in Special Education 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)