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Special Education: M.T. - Master of Teaching

Interested in working with students with disabilities in a general curriculum K-12 setting? Join UVA’s top-ranked part-time and online teacher education program.

At a Glance

Program Results

M.T. - Master of Teaching

—Special Education

Initial licensure in Virginia with an endorsement in Special Education - General Curriculum K-12.

Best Suited To

  • Paraprofessionals in general curriculum special education classrooms who want to earn their professional teaching licenses
  • Teachers in general curriculum special education classrooms with a provisional license who need to convert 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 setting is the right career move

Program Type

  • Part Time

Location

  • Online

Application Deadline

Spring entry: December 1

Summer entry:

  • February 1 (early notification deadline)
  • May 15 (final deadline)

Fall entry:

  • March 1 (early notification deadline)
  • July 15 (final deadline)

About This Program

Our top-ranked program blends in-depth instruction on principles of teaching and learning with clinical experiences that prepare candidates to be responsive to students’ needs.

  • Candidates typically take 1-2 courses per semester but will work with an advisor to develop an individual plan of study to meet their needs.
  • The Teacher Education office will work with candidates to identify school placement experiences that fit their needs. Candidates who are already working in schools may be able to meet the program requirements in their place of employment.
  • In accordance with the Virginia regulations, candidates may have the option to substitute one year of teaching on a provisional license in lieu of student teaching.
  • 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.
  • The M.T. program is an initial licensure program. Teachers who already hold a professional license and wish to add a Special Education endorsement can do so through one of our other offerings:

Students interested in Applied Behavior Analysis may be interested in the M.Ed. in special education with an area of emphasis in ABA. This program includes a verified course sequence approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and fulfills the coursework requirement needed to sit for the BCaBA or BCBA exam.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

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. 
 

Additional admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below:

Applicants must 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.
 

Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full admission process.

Information for Current UVA Undergraduates
If you are a current UVA undergraduate, view our Information for Current UVA Undergraduates page for info on admission into this program.

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

Students typically take 1-2 courses per semester but will work with an advisor to develop an individual plan of study to meet their needs.

Required coursework:

  • EDLF 5160: Lifespan Development
  • EDIS 5000: Exceptional Learner
  • EDIS 5025: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
  • EDIS 5040: Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education
  • EDIS 5041: Behavior Management
  • EDIS 5060: Mathematics Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5140: Methods of Instruction and Collaboration in Special Education
  • EDIS 5141: IEP and Transition Planning
  • EDIS 5175: Issues in K-12 Education
  • EDIS 5221: Reading Development
  • EDIS 5230: Reading and Writing Instruction for Special Education

Students may transfer up to six credits to the M.T. program.

Special Education Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.T. in Special Education curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Field Experience

The Teacher Education office will work with candidates to identify clinical experience placements that fit their needs. Candidates who are already working in schools may be able to meet the program requirements in their place of employment. 

Practicum: While enrolled in the Special Education Methods course, students take a 1-credit practicum: EDIS 5867: Clinical Experience in Special Education. The practicum is an opportunity for students to connect theory to practice while receiving targeted feedback from clinical coaches.  

Student Teaching: During the final semester of the program, students who are not teaching on a provisional license in their area of endorsement will enroll in a student teaching course: 

  • EDIS 5870: Seminar: Teaching in Diverse Contexts
  • EDIS 5887: Teaching Internship - Special Education

In this full-time, semester-long internship, the intern works closely with a mentor teacher and their team, gradually assuming all classroom duties. In accordance with the Virginia regulations, candidates may have the option to substitute one year of teaching on a provisional license in lieu of student teaching. 
 

Professional Assessments and Statutory Requirements

Students must take the following professional assessment:

  • Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) 

Students will be required to complete statutory requirements, such as dyslexia awareness training and hands-on training in First Aid, CPR, and AED.
 

Additional Program Details

In 2026, the UVA School of Education and Human Development is ranked #6 for best graduate school of education in the country and #6 for special education by U.S. News & World Report.

In 2026, the school is ranked #5 for best online graduate education program in the country and #4 for special education.

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Program Faculty

All Program Faculty
Bryan Cook headshot

Bryan Cook

  • Professor
Lysandra Cook Profile Photo

Lysandra Cook

  • Professor
Michael Kennedy Profile Photo

Michael J. Kennedy

  • Commonwealth Professor of Education
Rachel Kunemund

Rachel Kunemund

  • Research Assistant Professor
LaRon Scott

LaRon A. Scott

  • Professor
William Therrien Profile Photo

William J. Therrien

  • Thomas G. Jewell Professor of Education
  • Director, STAR Research in Practice

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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 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).