Be Ready to Meet the Needs of Today's Inclusive Schools
Our fully online master's degrees cohort programs in special education are designed for educators who want to increase their marketability and prepare more fully to meet the challenges and needs of today's inclusive schools, as well as aspiring educators who are seeking an initial special education certification.
We offer two degree options:
- Master of Arts in Special Education with PK-12: 30 credits, designed for certified teachers wishing to add special education certification
- Master of Education in Special Education with PK-12: 42 credits, offered for anyone with a bachelor's degree seeking initial teaching certification in special education
"The flexible online learning format was beneficial, and the coursework was comprehensive. The faculty were very knowledgeable and supported me throughout the program. They made themselves available to assist me with my educational questions and needs."
Courses & Topics
Some of the courses in the Master of Arts and Master of Education in special education programs include:
- Special Education and Inclusive Practices
- Culturally Responsive Schools, Teachers and Classrooms
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
- Instructional/Assistive Technology and Universal Design
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Differentiated Instructional Practices
Through their coursework, students will spend considerable time in PK-12 classrooms to satisfy Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements pertaining to field experience and observation hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The classes have been developed and adapted to meet PDE competencies. While some M.A. and M.Ed. courses may have the same name as undergraduate courses, the courses contain advanced graduate-level material designed to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) criteria. These courses cover the most recent work in the field, and your instructors will address how to apply this information in the classroom.
The program is fully asynchronous and online. Instructors will often hold optional virtual meetings. The student teaching practicum is the final semester and is in person at your school placement location in Pennsylvania.
Students are required to complete a 15-week practicum/student teaching experience as part of the program. Because this is a full-time, supervised clinical experience, students should plan for a schedule that allows them to meet the program and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requirements. Individual employment arrangements should be discussed with the program director.
Students are required to complete a 15-week practicum/student teaching experience. Pennsylvania regulations also establish requirements for the location and duration of educator preparation field experiences. Students completing the experience in Pennsylvania should plan to meet the required 30 consecutive days of in-state experience as part of their overall practicum requirements.
Graduate students work with the program to identify an appropriate student teaching placement. Public, charter, and eligible private schools may serve as placement sites when they meet PDE and university requirements. The program will assist students who need support identifying an appropriate placement.
Completing the M.Ed. alone does not automatically issue a Pennsylvania teaching certificate. Students must successfully complete the approved certification program, meet all PDE-required testing requirements, and apply for certification through Pennsylvania’s Teacher Information Management System (TIMS). Once PDE verifies that all requirements have been met, the student may receive the appropriate Pennsylvania instructional certificate.
On our website, students can find the books required for their classes. Using the drop-down menus, select the Semester and the appropriate department name (EDUC or SPED), course number, and section (you may use any online section designation as books are the same no matter the section – for example, OAON, O2ON, OCON, etc.) ISBNs are provided for your use. Rental and digital download options may be available from the bookstore. Students can arrange to have books shipped to them for a nominal shipping fee through our bookstore. If a course does not list required books, the instructor may be using a combination of open source materials, research articles, book chapters and online resources.
Learn more: step-by-step guide to ordering books on our website.
Learn More
Contact Lynn Ribar, director of the Office of Graduate and Online Admissions, at 412-392-3908 or lribar@pointpark.edu. Schedule a call with Lynn.