OVERVIEW
Become a Special Education Teacher and Create an Inclusive Classroom
Teachers are vital for the future, and this is especially true for special education. Students in special ed programs need teachers who are well trained and who care about their success. This online special education master's degree program prepares you to become a teacher who can make a difference in the lives of your students. This degree program is perfect for current teachers who already have their license and want to add special education certification, and for those with a bachelor's degree who want to become a licensed teacher. Whatever your current career, this degree program can prepare you to become licensed in special education and get started in the classroom.
In this online master's degree program you will be trained in special education and prepared for teacher licensure in your state. In this cross-categorical program, you’ll be trained to teach students with varying disabilities (from mild to moderate) and learning needs, with ages ranging from grades K–12.
The special education program includes coursework, carefully designed assessments, and completion of clinical experiences. While you’ll study and submit your coursework online, you’ll also complete Demonstration Teaching (student teaching).
73% of grads finish similar programs in
21 Months*
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
*WGU Internal Data
Tuition per six-month term is
$3,975
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Graduates who would recommend
97%
The vast majority of alumni say WGU delivered on its promises. In fact, over 50% of students found WGU thanks to a friend's recommendation.
COURSES & COMPETENCIES
Special Education Courses
Curriculum that ensures you’ve mastered the skills you’ll need as a special ed teacher.
This online master's degree in special education provides you with the essential skills, knowledge, and field experience needed to become a special education instructor for students with mild to moderate disabilities. This degree program is also AAQEP and CAEP accredited and recognized.
The WGU special education master’s degree program was designed (and is regularly updated) with input from the experts on our Education Program Council. These experts know exactly what it takes for a graduate to qualify for a successful career teaching elementary school students with diverse learning abilities and styles.
The M.A. Teaching–Special Education program at WGU is a mostly online degree program that you will complete by working and studying independently with support and instruction from WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least twelve competency units each six-month term. (One course is typically three or four units.)
This program comprises the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means that you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.
Washington students, please note that you will be required to complete one additional course that is not listed below: Survey of Pacific Northwest History for Educators. View the Washington program guide.
26 Courses
Program consists of 26 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Professional Portfolio
Special requirements for this program
Your portfolio will include your résumé and Philosophy of Teaching Statement and serve as a way to showcase the skills you have acquired throughout your degree program and Demonstration Teaching.
“I am SO much more marketable since I am officially licensed and have the degrees to back me up. I already had years of life experience. The official papers have given my more credibility.”
—Jessica McFarland
M.A. Teaching, Elementary Ed & M.S. Special Education
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in under 2 years
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in under 2 years
Why WGU?
You Aren't On Your Own
WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you set up your Demonstration Teaching, learn about teaching certification in your state, and more. You're not alone when you choose an online degree at WGU.
On Your Schedule
Students choose WGU for their online teaching degree program because of its flexibility. Whether you already have a full-time job, have responsibilities as a parent, or just have a busy schedule, WGU can work for you.
Licensure In Any State
WGU's online special education degree prepares you for a teaching license in any state in the United States. It's valuable to learn the other requirements in your state to know the full process for gaining licensure.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
COST & TIME
When We Say Affordable We Mean It
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A Master's Degree Is Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused special ed teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.
"The BEST online school! The registration process is easy. There are numerous people there to help you. You are never alone and are supported every step of the way. If you are an independent achiever, this is the route to go!”
—Jacie Sambola
M.A. Teaching, Special Education
CAREER OUTLOOK
With a Master’s in Special Education, You’ll Be a Vital Resource for Students with Disabilities
Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges. You’ll gain expertise in instructional design, IEP development, and behavioral management. Graduates of this program work in a variety of school settings, including inclusionary K–12 classrooms or resource rooms. Grade-level eligibility will depend on your state’s requirements.
The courses in M.A. Teaching–Special Education—based on effective instruction and national and state standards—are designed to help you efficiently teach kids from diverse backgrounds with a variety of learning disabilities. A special education teacher should be patient, engaging, supportive, and bright. If you possess these qualities, the next step is a proper education. You've come to the right place. You're on the fast track to the gratifying job of your dreams.
Return on Your Investment
On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2022 Harris Poll Survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
4%
Job demand for special education teachers is predicted to increase 4% through the year 2031.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WGU's Alumni Teach Across the Country
Graduates of WGU's online Teachers College have found meaningful, rewarding teaching careers in classrooms at:
- Inclusionary K–12 classrooms
- Middle/junior high schools
- High schools
- Private and charter schools
Impressive Class of Graduates
Graduates of the WGU Teachers College include recipients of many professional honors, including:
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- Intel Grant for Mathematics and Technology
- Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award
- Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award
- Association of Public Charter Schools Educator of the Year Award
ADMISSIONS
Master of Teaching, Special Education Admission Requirements
To be considered eligible for enrollment into this M.A. in Teaching, Special Education (K-12) degree program, you must provide official transcripts that demonstrate you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a recognized, institutionally accredited (also known as regionally accredited) university and earned a GPA of at least 2.5 (or higher, depending upon your state), or the competency-based equivalent, in that program. Applicants with a GPA lower than a 2.5 but a 2.0 or above may seek admission by submitting passing scores from the WGU program required basic skills test (e.g. Praxis CORE).
Students who are seeking initial teacher licensure in a bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, or master’s program must also pass a state-specific basic skills test for the state in which they live as a prerequisite to Demonstration Teaching (student teaching). (Registering and paying for the test is the student’s responsibility.) This requirement can be met either prior to admission or before beginning the Foundations of Teaching subject area once you are in your WGU program.
WGU’s teacher licensure programs also include Demonstration Teaching (student teaching). You must be at least 18 years of age before you may begin the application process or participate in Preclinical Experiences and Demonstration Teaching. You must also submit to a criminal background check prior to entering the classroom for this component of your program.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
MORE DETAILS
Becoming a Licensed Teacher
State-specific licensure requirements: Each state in the U.S. has specific testing requirements that must be met or completed in addition to completing your teaching degree program at WGU. Teacher licensure requirements vary depending on state laws and may include a number of factors, such as:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree program
- Submission of transcripts
- Completion and clearance of a background check
- Passing of required entrance exams and basic skills tests
Preclinical Experiences
As part of this program, you'll participate in a wide range of in-classroom teaching experiences through at least 75 hours of in-classroom observation.
Demonstration Teaching
To help you prepare to work in classrooms, this program includes a student teaching component (we call it Demonstration Teaching, or DT). DT is a full-time, supervised, in-classroom experience of a minimum of 12–20 weeks during which you will be hosted by an experienced teacher and observed by a Clinical Supervisor. Your host teacher will evaluate your performance based on accepted professional standards. Learn more.
More About the M.A. in Teaching, Special Education
- More About Teacher Licensure
- More About Paying for School
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?