Special Education, M.Ed.

Admissions Requirements

When applying to the Special Education, M.Ed. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

• Online Application
• Application Fee of $50
• Goals Statement (upload with the application)
• Resume (upload with the application). Brief statement that explains the professional and academic goals that you hope to accomplish by completing this program of study
• Two Letters of Recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
• Official Transcript(s): undergraduate degree required for admission
  • submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Graduate Admissions | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302
• GRE scores (Verbal/quantitative/analytical required):
  • institution code 5251
  • scores may not be more than five years old at time of application submission

*Students with existing teaching certification: if you meet certification requirements in Special Education (field-specific) in Georgia, this M.Ed. program will lead to a Level 5 advanced degree and certification upgrade (upload teaching certificate to application)

*Students without backgrounds in education: this M.Ed. Special Education program does not result in a teaching certificate for school/classroom licensure — students who wish to gain initial certification in special education will need to apply for and complete the M.A.T. Special Education program

This M.Ed. program may be appropriate for those who have a background in a related field (psychology, social work, criminology, speech and language, general education, etc.), do not want to be a classroom teacher, but are interested in obtaining advanced pedagogy, methods, and strategies to work with individuals with disabilities in non-educational settings such as clinics, hospitals and facilities.

Program of Study

Master of Education in Special Education

Professional Studies (9)
Select one course (3):

• EPSF 7100 Critical Pedagogy (3)
• EPSF 7110 Multicultural Education (3)
• EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (3)

Select one course (3):

• EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)
• EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)

Required (3):

• EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3)

Teaching Field/Major and Electives (27-30)
Choose One Concentration: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behavior/Learning Disabilities, Deaf Education (Deaf/Hard of Hearing), Early Childhood Special Education, Intellectual Disabilities

Autism Spectrum Disorders Concentration (27)
Required (21):

• EPY 8020 Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
• EPY 8850 Intro to Single-Case Methodology
• EXC 7310 Strategies for Challenging Behaviors (3)
• EXC 7320 Methods of Teaching Students with Low-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7325 Methods of Teaching High-Functioning Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7941 Current Issues in Special Education (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3)

Elective: choose two courses (6):

• EXC 7170 Methods for Teaching Functional Life Skills to Students with Behavior and Learning Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7190 Alternative Approaches to Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3): For students who choose to complete the master’s research thesis or action research project, an additional 3 hours of EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3) must be taken as one of the required electives so that students can complete their capstone scholarly activity.
• Other courses with the approval of the program advisor.

Students who have completed any of the above coursework may choose additional courses of intellectual and professional interest with advisor approval.

Behavior/Learning Disabilities Concentration (27)
Required (21):

• EXC 7130 Assessment for Instructional Planning (3)
• EXC 7150 Methods for Teaching Academics to Students with Behavior and Learning Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7160 Strategies for Social and Emotional Behavior in Students with Behavior and Learning Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7170 Methods for Teaching Functional Life Skills to Students with Behavior and Learning Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7460 Mathematical Instruction in Special Education I (3)
• EXC 7941 Current Issues in Special Education (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3)

Elective (6):

• The student will select 6 semester hours of program-related graduate-level coursework with consent of their advisor. The purpose of the elective hours is to enable students to create a program of study to fit their individual interests as it relates to students with behavior/learning disabilities. Students will be provided with suggested areas of additional study and appropriate coursework (e.g., Language and Literacy; Mathematics; Science/STEM; Urban Education; Challenging Behaviors; Bilingual/English as a Second Language; Research Methods; Learning & Development; Learning & Technology).
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3): For students who choose to complete the master’s research thesis or action research project, an additional 3 hours of EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3) must be taken as one of the required electives so that students can complete their capstone scholarly activity.

Students who have completed any of the coursework may choose additional courses of intellectual and professional interest with advisor approval.

Deaf Education Concentration (30)
Required (30):

• EXC 7030 Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
• EXC 7190 Alternative Approaches to Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7325 Methods of Teaching High-Functioning Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7350 Psychosocial Characteristics of Deafness (3)
• EXC 7360 Language Development in Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (3)
• EXC 7390 Reading and Writing Instruction for Deaf/Hard of Hearing (3)
• EXC 7410 Educational Assessment of Atypical Deaf Students (3)
• EXC 7420 Methods for Teaching Atypical Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (3)
• EXC 7941 Current Issues in Special Education (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3)

Students who have completed coursework above choose from the following:

• EDRD 7600 Theory and Pedagogy in the Study of Literacy (3)
• EDRD 7650 Individual Literacy Assessment and Instruction (3)
• CSD and Linguistics courses with advisor approval
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3): For students who choose to complete the master’s research thesis or action research project, an additional 3 hours of EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3) must be taken so that students can complete their capstone scholarly activity.
• Other courses with the approval of the program advisor.

Students who have completed any of the coursework may choose additional courses of intellectual and professional interest with advisor approval.

Early Childhood Special Education Concentration (27)
Required (27):

• EXC 7000 Collaboration with Parents and Professionals (3)
• EXC 7010 Language Development and Language Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7300 Assistive Technology: Reading and Academics (3)
• EXC 7320 Methods of Teaching Students with Low-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7650 Characteristics of Young Children with Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7660 Methods of Teaching Young Children with Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7941 Current Issues in Special Education (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3)

Elective: choose one course (3):

• EDRD 6600 Introduction to Materials and Methods in Reading Instruction (3)
• EDRD 7600 Theory and Pedagogy in the Study of Literacy (3)
• EXC 7280 Methods of Teaching Students with Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3): For students who choose to complete the master’s research thesis or action research project, an additional 3 hours of EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3) must be taken as one of the required electives so that students can complete their capstone scholarly activity.
• Other courses with the approval of the program advisor.

Students who have completed any of the above coursework may choose additional courses of intellectual and professional interest with advisor approval.

Intellectual Disabilities Concentration (27)
Required (21):

• EXC 7030 Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
• EXC 7280 Methods for Teaching Students with Intellectual Disability and Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7281 Assessment and Curriculum Planning: Adapted Curriculum (3)
• EXC 7310 Strategies for Challenging Behaviors (3)
• EXC 7320 Methods for Teaching Students with Low-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
• EXC 7941 Current Issues in Special Education
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3)

Elective: choose two courses (6):

• EXC 7290 Methods for Teaching Students with Physical and Multiple Disabilities: Reading and Academics (3)
• EXC 7330 Physical and Health Management of Students with Disabilities (3)
• EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3): For students who choose to complete the master’s research thesis or action research project, an additional 3 hours of EXC 7980 Research in Special Education: Master’s Capstone (3) must be taken as one of the required electives so that students can complete their capstone scholarly activity.
• Other courses with the approval of the program advisor.

Students who have completed any of the above coursework may choose additional courses of intellectual and professional interest with advisor approval.

Program total: minimum of 36 semester hours (Deaf Education concentration is a minimum of 39 hours)

For details, see the course catalog.

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State offers a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships they offer students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

• Project BEES Scholars
• Project BEES To Combat Shortage of Educators Working With Young Children With Disabilities