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Master’s in Special Education Online MEd Degree Concentration

Marti Ilg, who earned her degree from SNHU 2014, sitting in a elementary school classroom with children's art on the wall and a woman leading a child out of the room by the hand in the background.

Cost per credit $637

Total courses 12

Term length 10 weeks

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Program Overview Why get a master’s in special education online?

Help meet the instructional and transitional needs of students with an online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction degree with a concentration in Special Education from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Designed to align with 21st century learning, this program offers a deep understanding of issues related to teaching and learning conditions for children with mild to moderate disabilities.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Theory-informed curriculum design
  • Unique learner assessments
  • Learner assessment data analysis
  • Applications of technology to aid students
  • Inclusive leadership techniques
  • Learning promotion in any context for all students
Fatima Salem Pease, who earned her degree from SNHU in 2019, sitting at a table with a young girl and holding a blue marker.

Courses & Curriculum Master’s in special education online classes that make a difference

In this program, you'll learn traditional, innovative and research-based approaches that support the needs of preschool- through high school-aged children. You'll also examine the history and legislation of special education at the federal and state levels as they relate to the Education and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). By graduation, you'll emerge with a ready-to-implement curriculum, along with a professional portfolio that showcases your leadership abilities.

Degree Courses

Master's in special education online courses

This program includes 12 required courses — 3 of which are focused entirely on special education. 

Courses may include:

Course ID: EDU 515
Discover the frameworks and approaches used in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program. Explore what it means to be an educational leader in today's rapidly changing, multi-cultural education environments and investigate the many traditional and non-traditional facets of contemporary educational leadership. Examine competencies, characteristics, and practices that relate directly to student achievement and are grounded in current professional standards.
Course ID: EDU 530
Learn about the various types and methods of educational research. Examine the value of education focused action research in a variety of learning environments. Develop foundational knowledge and skills to read, interpret, and use data to enable professional growth and improve student learning experience.
Course ID: EDU 545
Explore educational leadership concepts by focusing on the characteristics and best practices needed to define and increase success in learning. Employ multiple measures to resolve learning challenges utilizing effective communication and collaboration in ways that empower oneself and others to enhance one's role as an educational leader. Learn about legal, ethical, and professional issues existing in today's educational environments that impact effective leadership.
Course ID: EDU 570
Explore the foundations of curriculum design theories and principles used in various learning environments. Apply Understanding by Design (UbD), Differentiated Instruction (DI), and the standards of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), for designing and developing a functional and effective curriculum that matches all students' learning needs.
Course ID: EDU 615
Implement Differentiated Instruction (DI) strategies for all students, especially as they apply to unique students. Use multiple data points to design curriculum that can be differentiated and aligned to student, state, and national goals and standards by embedding technology, including assistive technology, in teaching and managing students. Examine DI strategies for English Language Learners, students with disabilities and learning differences, and high performing students as part of a heterogeneous learning environment.
Course ID: EDU 645
Explore assessment theories and practices as integral elements of curriculum and instructional design. Interpret assessment data from multiple sources and use that data to inform curricular choices. Investigate embedding technologies into curriculum to assess and interpret student learning effectiveness as part of the continuous feedback cycle.
Course ID: EDU 655
Investigate emerging theories of design and learning in today's increasingly complex technology-enhanced learning environments. Apply theory-based strategies for providing curriculum and instruction in traditional, alternative, virtual, and augmented learning settings.
Course ID: EDU 683
Prepare for the Capstone by developing and focusing scholarship and artifacts for the portfolio, including a personalized educational philosophy statement. Drawing from the technology-focused, inclusion-centric themes explored throughout the program, draft an evidence-based curriculum proposal that addresses a self-identified achievement gap.
Course ID: EDU 690
Integrate previous coursework and demonstrate the mastery of knowledge and skills developed throughout the program. Synthesize prior learning in order to develop a complete curriculum in an area of interest for utilization, along with the portfolio, in illustrating a cohesive educational philosophy and showcasing growth as an educational leader.
Course ID: SPED 520
This course is designed to provide an overview of practical performance assessments that can be used to measure student progress in the general education setting. Students will become familiar with a repertoire of authentic assessments and knowledge of progress monitoring tools including but not limited to formative and summative assessments, diagnostic tools, performance tasks, criteria checklists, rubrics, student portfolios and the use of multiple sources of data in measuring student performance. The course will examine a variety of accountability measures including standardized tests, observation, curriculum based measures, utilization of Response to Intervention (RTI) as a system for planning, instruction, progress monitoring and interventions. The role Professional Learning Community Models (PLC's) in targeting both behavioral and academic achievement will be explored. The overall goal of the course is to prepare educators to utilize assessment data in the design of classroom instruction and monitoring of student progress for a broad range of students.
Course ID: SPED 630
This course focuses on the strategies and skills for supporting expressive language skills for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities, primarily for writing. The course introduces the concepts of scaffolding the writing process, using a hierarchy of skills to build appropriate foundational skills sets, and understanding the hidden demands of writing for students with language-based learning disabilities. Students in this course will draw from relevant research on expressive language arts to develop practical teaching strategies for their own learning environments.
Course ID: SPED 610
Students with language-based learning disabilities often struggle with the cognitive and self-regulating tasks associated with executive function. These tasks range from organizing time, materials, information; preparing for work, managing frustration, accessing memory and self-monitoring one's progress and work. This course introduces educators to research-based strategies that increase and improve executive function through the use of effective study skills. While the course will explore relevant research on language-based learning disabilities and executive function, the emphasis will be placed on the practical teaching skills drawn from Landmark's Six Teaching Principles. These principles, which will be integrated throughout the course, encourage teachers to provide structured opportunities for students to achieve success, use multiple instructional modalities, create skill-based micro unit tasks, ensure student skill automatization through practice and review, provide models, and include the student in the learning process.

Visit the course catalog to view the full MEd in Curriculum and Instruction - Special Education curriculum.

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Upcoming term starts: March 24, 2025 | June 9, 2025

Next term starts:
Jan. 6, 2025

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
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Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

Additional Requirements:

  • Resume including any relevant K-12 instructional or curriculum development experience, for at least six months
  • Non-Licensure Acknowledgment form

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 36-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$637
$1,911
$22,932
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$16,920

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$1,911 $3,822 $5,733 $7,644
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,199

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,288

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $13,377

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $11,466

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. Most master's degrees require 36 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 12 credits, requiring a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with a master’s in special education online degree?

According to Education Week, enrollment in special education programs has doubled in the past 45 years.1 This program will help prepare you to be a educational leader with global awareness in roles like instructional coordinator, training and development specialist and special education teacher. 

Please note: Instructional coordinators in public schools may be required to have a teaching license or an education administrator license.

Industries

Once you complete our master's in special education online degree program, you'll have a skill set that's directly applicable to the following industries:

Assess the skills of young learners and adapt curriculum to meet their unique needs. Plan activities specific to each student's skillset.

Aid learners and parents with transitions between grades. Discuss student progress with parents, teachers and school administrators as needed.

Develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to each student. Assess learner performance and make changes to ensure their success.

Work one-on-one with students (typically toddlers or preschoolers) in their home. Assist with early learning, sensory processing, behavior and more.

2%

Increase in roles (as fast as average) for instructional coordinators through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2

$74,620

Median annual pay for instructional coordinators as of May 2023, according to the BLS.2

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Patrice Pilgrim-Wright '19

SNHU provides the support needed at every level and at every stage to ensure student success.

Patrice Pilgrim-Wright '19

Frequently Asked Questions

A master's in special education (paired with a teaching license) can help you stand out in instructional or administrative roles that address the needs of special education populations.

In addition to positioning you for success as a special education teacher, a master's in special education can also help you build skills to become a training and development specialist or instructional coordinator. This is thanks to the degree's heavy focus on inclusive curriculum design.

To understand the full scope of jobs you can pursue with an master's in special education, it also helps to clearly define the term. According to the Center for Parent Information & Resources, special education is "instruction that is specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability."3

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) specifically identifies 13 major categories of special needs, which are:3

  • Specific learning disability (SLD)
  • Language/speech impairment
  • Intellectual disability
  • Emotional disturbance
  • Hearing impairment
  • Orthopedic impairment
  • Visual impairment
  • Deaf-blindness
  • Autism
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Developmental delay
  • Multiple disabilities
  • Other health impairment

Ultimately, a master's in special education will help prepare you to support countless populations of students with unique needs.

Requirements for earning your master's in special education may vary by program and institution.

At Southern New Hampshire University, you can earn this degree in as few as 15 months.

To apply, you must have a bachelor's degree, as well as a minimum 6 months of relevant K-12 instructional or curriculum development experience. No application fee is required.

The cost of a master's in special education varies depending on school, location, number of credits and several other factors.

Southern New Hampshire University proudly offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. Our rate per credit hour for the master's in special education is $637. With 36 credits required to complete the program, that comes to a total tuition cost of $22,932.

We also offer financial aid, scholarships and tuition discounts for eligible students. Military service members and their families, for example, receive up to 30% tuition discounts – making our already low rates even more affordable.

Whether or not you should get your master's in special education all depends on your personal and professional goals. If you're passionate about teaching students of varying emotional, physical and cognitive abilities, the degree can help you gain the knowledge needed to better support those populations.

Courses in our Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education may include:

  • Assessment of Student Performance: Get an overview of practical performance assessments that can be used to measure student progress in a general education setting.
  • Expressive Language-Skill and Writing: Focus on strategies to help support expressive language skills for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities, primarily for writing.
  • Executive Function and Study Skills: Learn how to aid students with language-based learning disabilities, many of whom struggle with the cognitive and self-regulating tasks associated with executive function.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 33,500 openings for special education teachers are projected each year through 2032.2

The BLS also notes that federal laws require every state to maintain the same level of financial support for special education each year, thereby reducing the threat of employment layoffs due to state or federal budget constraints.2 However, employment growth may depend on increases in funding.2

Yes, you can get a special education degree online.

Southern New Hampshire University's program is 100% online and offers 24/7 access to coursework, so you can manage your schedule in a way that works for you. As a result of this added flexibility, you could earn your master's in just over a year.

Even better? Our online programs are (in many cases) more affordable than traditional in-person degree programs.

Plus, they offer many of the same benefits campus students have, including access to student clubs, internships, experiential learning opportunities and the support of our instructors, advisors and career services team.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Education Week, The Number of Students in Special Education Has Doubled in the Past 45 Years, on the internet, at https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/the-number-of-students-in-special-education-has-doubled-in-the-past-45-years/2023/07 (viewed Apr. 15, 2024).

2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm#tab-1 (viewed Apr. 15, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

3 Center for Parent Information & Resources on the internet, at:

  • https://www.parentcenterhub.org/iep-specialeducation/ (viewed Apr. 15, 2024)
  • https://www.parentcenterhub.org/wp-content/uploads/repo_items/gr3.pdf (viewed Apr. 15, 2024)