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Special Education Online Master's Concentration Within the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction Program

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Total courses 3 (of 12)

Term length 10 weeks

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Concentration Overview Why focus on special education?

Want to meet the instructional and transitional needs of students with disabilities? Choosing the special education concentration adds this focus to your master's in education.

In the online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education from Southern New Hampshire University, you'll study 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 Career-focused special education classes

In the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education, 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.

Note: The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education program at SNHU will not lead directly to licensure.

Concentration Course Descriptions

Your 3-course special education concentration explained

Your entire MEd in Curriculum and Instruction degree consists of 12 courses (36 credits). For 9 of your courses, you’ll take master's-level curriculum and instruction classes (27 credits). If you choose this concentration, the remaining 3 courses (9 credits) will focus specifically on special education.

In this concentration, you can choose from any of our graduate-level special education courses. This means that you can dig into the special education subjects that interest you most.

Courses may include:

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 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.
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.

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

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Faculty Profile

Learn from instructors with industry experience

Our faculty members carry with them decades of experience in education. By bringing real-world insights to the classroom, they can help position graduates for success in this ever-evolving field.

Featured Faculty

Jay Nagy
Jay Nagy, the associate dean of SNHU's online master's in curriculum and instruction program.

Jay Nagy joined Southern New Hampshire University in 2019 as a facilitator for the Master of Education in Online Instruction program before stepping into his current role in 2024. With more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership, Nagy previously held the role of director of career and technical education for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, overseeing secondary and postsecondary programming across multiple facilities. He’s served on state and county advisory committees advancing education within correctional environments and brings extensive knowledge in program development, compliance and accreditation.

Position
Associate Dean

Joined SNHU
2019

Education

  • MS in Business Education and MBA from Southern New Hampshire University
  • BA in Psychology from Notre Dame College
  • AS in Drafting Technology from New Hampshire Technical College
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  • Resume including any relevant K-12 instructional or curriculum development experience for at least six months
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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
$659
$1,977
$23,724
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:

$1,977 $3,954 $5,931 $7,908
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $21,747

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,770

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,793

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,816

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 my special education concentration?

If you want to build a career that supports students with learning challenges, a master’s with a concentration in special education can help. While the online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction helps you build education leadership and curricular decision-making skills, the special education concentration prepares you to see this work through another lens. In a role like instructional coordinator or training and development specialist, you could ensure students with disabilities receive the support, guidance and resources needed to succeed.

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

Industries

Once you complete the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education online degree program, you'll have a skill set that's directly applicable to the following work environments:

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

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%
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Increase nationally in roles (as fast as average) for instructional coordinators through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$74,620
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Median annual pay nationally for instructional coordinators as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1 Statistic not based on wage data for SNHU graduates.

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 are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

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Patrice Pilgrim-Wright, who earned her online master's in education from SNHU in 2020.

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

Patrice Pilgrim-Wright '19 '20G

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding a special education concentration to your master's in curriculum and instruction can help you stand out in instructional or administrative roles that address the needs of special education populations.

Some programs, like the online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education from Southern New Hampshire University, have specialized curricula that help you focus your passion for special education in a unique way. With a focus on education leadership, learner assessment and curriculum design, this degree could set you up for success in careers including:

  • Special education instructional coach: Support and train teachers in inclusive practices and differentiated instruction.
  • Curriculum and instruction coordinator: Lead curriculum design and implementation across schools or districts.
  • Inclusion/intervention specialist: Help develop and manage strategies for integrating students with disabilities into general education settings.
  • Educational consultant: Advise schools, districts or education companies on special education programs, curriculum and compliance.
  • Professional development coordinator: Design and deliver teacher training on inclusive and evidence-based instructional strategies.
  • Instructional designer/curriculum developer: Create accessible, standards-aligned learning materials for schools or educational technology organizations.
  • Special education program administrator: Manage and evaluate special education services and staff within a school or district.
  • Policy specialist: Work with nonprofits or government agencies to shape special education policy and advocate for equitable learning opportunities.

To understand the full scope of jobs you can pursue with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a concentration in special education, it also helps to clearly define the term. According to the Center for Parent Information & Resources, special education is "specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability."2

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) specifically identifies 13 major categories of special needs, which are:2

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

Ultimately, an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education will help prepare you to support countless populations of students with unique needs.

Learn more about why an online master's in curriculum and instruction can be worth it.

According to the BLS, about 33,500 openings for special education teachers are projected each year through 2032.1

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.1 However, employment growth may depend on increases in funding.1

At colleges and universities, a concentration is a focused area of study within a larger degree program. A concentration generally replaces elective coursework in the major or discipline, allowing students to focus their studies on an area of interest.

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Sources & Citations

1Bureau 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.

2Center 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)