Special Education (MA)

Make a Difference in the Lives of Exceptional Learners

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Locations Offered

Webster University Online,
In Person, or Hybrid

3 years,
part-time

Time to Completion

$730

Cost Per Credit Hour

33–36

Credit Hours Required

Improve and support special education services at the classroom, school, community and system levels

Webster University’s Master of Arts in Special Education will empower you to create an inclusive classroom for exceptional learners through:

Expert faculty mentors. Benefit from direct access to experts in special education with real-world, long-term experience working in the field.
Hands-on learning experiences. Complete a practicum experience in a school setting, giving you an opportunity to put theory into practice.
A collaborative learning environment. Work with and learn from parents, teachers and other professionals to create a supportive learning environment for all students.

Explore the Program

Tailored to your individual interests

Personalize your learning experience

Specialize your knowledge and skills in special education by focusing on a specific area of study that interests you. Webster University’s Master of Arts in Special Education offers the following concentrations:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Discover how ABA helps students with disabilities learn and develop. This certificate will prepare you to apply and sit for the board-certified Behavior Analyst® Examination.
Mild/Moderate Disabilities. Learn about the characteristics of students with mild to moderate disabilities, as well as how to develop and implement accessible, effective instructional strategies.
Specialized Approaches for Exceptional Learners. Choose a specific area of interest in special education, such as gifted education, autism spectrum disorders or emotional and behavioral disorders.
Graduate Certificate on Dyslexia. Discover the causes of dyslexia, how to identify students with dyslexia and how to develop and implement instructional strategies for dyslexic students.

Program Curriculum

Students in the Master of Arts in Special Education program are required to complete a minimum of 33 credit hours, 24 of which must be in special education. Students considering graduate study at the doctoral level are encouraged to complete six credit hours of field research and complete a thesis, for a program total of 36 credit hours.

Your course list

The following courses are required, with a minimum grade of B- in each course, for all Special Education majors:

Advocating for Persons with Disabilities or Ethics and Professional Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Field Research or Thesis (for graduate students interested in doctoral studies)
Applied Research Methods or Single Subject Research Design
Global Issues in Special Education
Integrating Resources: Community, School and Family
Socioemotional Development: Children with Special Needs

Emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis

Behavior Change Procedures
Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis
Ethics and Professional Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis
Functional Behavioral Assessment and Interventions
Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
Single-Subject Research Design
Supervision and Staff Performance

Emphasis in Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Advanced Studies in Language Development and Acquisition
Methods for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities I and II
Psychoeducational Assessment
One advisor-approved graduate course

Emphasis in Specialized Approaches for Exceptional Learners

Five courses from the following list, or other advisor-approved graduate courses

Advanced Studies in Language Development and Acquisition
Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Students with SDD and Autism
Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis
Intensive Academic Intervention
Language Development
Mindfulness
Psychoeducational Assessment
Restorative Justice: Learning Communities
Topics in Special Education
Understanding and Responding to Trauma in Schools
Universal School-Wide PBIS

Learn More About Your Options

Advance your career while advocating for children with disabilities

According to the American Association for Employment in Education 2020-2021 Supply and Demand Report, there is a considerable shortage of teachers in the special education field, with a 4.59% shortage in school districts. Some of our graduates go on to work with community organizations to advocate for people with disabilities. With your master’s in Special Education from Webster, you’ll be prepared for a career such as:

Special Education Teacher

$62,950

Median Annual Salary
(National, May 2022)

Community Service Manager

$74,240

Median Annual Salary
(National, May 2022)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Achieve your personal and professional goals

An education nationally recognized for quality

Earn your CAEP-accredited Master of Arts in Special Education from Webster University, an independent, nonprofit university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Professors. Professionals. Mentors.

Gain real-world knowledge from faculty experts with professional experience. Our professors serve as mentors eager to support your career goals and connect you to opportunities, including internships and jobs.

A well-rounded experience

By receiving my master’s through Webster University, I was able to balance taking courses, working a full-time job and preparing for my BCBA certification exam. I was able to learn a lot from people from different perspectives on ABA and what special education should look like. All the courses did a great job giving me a well-rounded experience and preparing me for the different perspectives of ABA that I would experience after graduating.

- Christopher Ike Timbreza
Webster Special Education Graduate

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