Master of Education in Special Education with Certification (100% Accelerated Online Classes)

Our accelerated online M.Ed. in Special Education equips future teachers with the experience they need to become certified to teach in Texas and meet the academic needs of students with disabilities.
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Fully Online

Complete your graduate degree with the flexibility of our 100% online classes.
No GRE

No GRE or GMAT required for unconditional admission for most students.
TEACH Grants & Scholarships

Help pay for your degree and apply for competitive scholarships and grants, including a TEACH grant of up to $3,772 per academic year for qualified applicants.

TEACH Grants & Scholarships
Affordable Cost

View the UTA Tuition Estimator for an estimation of the program cost.

Tuition Estimator
Teacher with students in a classroom. Teacher is giving one student a high five.

Future Students Start Here

Take classroom learning beyond the books in our unique, 100% online Master of Education in Special Education. Through this degree, teachers and educators will equip themselves with the know-how to meet the learning and educational goals of students with special needs. Options are available for individuals who are already certified teachers and those who need to obtain initial certification.

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About the Program

Ready to become a special education teacher? Learn to meet the needs of students with disabilities in our online M.Ed. in Special Education, with in-person field placements. This option is for those with a bachelor's in another field who need to prepare for teacher/special education certification.

Program Advantages:

  • Prepares you for the Special Education Ec-12 TExES (161) and PPR EC-12 TExES (160) exams.
  • Approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as an Educator Preparation Program.
  • Taught by leaders in the field (nationally and internationally!) in special education who were all classroom teachers.

Learning outcomes for this program include:

  • Preparation to succeed in the critical role of an effective special education teacher within EC-12 schools
  • Understanding and application skills to employ research and evidence-based practices with a wide range of students with disabilities
  • Implementation of data-based decision making to assess, design and implement quality individually designed instruction
  • Emphasis on Multi-tiered Systems of Support, including response to practice and positive behavior supports across school and community settings

Career Opportunities:

Future roles could include special education teacher, inclusion facilitator, and community transition specialist. This program requires approved administrative practicum work, including a full-time, -n-person clinical teaching semester with a licensed special education teacher.

Students who start in the Fall Semester can be done in as few as 4 semesters.

Note that this program only admits students into the Fall cohort. 


Cost of Attendance

Photo of U T A special education student Amanda SmithFor the best approximation of your school costs for tuition and fees, visit the UTA Tuition Estimator.

Please note that the cost can vary by student in relation to that student's individual circumstances. Additional fees may apply.

Paying For School

UTA offers competitive funding options. For more information, view our Scholarships and Paying for School page.

UTA employees may be eligible to use the Employee Tuition Affordability Program to help pay for school. Details are online.

Certificate Information for Texas Residents

The M.Ed. in Special Education includes a heavy emphasis on teaching and learning with assistive technology, evidence-based behavioral strategies, and research. This graduate program has multiple emphasis areas including an option for initial teacher certification preparation. Students who successfully complete the certificate coursework, state and program requirements, and required exams will be eligible to apply for Texas EC-12 (early childhood-12th grade) Special Education certification. This program is uniquely focused on the needs of students with disabilities.

Information for Out-of-State students who complete education programs

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires candidates seeking certification to complete all practical in a TEA-approved site. Out-of-state students who do not complete the practicum at a UTA College of Education and TEA-approved site and meet all other TEA requirements do not qualify for Texas educator certification. If seeking certification outside of Texas, please work with your state agency in the state in which you are seeking certification to determine eligibility and to complete any additional requirements.  Please note that after successful completion of your UTA College of Education degree, you may request a memo indicating your degree completion.  UTA cannot recommend out-of-state students for certification and cannot recommend out-of-state students to take Texas certification exam(s). Additionally, UTA faculty and staff cannot complete out-of-state form requests for individuals seeking certification, licensure, and/or endorsements in another state according to TEA.

Changes

Program requirements may change as state/TEA certification requirements change.


View the official catalog for additional admissions criteria and important information for the: 

  • M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
  • M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with Principal Certificate Courses
  • M.Ed. in Special Education Advanced Program (non-certification option) 
  • M.Ed. in Special Education with initial teacher certification 
  • Principal Certification Only

Official Catalog

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Education must submit two* recommendation forms. The required Recommendation Form is available for download here. Please wait until you receive your 10-digit, UTA student ID number and until a member of our academic team contacts you to submit your recommendation forms. 

*Note: The Principal Certification Only Program requires three recommendation forms. 

Program Eligibility, International Admissions and English Language Test Score Requirements

 

Information for Permanent Residents and International Applicants 

Our fully online programs are open to United States Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and International Students who do not hold F1, J1, B1, and B2 status. In addition to the required application and admission documents, the following materials must also be submitted:

  • Lawful Permanent Residents: Submit a copy of your Permanent Resident Card.
  • The TOEFL* or IELTS is required if an applicant’s native language is not English or if the applicant does not hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. It typically takes 10-15 business days for scores to arrive from ETS and be processed by Admissions. The test must be taken in time for results to arrive and be processed in Admissions before completion of the second course. Those wishing to request a waiver of this requirement should contact the graduate advisor. You are required to submit an official test score report sent directly from the testing agency. UTA's ETS institutional code is 6013.

*Certification programs only accept TOEFL due to Texas Education Agency requirements. 

View test score requirements online. 

Additional Resources

Have additional questions? 

Email UTA's international office at international@uta.edu.

*The resources provided here are for informational purposes. Please review the UTA's website and Official Catalog for official information. 


The military life Lamiea Ezell had known ended abruptly. But following a strenuous recovery, she was able to begin a new chapter, which will culminated in her earning her master's degree in special education from UT Arlington.

FEATURED NEWS ABOUT THE PROGRAM

5 February

UTA aims to meet demand in special education

UTA project will prepare educators for teaching students with disabilities

8 March

The Dallas Morning News Features Project R.E.A.D.Y.

Federal grant pays for nearly 100% of tuition, fees, and more -- and underscores faculty's commitment to serving students with disabilities. 

1 April

New Approach to School Discipline

Challenges with school discipline create a compelling case for change that one UTA researcher wants to tackle. 

8 April

Tiny Tots Help Teach Real-Classroom Concepts

A little lesson for education majors in John Romig’s course is helping Mavericks learn the foundational skills children need for classroom...

14 December

A graduating Maverick—and her mission to serve

After a combat brain injury, Air Force vet earned degree to help children with special needs

Course of Study

The following are requirements for the M.Ed. in Special Education within initial certification. 

Total 30 hours, including: 

  • 100% accelerated online classes
  • In-person field experiences 
  • Non-Thesis (no thesis is required for this degree program)

Special Education Degree Plan

Review the M.Ed. in Special Education degree plan based on the semester you start the program.

M.Ed. in Special Education

Advanced Track

Programs of Study

 

FALL SEMESTER

Includes coursework that may require access to school setting.

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE
 LENGTH OF TIME 
SPED 5307 Special Education Policy First 8 Weeks 
SPED 5302 Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers Second 8 Weeks

 

SPRING SEMESTER
Includes coursework that may require access to school setting.

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5316 Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis First 8 Weeks
SPED 5305 Advanced LD Second 8 Weeks

 

SUMMER SEMESTER

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
EDUC 5394

Understanding & Designing Classroom Research

 First 5 weeks
SPED 5313 Single Case Research Methods Second 7 Weeks

 

FALL SEMESTER
Includes coursework that may require access to school setting.

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5310 Advanced Behavior Disorders First 8 Weeks
SPED 5319

Teaching Students with Moderate-Severe Disabilities and Autism

 Second 8 Weeks

 

SPRING SEMESTER
Includes coursework that may require access to school setting.

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5317 Autism Spectrum Disorders First 8 Weeks
SPED 5315 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Second 8 Weeks

 

M.Ed. in Special Education

Advanced Track

Programs of Study

Notes:
• Fall and Spring courses are 8 weeks long.
• Summer courses are 5 to 7-weeks long and may begin in May.
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in the program.
• 001 section is for in-state; 002 section is for out of state registration.

 

SPRING SEMESTER*

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE
 LENGTH OF TIME 
SPED 5305 Advanced Learning Disabilities First 8 Weeks 
SPED 5315 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Second 8 Weeks

SUMMER SEMESTER*

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5394 Understanding & Designing Classroom Research First 8 Weeks
SPED 5313 Single Case Research Methods Second 8 Weeks

FALL SEMESTER*

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
EDUC 5307 Special Education Policy First 5 weeks
SPED 5302 Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers Second 7 Weeks

SPRING SEMESTER*

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5317 Autism Spectrum Disorders First 8 Weeks
SPED 5316 Advanced ABA Second 8 Weeks

FALL SEMESTER*

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE  LENGTH OF TIME
SPED 5310 Advanced Behavior Disorders First 8 Weeks
SPED 5319 Teaching Students with Moderate-Severe Disabilities & Autism Second 8 Weeks

*Includes coursework that may require access to school setting.

Notes about the Course Map***

Discontinuing out of the Program
Before discontinuing out of the program or deviating from the above course map in any way, please email your academic advisor. Failing to take a course as scheduled could delay your graduation for up to a year or more.

Reminder: you will need a minimum of 5 credits per semester for financial aid eligibility consideration.

Graduation
You will find important graduation information and application deadline here. Completing all your courses does not automatically make you eligible for your degree. Your degree, if you apply for graduation, will be conferred at the end of this semester. You will be invited to attend and walk the stage for a commencement ceremony.

Program Director & Faculty Members

Dr. Ambra Green

Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success

Associate Professor, Special Education

green

Email: ambra.green@uta.edu

Phone #: 817-272-2515

Office: 412 Hammond Hall

Research Interests: Multi-tiered systems of support and equity, disproportionality, equity, behavioral disorders : Ambra L. Green, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Special Education within the College of Education at The University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Green is a national scholar with publications and research focused on students of color with and at-risk for disabilities, issues related to inequitable school practices experienced by students of color (i.e., disproportionality in special education and discipline practices), behavior disorders, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and teacher use of evidence-based practices. She is the Primary Investigator on a $1.1 million U.S. Department of Education Office for Special Education Programs (OSEP) personnel preparation grant which provides rigorous training for master’s special education and social work students to support K-12 students with disabilities and high intensity needs. Dr. Green also has experience working within the U.S. Department of Education Office for Special Education Programs (OSEP) and serves on the OSEP National Technical Assistance Center on PBIS Equity workgroup  Dr. Green was a special educator at the middle school level and a PBIS Coach. She holds current teacher certifications in EC-6 Generalist, 4-8 Generalist, and EC-12 Special Education in the state of Texas.