Advance your career with a master’s degree in teaching special education that equips you to teach and improve learning outcomes for students with high incidence disabilities learning in the general curriculum.
Locations
- Online (Summer entry)
Why Earn Your M.A.T with a Special Education Concentration at Georgia Southern?
- Teach, support and advocate for students with diverse learning needs.
- Fully online program with summer entry gives you the flexibility to learn from anywhere.
- CAEP accredited, Georgia Professional Standards Commission approved program.
- Increase your earning potential with an advanced degree.
- 45 credit hours to completion.
The M.A.T. in special education helps educators develop focused expertise in supporting children with diverse needs. Georgia Southern’s master’s program is part of our Elementary and Special Education Department, and its online format is designed to make advancing your education more convenient.
In addition to developing the skills you need to help individual students with high incidence disabilities reach their potential, you’ll also be equipped to create and lead the programs or systems that help improve learning outcomes for these students. You’ll complete field experiences, including a student teaching/internship, that will round out your academic journey. When you finish the program and pass the Special Education GACE exam, you’ll be eligible for the Georgia T-5 Special Education General Curriculum Certification (grades P-12).
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Concentration in Special Education?
The number of students with disabilities in the U.S. has grown over the last few decades, heightening the need for qualified, engaged educators with expertise in special education. Earning your M.A.T. in special education gives you additional knowledge and credentials to broaden your impact—and your career options.
Special education teachers with a master’s degree often specialize in particular disabilities. You may go on to pursue additional certifications and advance into leadership or administration roles within school districts, such as director of special education, where you’ll manage special education programs and provide support to teachers. Finally, the master’s degree will also equip you to work in consulting, advocacy, research or higher education if you’re interested in improving the future for students with disabilities.
Where our graduates work:
- Public school systems
- Private schools
- Magnet schools
- Early intervention programs
What our graduates do:
- Special education teacher
- Principal
- Special education director
- Adjunct professor
- Resource teacher
- Special education coordinator
- Behavior specialist
- Transition specialist
What You’ll Learn
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) leads to initial teaching certification in Special Education General Curriculum (P-12). The program builds on the knowledge you’ve gained from your bachelor’s degree in counseling, child and family development, English, mathematics, psychology, science, social science or a closely-related field.
You’ll begin with a comprehensive foundation in special education. From there, your courses will cover assessment, procedures, learning theories, classroom management and evidence based practices for students with disabilities. Several courses will provide a particular focus on literacy and mathematics for students with diverse needs. Finally, you’ll put your knowledge into practice through various clinical experiences in P-12 and a final student teaching internship, as well as other educational research opportunities.
The M.A.T program prepares you to sit for the GACE exam and earn the Georgia T-5 Special Education General Curriculum Certification (grades P-12).
See the CurriculumBuild Your Experience
Pursuing a career in education is both rewarding and challenging. Find the support, resources and community you need to succeed while you earn your graduate degree at Georgia Southern.
Get Involved
Enrich your academic experience and find community by joining one of the education-focused student organizations on campus, from Educators of Color to the Honors College.
Scholarships
The College of Education offers several scholarship opportunities to graduate students. Explore the list to see if you qualify.
TEACH Grants
Interested in making a difference and supporting the cost of your education? You could be eligible for a TEACH grant if you commit to teaching full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families.
Take Action
Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application:
- Visit our website for the College of Graduate Studies. Complete the requested information and create a login name and password.
- Follow this link and initiate an online application. The cost for the application is $50. After completing this online form, the application must be supported by transcripts, GRE scores, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of your career goals and research interests. International students should submit scores from the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language), and have transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission
- Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Present a transcript evaluation by the College of Education’s Director of the Graduate Academic Services Center with completion of specified prerequisite content coursework for one or more content areas.
- Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
- Present a total adjusted GPA of 2.75 or higher on all teaching field course work.
- Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment.
- Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service certificate or Provisional certificate (see Certification section in the Graduate Catalog
- Acknowledge “Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance.
- International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. Applicants must take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The official TOEFL score may not be more than two years old. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard may be recommended for enrollment in University English courses or for English courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) on campus prior to admission to the program. - If an applicant was previously enrolled in an initial teacher preparation program, an interview must be completed with the Program Coordinator prior to admission.
Other Program Requirements
- All new M.AT. candidates must schedule and meet with their assigned Special Education Advisor for a brief advisement orientation meeting prior to entering Step Two of the program in order to meet registration requirements.
- Candidates must take courses in sequenced order (steps one-six) to meet Special Education Program Key Assessment criteria. The need to repeat or skip a course may delay program completion.
- Candidates are required to complete 900 clinical hours to meet certification requirements. These clinical hours are included in the courses in this program of study and may include some time in your own classroom
Must earn a minimum grade of “B’” or higher in Introduction to Special Education (SPED 6130).
Apply as a Graduate StudentGraduate Academic Services Center
Stacy Davis
912-478-1447
stacydavis@georgiasouthern.edu
Alumni Spotlight
“The program was flexible and the professors were very informative. I knew if I needed anything that I could call, text or Zoom with my professors and they would be there.”
Benjamin Mitchell, ’20
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Take the Next Step
Help children with diverse needs achieve their full potential. Discover the online master’s degree in special education certification track at Georgia Southern.
Contact Us
Program Coordinators
Eric Landers, Ph.D.
Phone: 912-478-1549
ericlanders@georgiasouthern.edu
Barbara Serianni, Ph.D.
Phone: 912-344-2635
bserianni@georgiasouthern.edu
Department of Elementary and Special Education
P.O. Box 8134
Statesboro, GA 30460