Top Online Master’s Degrees in Special Education

Advantages of Earning Your Master’s in Special Education Online

Earning a master’s in special education degree, especially in a quality online program, brings several benefits. Here are three of the biggest.

A challenging, varied, and satisfying career

Working as a teacher is not easy in any environment. It’s particularly challenging when combined with the psychological, emotional, behavioral, and physical issues of special needs students. However, you will enjoy the genuine respect and gratitude of students, parents, and colleagues, along with the satisfaction of making a real, positive, and lasting impact in students’ lives.

Career advancement

Advancement in the education profession often means moving into administrative jobs, and an education-related master’s degree is almost always a prerequisite for these positions. With a special education master’s degree, you are well-positioned to move into positions like special education program coordinators and special education directors.

Convenience

Master’s in special education online programs provide maximum convenience and flexibility to busy students, particularly those working as teachers or in other education-related positions. With asynchronous formats, you can access and complete coursework at times that best fit your demanding work and life schedule.

Assistive Technology in Special Education

This course overviews current instructional and assistive technologies and their applications in both general special education practice and for addressing the needs of students with specific learning disabilities. A range of technologies and applications are covered, including educational software, adapted microcomputers, digital media, voice input/output, and alternative input and output methods.

Classroom Management

Students in this course gain an understanding of the basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and their implementation across a Positive Behavior Support Model. Students develop competencies related to behavior management through a review of theory, curriculum, and instructional delivery and research-based classroom management practices.

Evidence-based Educational Research

This is an introductory course in evidence-based educational research and evaluation methodologies. Topics include the four major research approaches, conducting effective literature reviews, researching study design and analysis, and planning and writing successful research proposals.

Special Education Law and Policy

This course reviews the legal rights of students and their families as they relate to the field of special education. Students also develop an understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Topics include the federal statutes and regulations concerning assessment and evaluation procedures, mediation, due process, and discipline; individual education plans (IEPs); least restrictive environment (LRE); and free appropriate education (FAPE).

Families and Schools – Communication and Collaboration

This course is an in-depth study of family-school partnerships in special education, including the communication, collaboration, and interaction processes among children, their families, teachers, schools, and the community. Students gain knowledge regarding the educational, community, and social needs of families and how special education professionals can address them.

Applied Behavior Analysis

Behavior analysis is a specific strategy that, in the context of special education, is used to treat many behavior problems related to mental health, anxiety, addiction, developmental disabilities, and juvenile delinquency. Students gain the evaluation, development, and implementation techniques needed to help special education students achieve positive behavioral change. Students also are prepared for the BCBA exam to become board certified behavior analysts.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

This concentration focuses on research-based strategies, proper assessment, and behavior modification for students of all ages diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Areas covered include initial diagnosis and assessment, intervention, and instructional methodologies; alternative and augmentative socialization and communication strategies; and applied behavior analysis approaches.

Cognitive Impairment

Students selecting this concentration are introduced to the different fields of cognitive impairment (mild, moderate, and severe) and the various historical, educational, political, and medical systems affecting them. Other topics include the assessment, curriculum, teaching, and classroom management methods and techniques for working with cognitively impaired students.

Emotional Impairment

Emotional impairment concerns behavioral problems that adversely affect a student’s education. Students choosing this concentration learn about theories of the etiology of emotional impairment and the teaching methods and techniques applied to address emotional impairment issues in the education setting.

Learning Disabilities

Not to be confused with cognitive impairment, learning disabilities are disorders affecting a person’s ability to properly direct their attention, coordinate movements, understand written and spoken language, and do math calculations. Coursework in this concentration introduces students to relevant learning disability theory and the development of integrated curriculums, instructional methods, and decision-making strategies to address learning issues in the classroom.