Online Master of Education — Special Education
Prepare to serve children across the spectrum of special education and help them reach their full potential.
Program Overview
See a snapshot of the online M.Ed. in Special Education program
Gain the credentials to advance your career in a rewarding, high-demand field in the Master of Education – Special Education online program from Eastern Washington University. The flexible online format enables educators to continue working while earning a master's degree from the leader for educator preparation in the Northwest in as few as 12 months.
Deepen your insight into all aspects of inclusive education for students with disabilities in P - 12. Coursework is 100 percent online. Focus on designing instruction for students with low- and high-incidence disabilities. Increase proficiency in managing student behavior and social interaction skills and their assessment. Learn about the diagnosis and evaluation of exceptional students and how to nurture the unique skills of young children in school settings.
This online special education program meets the requirements for an add-on endorsement in special education for teaching certificates in the state of Washington.* For working special education teachers who have obtained a special education endorsement on a teaching license at the undergraduate level, an M.Ed. can increase earnings potential and open up leadership opportunities in special education.
Through curriculum aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards, this program also provides an opportunity for general education teachers to earn a second endorsement in a specialty area*, in addition to the potential for career advancement.
The Eastern Washington University School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (AACSB).
Graduates of this online special education program will be prepared to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the field of special education and disabilities as measured by passing the Washington State National Evaluation Series tests;
- think critically about new research and current issues in education and special education and apply this information to problems of practice;
- support the inclusion of students with disabilities in the K-12 public school system;
- administer, interpret, use and communicate assessment information in the delivery of special education services;
- deliver specially designed instruction that is evidence-based, meets Washington State and Federal legal requirements, and improves the lives of students with disabilities;
- collaborate with families, teachers, school staff and the community in the delivery of special education services;
- produce legally correct and professionally appropriate special education documents (such as individualized education programs, evaluation reports, functional behavior assessments, positive behavior support plans and lesson plans) and communicate the contents of these documents as appropriate and needed for the delivery of special education services.
- demonstrate an understanding of the field of special education and disabilities as measured by passing the Washington State National Evaluation Series tests;
- think critically about new research and current issues in education and special education and apply this information to problems of practice;
- support the inclusion of students with disabilities in the K-12 public school system;
- administer, interpret, use and communicate assessment information in the delivery of special education services;
- deliver specially designed instruction that is evidence-based, meets Washington State and Federal legal requirements, and improves the lives of students with disabilities;
- collaborate with families, teachers, school staff and the community in the delivery of special education services;
- produce legally correct and professionally appropriate special education documents (such as individualized education programs, evaluation reports, functional behavior assessments, positive behavior support plans and lesson plans) and communicate the contents of these documents as appropriate and needed for the delivery of special education services.
Also available online:
EWU offers a variety of graduate education degree programs in a convenient online format. Check out all our online M.Ed. programs.
The School of Education programs are approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB).
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Tuition
Learn more about our pay-as-you-go tuition
The special education master’s program online offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to all students residing in and out of the state of Washington.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 4-Credit Hour Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Ed. Special Education | $325 | $1,300 | $16,250* |
Application Fee: $75
*Tuition and fees subject to change. Total program cost does not include foundation courses. If foundation courses are required, the cost will be added to the total program cost.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Take a look at upcoming EWU dates and deadlines
The M.Ed. – Special Education online program is designed to be flexible for working professionals, with six-week courses and seven start dates a year. View the full calendar to find the upcoming start date that’s best for you, along with corresponding deadlines for submitting documents, enrolling, and paying tuition.
Now enrolling:
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall II | 11/4/24 | 10/21/24 | 10/30/24 | 11/2/24 |
| Winter I | 12/30/24 | 12/16/24 | 12/24/24 | 12/28/24 |
| Winter II | 2/10/25 | 1/27/25 | 2/5/25 | 2/8/25 |
| Spring I | 3/31/25 | 3/17/25 | 3/26/25 | 3/29/25 |
| Spring II | 5/12/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/10/25 |
Now enrolling:
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Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Know the requirements for this online special education master’s program
The admission process for this online special education master’s degree program is streamlined to help you get started sooner. A teaching certificate is required for admission to this program.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Teacher certification
M.Ed. – Special Education Online Requirements
- Teaching certificate required
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester-graded postsecondary credit hours**
- Official transcript from the college/university where degree was earned
Have a question? Call us at 800-826-3411.
**We encourage you to apply if your GPA is lower than a 3.0 and you have at least 3 years of professional work experience. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an Enrollment Services representative at 800-826-3411 for more information.
This offering is available as an endorsement program for those teachers who hold or who have held an initial, residency, continuing or professional teaching certificate in the state of Washington. If you do not hold a teaching certificate in Washington or do not hold a teaching certificate at all, you are still encouraged to apply.
Please note however that this will not lead to a teaching certificate in Washington. Additionally, this program may satisfy the requirements for states other than Washington. Please check with your applicable licensing board to determine whether this program satisfies requirements for licensure in the state in which you reside. For current contact information for applicable licensing boards, please refer to our State Authorization page. For information on certification in the state of Washington, contact Christi Wavada at [email protected].
Document Submission Information
Order your official, electronic transcripts from the degree-granting institution where you earned your highest degree (bachelor’s or master’s) and have them sent to Eastern Washington University.
- Most EWU graduate programs only require one transcript. Please submit a transcript from your degree-granting institution. This transcript should include the final two years of your degree completion. If it does not, please submit transcripts to cover your final two years of earned credits.
- Please note that transcripts ordered by main may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.
If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:
Eastern Washington University
Showalter Hall 206
Cheney, WA 99004
Courses
Read about our online master’s in special education
In order to earn the Master of Education – Special Education online, you must complete 14 courses (50 credit hours), comprised of 16 credit hours of core courses and 34 credit hours of specialization courses (including an internship). All courses are six weeks in length.
You must take the following courses.
