Master of Science in Education for Career Changers: Special Education (All Grades)

Ready for a meaningful career shift? Our Master of Science in Education: Teaching Students with Disabilities opens doors to a rewarding future in education.

Designed for professionals transitioning to teaching, this comprehensive program equips you with the skills to make a lasting impact on pre-K through grade 12 learners with disabilities. You'll align with NYSED's Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Framework, supporting students from all backgrounds.

Tailored for career changers, the program offers full-time and part-time options with flexible online courses to meet your busy schedule. You'll master core education principles while gaining hands-on experience through fieldwork and student teaching. The unique curriculum gives you strategies for inclusive, resource room, and self-contained settings while advancing equity-based and safe learning environments.

Join a community of dedicated educators committed to unlocking every student's potential. Your professional experience combined with our specialized training will make you a valuable asset in special education.

Embrace change. Empower futures. Start your journey to becoming an exceptional special educator today.

Why Earn a Master’s Degree in Special Education?

The Licensure Requirement
In New York State, once you receive your Teaching Certificate you must earn a master’s degree within five years of teaching. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, the program will support you in gaining initial certification, and give you a head start toward meeting the full teaching credential.

Job Security
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024-2025 reports that more than half of school districts and 80% of states show a shortage of special education teachers. Also, an MSEd and job experience  will provide you with the credentials to enroll in advanced certificate programs to support your teaching or in leadership programs to become a principal or district leader.

Personal Enrichment 
By enrolling in the Master of Science in Education: Teaching Students with Disabilities program, you will reach your personal goal of giving the gift of learning to a deserving population, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you have helped shape a child’s future.  

The master’s degree in special education for career changers is a 47-credit, flexible online teacher education program with both full-time and part-time study options. Master’s candidates will engage in high-level coursework in subjects that include:

• Foundations and Contemporary Issues of Urban & Special Education
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Curriculum Development, Instructional Planning, and Research-Based Supports for Students with Disabilities
• Developing High-Quality, Individualized Programs (IEPs) for Exceptional Learners
• Foundational Literacy for Students with Disabilities
• Collaborative Partnerships and Inclusive Practices in Special Education
• Teaching English Language Learners and Multicultural Issues

Master’s students will complete fieldwork aligned with course specific competencies and a full semester student teaching component allowing them to exercise their understanding of the academic field and to apply classroom theory in work settings – lesson planning, classroom management, delivery of instruction, assessment, and challenges in special education and urban settings.

Lastly, the curriculum provides a capstone research seminar and thesis project, during which students complete a Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA).
 

How Long Does it Take to Get a Master’s Degree in Special Education

The Master of Science in Education: Teaching Students with Disabilities for career changers is a 5-semester program with a rigorous course schedule. Full-time students may complete the degree in as little as a year and a half (Monroe offers three full semesters each year – fall, winter and spring), but part-time is always available. 

Candidates must submit:

• Completed application
• Official transcript from an approved undergraduate program
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Resume 
• 2 letters of recommendation (at least one professional)
• A personal statement describing why they want to attend the program
• Accuplacer math assessment to determine current math skills (to be reviewed in consideration of supplemental math course) 
• Ability of candidate to meet 100 hours of fieldwork and 70 school days of student teaching

Candidates must also participate in a pre-admission personal interview.

Learn more about how to apply to Monroe University.

How Much Does a Master’s in Education Cost?

Monroe wants to support your decision to step into a teaching career. That’s why, in addition to offering affordable tuition and fees, our dedicated financial aid officers will work with you one-on-one to help you secure every scholarship, grant, and loan for which you’re eligible, including the federal TEACH Grant specifically designed for graduate students.

Another highly regarded aid package is the NYSED Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOCII) grant which Monroe recently received. It provides qualified, diverse New York State resident candidates with a Teaching Professions Scholarship specific to Monroe’s graduate programs. 

These excellent funding opportunities, along with our affordable tuition and fees, make Monroe one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Value Schools in Regional Universities North.

Where Can I Teach with a Master’s Degree? 

With your teaching certificate and an MSEd, you are qualified to teach in preschools as well as public or private K-12 classrooms. In these environments, you may also choose to work in inclusionary classrooms or resource rooms.

Other educational settings may include home programs, hospitals, clinics, health agencies, and residential facilities. You can even advance your career toward becoming a school counselor, instructional coordinator, or principal.