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Master of Science in Education: Special Education

Foster Student Growth in Special Education Classrooms

Online special education program

Learn from seasoned faculty

Transfer up to 12 graduate credits

No GRE requirement

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Complete the form to learn more about this program.

  • Duration As few as 12 months
  • Cost per Credit $537
  • Credit Hours 36

Program Benefits

  • Gain specialized knowledge through our special education program
  • Prepare to seek a Special Education endorsement
  • Receive one-on-one coaching from your faculty and advisors
  • Take classes part-or full-time

Expand Your Qualifications in EOU’s Online Special Education Degree Program

By earning a master’s in special education online, you can build the right competencies for teaching learners with exceptionalities. In Eastern Oregon University’s online M.S. in Education, you can choose a Special Education concentration that explores the theory, assessments and academic methods central to providing specialized educational support to students. We designed this online program for working educators, delivering the flexibility needed to succeed in class and your career.

Endorsement Details for EOU’s Special Education Program

  • This online special education master’s degree can exclusively recommend candidates for Special Education endorsements in Oregon.
  • To receive a Special Education endorsement recommendation, you must have an Oregon license (this is not an initial licensure program).
  • If you teach outside of Oregon, you can request for your home state to verify that you completed this program. After that, your home state can determine whether it will accept our program for your licensure.

Curriculum: Special Education Concentration

Online courses

Finish in 12 – 36 months

36 quarter credit hours

By earning a special education master’s degree online, you can gain an understanding of how developmental differences affect student learning in class and life. EOU’s online degree in special education provides a multifaceted perspective on the legal considerations, procedures and assessments that special education teachers must know. You’ll also delve into specialized instructional models, technologies and resources that help students develop functional and transitional skills to succeed academically and personally.

Featured Courses

This introductory level course addresses the history of special education and presents theories of exceptionality, with a focus on individual differences in cognitive, physical, affective, sensory, and communicative development that affect learning in school and throughout life. The definitions, prevalence, causes, and characteristics associated with categories and conditions of exceptionality are emphasized and state eligibility criteria are introduced. Multiculturalism and diversity as related to exceptionality are addressed. Prerequisite: Admission to Special Education Endorsement Program. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course.
Legislation, litigation and governance structures relevant to special education are presented. Federal, state, and local guidelines, procedures and practices in special education are examined, including pre-referral, referral, and assessment and identification, and placement processes. Service delivery models and options are identified and analyzed. Strategies and techniques for disseminating information and training to site level personnel regarding special law and procedures are provided. Prerequisite: Admission to Special Education Endorsement Program. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course.

Foundations of assessment will be reviewed, including basic principles and professional standards underlying assessment in special education, historical and current approaches to assessment, legal and procedural aspects of assessment, and basic measurement concepts. Types of assessments, instruments, and procedures for assessing mild, moderate, and severe disabilities in the areas College of Education 169 of cognition, sensory, and perception skills, pre-academics, academics, and communication skills are presented in this course. Emphasis is placed on the selection of appropriate instruments and approaches, on the administration and scoring of assessment instruments and on the interpretation of assessment data. Prerequisites: Basic Statistics or equivalent. Admission to Special Educator Endorsement Program. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course.

View Complete Curriculum

Advance in Essential, In-Demand Teaching Roles

A recent Oregon Education Association study found that Oregon schools haven’t had enough licensed special education teachers for 25 years.1 Educators who earn their M.S. in Special Education online can prepare to fill this void by building qualifications for education careers with high demand. In fact, Oregon’s special education teacher employment is projected to grow 10 percent in elementary and middle schools and 11 percent in high schools from 2020 to 2030.2,3,4

Elementary Special Education $90,600 Avg. annual salary (Oregon)5

High School Special Education $84,740 Avg. annual salary (Oregon)5

Career Outlook

Customize Your Area of Study

Tailor your education to your professional goals by choosing one of the following tracks.

Master of Science in Education: Curriculum Leadership

Grow as an educational leader capable of developing, implementing and evaluating curriculum that aligns with learning standards and assessment data.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Dyslexia

Learn to perform interventions and assessments focusing on literacy development to create empowering learning environments for children with dyslexia.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: ESOL

This online program prepares you to teach second language learners and enables licensed teachers in Oregon to seek an ESOL endorsement.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Literacy

Build skills for nurturing literacy engagement in PK-12 schools. Oregon teachers can seek a Reading Intervention endorsement after graduation.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Trauma in Educational Communities

Oregon teachers can prepare to create trauma-informed classrooms and pursue a specialization in Trauma in Educational Communities after graduation.

View Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.

No, prior work experience is not required. Learn more about our admissions policy by visiting our admissions page.

Completing an online special education degree program prepares you to become a special education teacher or classroom teacher with specialized knowledge.

There are five courses in the concentration component of this online program. Learn more about the coursework for this program by visiting the courses page.

You can change your concentration after enrolling in the M.S. in Education: Special Education program. However, each concentration includes distinct courses, so your program duration may be extended if you make changes after completing courses for the Special Education concentration. To explore the courses for each concentration, visit the courses page.

Similar to online special education master’s degree programs, this concentration helps you gain career-ready skills for special education teaching roles. These specialized skills will allow you to stand out among other professionals in your field and better compete for the position you want. To explore the courses for this concentration, visit the courses page.

Students attending Eastern Oregon University can pursue a variety of scholarships. To review the current options, visit the scholarships section.

Visit our FAQ page

Sources

  1. Oregon Capital Chronicle. “Schools hiring emergency teachers for special education…” Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/04/13/schools-continue-to-hire-emergency-special-education-teachers-potentially-violating-federal-law/.
  2. O*NET OnLine. Oregon Employment Trends 25-2056.00 – Special Education Teachers, Elementary School. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/25-2056.00?st=OR.
  3. O*NET OnLine. Oregon Employment Trends 25-2057.00 – Special Education Teachers, Middle School. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/25-2057.00?st=OR.
  4. O*NET OnLine. Oregon Employment Trends 25-2058.00 – Special Education Teachers, Secondary School. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/25-2058.00?st=OR.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (Oregon).” Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes_or.htm.