Online M.S. in Education: Special Education Specialization
Foster Student Growth in Special Education Classrooms
Online special education program
Learn from seasoned faculty
Transfer up to 12 graduate credits
No GRE requirement
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
- Duration As few as 12 months
- Cost per Credit $574
- 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 will count toward a Special Education endorsement in Oregon, additional coursework is required.
- 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.
Required Courses
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.
This course will address curriculum content, specialized instructional models, methods, materials, supports, technologies, and resources for teaching pre-academic and academic skills to learners with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities. Prerequisite: Admission to the Special Education Endorsement Program. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course.
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
Customize Your Area of Study
Tailor your education by selecting one or more of the following concentrations, helping you achieve your personalized career goals.
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.
In many states, yes. CTE certification pathways often allow industry professionals with documented work experience to enter teaching through alternative routes, recognizing that real-world expertise is essential to authentic CTE instruction. State requirements vary, with most requiring a combination of industry experience, content-area knowledge, and pedagogy coursework. A master’s in CTE strengthens this pathway and supports long-term career advancement in CTE leadership roles.
Requirements vary by state and setting. K-12 classroom teaching of environmental topics typically falls under a state teaching license. Informal education roles at nature centers, parks, and nonprofits often do not require formal teacher certification. Specialized credentials like Certified Environmental Educator (CEE) through state affiliates of NAAEE can strengthen career prospects in informal education settings.
The M.S. in Education practicum experiences vary by concentration. For example, the Literacy concentration, Reading Intervention endorsement requires a 90-hour practicum in a working classroom setting. These hands-on experiences allow you to apply your learning in real educational environments while working toward your degree. The practicum component provides valuable experience even for those who don’t have prior teaching experience. Learn more on the program courses page.
CTE is organized into 16 federally-recognized career clusters under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, including healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, agriculture and natural resources, business management, construction, hospitality and tourism, transportation, education and training, public safety, and STEM-related fields. EOU’s MSEd in CTE prepares educators to design and lead instruction across any of these industry clusters.
EOU’s online MSEd in CTE is designed for working professionals and can typically be completed in approximately two years of part-time study. Timeline depends on course load per term and any transferred credits. The fully online format allows current CTE teachers, industry professionals, and workforce development staff to earn the degree without leaving their current roles or relocating to Oregon.
Students attending Eastern Oregon University can pursue a variety of scholarships. To review the current options, visit the scholarships section.
Sources
- 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/.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.