About this Program

This program prepares teachers and agency personnel to design and implement curricula for children, adolescents, and adults who require special educational services. Graduates serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address educational, emotional, and physical disabilities. In this program, a student can choose an endorsement in special education: general curriculum K-12 (mild/moderate disabilities); early childhood special education (birth–5); and/or special education: adapted curriculum K-12 (severe/multiple disabilities).

Program Highlights

  • The Special Education with Endorsement (Education, M.S.Ed.) program can be completed in approximately two years.

  • Coursework is supplemented by field experiences in a variety of settings.

  • Courses are offered in on campus, online (asynchronous), and web conferencing (synchronous) modalities.

  • Students learn evidence-based practices for teaching individuals with disabilities.

AT A GLANCE
Degree Level
Graduate
Degree Earned
Master of Science in Education
Delivery Modes
On-Campus

Careers

Check out these ideas from ¹ÏÉñÍø's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the . A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Special Education at ¹ÏÉñÍø?
Students entering the Master of Science in Education program in Special Education should meet the minimum university admission requirements Graduate Admission.
  • A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.80 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program

  • A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 291 (Verbal and Quantitative sections with a minimum Verbal score of 150 or better) and a 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section OR a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) minimum score of 403

  • A 400-500 word goal statement indicating why the student wishes to enroll in the special education program.

Cost of Attendance

We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance. 

Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.

Virginia Resident
Cost Per-Credit $620
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Cost Per-Credit $642
Non-Resident
Cost Per-Credit $1,486

Ways to Fund Your Degree

There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending ¹ÏÉñÍø, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at ¹ÏÉñÍø, visit the Financial Aid Office page.

Paraprofessional Preparation for Extraordinary Teaching (PPET) Program

The Darden College of Education & Professional Studies of ¹ÏÉñÍø is seeking applicants for endorsement in special education: general curriculum. The PPET program is one of the Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Programs.

Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Program (CSEEP)

The Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement (CSEEP) Program is a technology-rich, award-winning approach to teacher preparation in special education.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

Contact

Graduate Program Director

241 LIONS CHILD STUDY CTR
NORFOLK, 23529