Advance your career with a master’s degree in teaching special education that equips you to teach and improve learning outcomes for students with high incidence disabilities learning in the general curriculum.
Locations
- Online (Summer entry)
Why Earn Your MAT Degree in Special Education at Georgia Southern?
- Teach, support and advocate for students with diverse learning needs.
- Fully online program with summer entry gives you the flexibility to learn from anywhere.
- CAEP accredited, Georgia Professional Standards Commission approved program.
- Increase your earning potential with an advanced degree.
- 45 credit hours to completion.
The MAT in special education helps educators develop focused expertise in supporting children with diverse needs. Georgia Southern’s master’s program is part of our Elementary and Special Education Department, and its online format is designed to make advancing your education more convenient.
In addition to developing the skills you need to help individual students with high incidence disabilities reach their potential, you’ll also be equipped to create and lead the programs or systems that help improve learning outcomes for these students. You’ll complete field experiences, including a student teaching/internship, that will round out your academic journey. When you finish the program and pass the Special Education GACE exam, you’ll be eligible for the Georgia T-5 Special Education General Curriculum Certification (grades P-12).
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With an MAT Degree in Special Education?
The number of students with disabilities in the U.S. has grown over the last few decades, heightening the need for qualified, engaged educators with expertise in special education. Earning your MAT in special education gives you additional knowledge and credentials to broaden your impact—and your career options.
Special education teachers with a master’s degree often specialize in particular disabilities. You may go on to pursue additional certifications and advance into leadership or administration roles within school districts, such as director of special education, where you’ll manage special education programs and provide support to teachers. Finally, the master’s degree will also equip you to work in consulting, advocacy, research or higher education if you’re interested in improving the future for students with disabilities.
Where our graduates work:
- Public school systems
- Private schools
- Magnet schools
- Early intervention programs
What our graduates do:
- Special education teacher
- Principal
- Special education director
- Adjunct professor
- Resource teacher
- Special education coordinator
- Behavior specialist
- Transition specialist
What You’ll Learn
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) leads to initial teaching certification in Special Education General Curriculum (P-12). The program builds on the knowledge you’ve gained from your bachelor’s degree in counseling, child and family development, English, mathematics, psychology, science, social science or a closely-related field.
You’ll begin with a comprehensive foundation in special education. From there, your courses will cover assessment, procedures, learning theories, classroom management and evidence based practices for students with disabilities. Several courses will provide a particular focus on literacy and mathematics for students with diverse needs. Finally, you’ll put your knowledge into practice through various clinical experiences in P-12 and a final student teaching internship, as well as other educational research opportunities.
The M.A.T program prepares you to sit for the GACE exam and earn the Georgia T-5 Special Education General Curriculum Certification (grades P-12).
See the CurriculumBuild Your Experience
Pursuing a career in education is both rewarding and challenging. Find the support, resources and community you need to succeed while you earn your graduate degree at Georgia Southern.
Get Involved
Enrich your academic experience and find community by joining one of the education-focused student organizations on campus, from Educators of Color to the Honors College.
Scholarships
The College of Education offers several scholarship opportunities to graduate students. Explore the list to see if you qualify.
TEACH Grants
Interested in making a difference and supporting the cost of your education? You could be eligible for a TEACH grant if you commit to teaching full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families.
Take Action
Admission Requirements
- Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an appropriate institutional accreditor.
- Present a transcript evaluation by the College of Education’s Director of the Graduate Academic Services Center with completion of specified prerequisite content coursework for one or more content areas.
- Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
- Present a total adjusted GPA of 2.75 or higher on all teaching field coursework.
- Submit a passing score on the state-required Ethics Assessment.
- Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service certificate or Provisional certificate (see Certification section in the Graduate Catalog
- Acknowledge “Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance.
- International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. Applicants must take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Please see our Program Admission Checklist for complete instructions.
Application Deadline
The deadline to submit an application and all application materials is April 15th for the summer term..
Your application and all required documents must be received by the deadline.
Apply as a Graduate StudentGraduate Academic Services Center
Stacy Davis
912-478-1447
stacydavis@georgiasouthern.edu
Alumni Spotlight
“The program was flexible and the professors were very informative. I knew if I needed anything that I could call, text or Zoom with my professors and they would be there.”
Benjamin Mitchell, ’20
Related Programs
Take the Next Step
Help children with diverse needs achieve their full potential. Discover the online master’s degree in special education certification track at Georgia Southern.
Contact Us
Stacy Davis
Academic Services Coordinator
gasc@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-1447
Department of Elementary and Special Education
P.O. Box 8134
Statesboro, GA 30460