Southwest Minnesota State University
Master of Science in Special Education
Marshall, USA
MSc
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: Southwest Minnesota State University's online Master of Science (MS) in Special Education prepares you for K–12 licensure in Minnesota and offers six emphases, including autism spectrum disorders and early childhood special education. The program supports initial licensure and Tier 3–4 license holders, includes supervised field experiences and a research project, accepts up to nine transfer credits, and is accredited by Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards. Finish the degree in two to three years; no prior teaching experience required.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work as preschool and K–12 special education teachers, inclusion specialists, coordinators, behavior analysts, program developers, or administrators. They find roles in public and private schools, early childhood centers, nonprofits, and educational technology firms.
Become a licensed K–12 special education teacher in Minnesota and choose from six emphasis areas to specialize your degree with Southwest Minnesota State University's online MS in Special Education. Emphasis options include academic behavioral strategist, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, early childhood special education, emotional behavioral disorders, and learning disabilities.
Earn your master's degree in two to three years and transfer up to nine credits to accelerate your studies. Experience as an educator is not required to apply. SMSU's online MS in Special Education offers programming for initial teacher licensure, as well as individuals with a Tier 3 or 4 license who seek a Special Education credential. This flexible, customizable program is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards.
No matter which emphasis you choose, supervised field experiences are built into the curriculum to provide real-world application of your studies. Every student also completes a research project to develop skills related to their professional interests.
When you finish your program, you will have advanced knowledge and expertise in teaching strategies and creative learning methods for special education classrooms. Possible career paths include preschool teacher, K–12 educator, instructional coordinator, educational administrator, and educational software developer.