Master of Arts in Teaching with a Specialization in Special Education – General Curriculum Online

Prepare to help all learners reach their potential as a teacher leader in special education.

Next Apply Date: 12/30/24
Next Start class Date: 1/13/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

Get a snapshot of UNCP’s master’s in special education online program

Equip yourself to meet the diverse needs of exceptional children in K-12 school settings by earning your Master of Arts in Teaching with a Specialization in Special Education – General Curriculum online from UNC Pembroke. This recognized educator preparation program is a convenient and affordable pathway ideal for special education teachers seeking initial teaching licensure in the state of North Carolina.

As a student, you will conduct a comprehensive study of instructional and behavioral techniques for providing the appropriate supports and strategies for students with mild to moderate disabilities that access the general curriculum, North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS). Expand your understanding of the policies, process and procedures for providing special education services and the contemporary issues that impact professional roles. Emphasizing the relationship between research and practice, the curriculum also covers the psychometric measures and data available to evaluate and respond to the progress of individual students.

This special education M.A.T. program incorporates rigorous, 100% online coursework, field experience and an internship in a public school setting. Learn from the UNCP School of Education’s expert faculty and benefit from our reputation for preparing and retaining teachers in their originating schools.

Graduate from this online special education degree program prepared for specialized educational roles, such as:

  • Special Education Teacher
  • Teacher Leader
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Teacher Leader

Also available online:

UNC Pembroke offers value in a variety of education programs. Check out our other graduate and postgraduate education programs.

Total Tuition (In-State) $9,227*
Duration As few as 14-20 months**
Credit Hours 30

Accreditation

Council for the Accredidication of Educator Preparation logo

All educator preparation programs at The University of North Carolina Pembroke are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Also available online:

UNC Pembroke offers value in a variety of education programs. Check out our other graduate and postgraduate education programs.

Need More Information?

Call 844-302-7886

Call 844-302-7886

Tuition

Learn more about our affordable tuition

Tuition for our affordable special education degree online program is priced with the working student in mind—plus, you can pay by the course. Financial aid may be available for students who qualify. Financial aid may be available for students who qualify.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour (In-State) $237.78
Total Tuition (In-State) $9,227*

Calendar

Preview our application deadlines and class schedules

For the convenience of our master’s in special education online students, the School of Education offers multiple start dates each year. View the full calendar for upcoming deadlines, including when to turn in all required documents, register for classes and pay tuition for your desired program start date.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall II10/21/2410/7/2410/14/2410/16/2410/17/2412/6/24
Spring I1/13/2512/30/241/2/251/6/251/9/252/28/25
Spring II3/17/253/3/253/6/253/10/253/13/255/2/25
Summer I5/12/254/28/255/1/255/5/255/8/256/27/25
Summer II6/30/256/16/256/19/256/23/256/26/258/15/25
Fall I8/25/258/11/258/14/258/18/258/21/2510/10/25
Fall II10/20/2510/6/2510/9/2510/13/2510/16/2512/5/25

Now enrolling

Next Apply Date 12/30/24
Start Date 1/13/25

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Take the next step toward earning your degree online from UNC Pembroke.

Admissions

Follow our streamlined admission requirements for this master’s degree in special education

The School of Education admission process is the first step toward earning your special education teaching degree online. Find out the requirements for the program and what additional materials are needed.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • 2.75 cumulative GPA or 2.65-2.75 GPA for provisional admission
  • No GRE required for admission

To be eligible for consideration for full or provisional admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a completed online application
  • Pay a $55 non-refundable application fee ($60 for international applicants and waived for military members)
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • 2.75 minimum cumulative GPA; or 2.65-2.75 GPA for provisional admission
  • Three professional references
  • 150-250 word personal statement. Please include a brief discussion of your current (or future) teaching assignment in your statement of purpose.
  • Submit Admission to Educator Preparation Acknowledgement Form
  • No GRE or GMAT required

The electronic and physical information for submitting transcripts:

UNC Pembroke The Graduate School

PO Box 1510
One University Drive
Pembroke, NC 28372

UNCP will accept transcripts electronically - [email protected]

Courses

Take a look at the online master’s degree in special education courses

To earn this special education general curriculum online master’s degree, students must complete 10 core courses and an internship in a public school setting for a total of 30 credit hours.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a graduate-level introduction to the foundational fields of education: philosophy and psychology, with an emphasis on the development of an appreciation for the role and responsibility of the teacher as the instructional leader in the educational community. Corequisite: EDN 5460: Field Experience required.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a graduate-level introduction to the areas of focus addressed within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This course familiarizes students with the practices, philosophies, roles and responsibilities of educators working with a diverse population of students. Corequisite: EDN 5460: Field Experience required.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines curriculum design and research-based practices in lesson design and instructional practices, including backward design, instructional strategies such as differentiated instruction and formative and summative assessment. Corequisite: EDN 5460: Field Experience required.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to develop graduate students' knowledge base related to the theory and techniques of classroom management. Emphasis is placed on how those understandings can be utilized to establish a positive and respectful learning environment for all students. A variety of classroom management programs are examined and evaluated.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
The student will participate in field experiences that support the practical application of theoretical constructs including activities completed outside of the college classroom connecting to course content, assignments and assessments. Students will actively engage with clinical teachers and students to broaden their knowledge bases and engage in school-based professional activities and may include observation, co-teaching and working with students in supervised settings. (Course may be repeated.)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course of study is designed to give students pursuing a Master’s in Teaching a thorough understanding of the North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities and the federal laws covering special education.  Through this knowledge the student will understand the policies, process and procedures for providing special education services. Co-requisite: EDN 5460.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the political, social, and cultural issues associated with teaching students with disabilities. Specific attention will be given to the interface of these issues in regards to the role of the professional on the school, and district level (i.e. EC teacher, EC case manager, EC director).
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the student with a comprehensive study of the instructional and behavioral techniques, materials, and resources to address learners with challenging behaviors and appropriate ways to conduct observations. Emphasis is on aligning observational data with appropriate positive behavioral supports and strategies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course of study is designed to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to understand psychometric measures and issues regarding their use. The course emphasizes the relationship between research and practice. It also provides a theoretical and practical basis for choosing and using the wide range of test and measurement data available to evaluate and respond to the progress of individual student’s toward annual goals. Co-requisite: EDN 5460.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive study of the foundations of reading and writing and the use of reading and writing assessments to determine classroom intervention and instructional strategies for beginning and advanced readers with mild to moderate disabilities. It is designed to give teacher candidates the knowledge and skills to use systematic, explicit, multi-sensory methods to teach communication skills, reading, and written expression. It provides foundational information about stages of reading and writing acquisition, factors that impact literacy success or failure, and the nature of literacy difficulties. This information serves as a context for learning about the selection, administration, and interpretation of formal and informal classroom assessments for the purposes of screening, diagnosing, monitoring progress, and evaluating instruction. Prerequisite: SED 5060. Co-requisite: EDN 5460.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce content and methods for teaching mathematics to students with mild to moderate disabilities. Topics include theory, assessment, and an overview of content included in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for mathematics. Prerequisite: SED 5060. Co-requisite: EDN 5460.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Culminating clinical practice for initial teacher licensure. Course requirements include completion of program and licensure requirements, including full-time pre-service student internship or in-service teaching in a public-school setting in the licensure area.
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*Tuition rate (in-state: $237.78 /credit hour plus $36.75 flat fee; out-of-state: $963.28 /credit hour plus $36.75 flat fee) is based on a cadence of 6-9 credit hours per semester which is two 7-week terms. Tuition will be capped at the per semester, full-time enrollment levels of nine (9) credit hours for graduate students. Please consult with the bursar’s office for more information.

**Time to completion may vary depending on your start date. Speak with your Enrollment Specialist for more details.

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