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.
Program Overview
Get a snapshot of UNCP’s M.A.T. – Special Education 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.
Rigorous coursework for this online Master of Art in Teaching in Special Education – General Curriculum is delivered in a convenient, 100 percent online format and incorporates field experience along with 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.
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UNC Pembroke offers value in a variety of education programs. Check out our other graduate and postgraduate education programs.
Tuition
Learn more about our affordable tuition
Tuition for our affordable online M.A.T. with a specialization in Special Education – General Curriculum is priced with the working student in mind—plus, you can pay by the course. Financial aid may be available for students who qualify.
Tuition breakdown:
View additional tuition information
| Program | Graduate Tuition Per Credit Hour | Graduate Tuition Per 3-Hour Course | Fees Per Credit Hour | Distance Fee Per Term | Program Cost Including Tuition & Fees† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.A.T. SPEDGC (in-state resident) | $237.78 | $713.34 | $33.05 | $36.75 | $9,227.40 |
| M.A.T. SPEDGC (out-of-state) | $963.28 | $2,889.84 | $33.05 | $36.75 | $30,992.40 |
Tuition 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 your advisor for more information. https://www.uncp.edu/resources/student-accounts/tuition-fee-information
Additional Fees
One Time Fees
Application Fee - $55 domestic/$60 international
Orientation Fee - $20
Graduation Fee - $100 (note, students will be charged an additional $25 if fee is not paid on time)
Students will be charged a $25 readmission fee after one year of non-attendance.
Calendar
Preview our application deadlines and class schedules
For the convenience of our M.A.T. – Special Education – General Curriculum 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.
| Course Start | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/21/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 08/07/2023 | 08/14/2023 | 08/16/2023 | 08/17/2023 |
| 10/16/2023 | 12/01/2023 | 10/02/2023 | 10/09/2023 | 10/11/2023 | 10/12/2023 |
| 01/15/2024 | 03/01/2024 | 01/01/2024 | 01/08/2024 | 01/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
| 03/11/2024 | 04/26/2024 | 02/26/2024 | 03/04/2024 | 03/06/2024 | 03/07/2024 |
| 05/06/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 04/22/2024 | 04/29/2024 | 05/01/2024 | 05/02/2024 |
| 06/24/2024 | 08/09/2024 | 06/10/2024 | 06/17/2024 | 06/19/2024 | 06/20/2024 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
Admissions
Follow our streamlined admission requirements for the M.A.T. – Special Education
The School of Education admission process is the first step toward earning your M.A.T. with a specialization in Special Education – General Curriculum online. Find out the requirements for the program, what additional materials you should send and where you need to send them.
View full admission requirements
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
Courses
Take a look at the online M.A.T. – Special Education courses
To earn the M.A.T. with a specialization in Special Education – General Curriculum online, students must complete 10 core courses and an internship in a public school setting for a total of 30 credit hours.
EDN 5040: An Introduction to the Basic Tenets of Education
Duration: 7 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.
EDN 5120: Advanced Studies of Exceptional Children
Duration: 7 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.
EDN 5450: Curriculum Design and Best Practices
Duration: 7 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.
EDN 5470: Advanced Classroom Management
Duration: 7 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 | Credit Hours: 0
This course is intended for students pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. It is designed to provide the structured field experience that supports the practical application of theoretical constructs. Graduate students in programs at UNCP will actively engage with clinical teachers and the K-12 students to broaden their knowledge bases and engage in school-based professional activities. Course may be repeated.
SED 5010: Policies and Procedures in Special Education
Duration: 7 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.
SED 5040: Contemporary Issues in Special Education
Duration: 7 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 regard to the role of the professional on the school and district level (i.e., EC teacher, EC case manager, EC director).
SED 5050: Behavior Management and Support
Duration: 7 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.
SED 5060: Assessment in Special Education
Duration: 7 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.
SED 5070: Mild to Moderate Disabilities: Reading/Written Language Strategies and Instruction
Duration: 7 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, multisensory 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.
SED 5080: Mild to Moderate Disabilities: Math Strategies and Instruction
Duration: 7 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 | 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.
*Tuition rate (in-state: $270.83/credit hour plus $36.75 flat fee; out-of-state: $968.27/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.
