Master of Education - Special Education

Georgia Southern University
Degree Level Masters
Total Credit Hours 36

Program Description

A fully online program, the M.Ed. in Special Education is designed for individuals who currently hold a Georgia level four Certificate or equivalent in Special Education with certification in one of the following concentration areas:

  • Adaptive Curriculum
  • General Curriculum

The special education master’s program can be completed in either one year (Sum/Fall/Spg/Sum) or over two years.

This master’s program courses are based upon the concept of developmentally appropriate practices and the value of diverse, intensive field experiences working with diverse student populations. Find out what you’ll learn to discover if it’s the right fit for you.

The program is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and meets the PSC’s certificate upgrade requirements.

(Note: Individuals seeking initial certification and those who hold non-renewable or provisional teacher certification, should pursue the Teaching M.A.T. degree rather than this Master in Special Education [M.Ed.] degree program.

Admissions Information

Regular Admission

  1. Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  2. Possess or be eligible for a Georgia level four certificate or equivalent. Certification must be in Special Education: Adaptive Curriculum or Special Education: General Curriculum.
  3. Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
  4. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
  5. Submit a completed “Disclosure and Affirmation Form” that addresses misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.

Provisional Admission

  1. Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) credits of coursework after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

State Authorization and Professional Licensure Disclaimer

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state.

Program Accreditation

Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation


Georgia Professional Standards Commission