Are you ready to get your Master’s in Special Education?
“Masters in Special Education” After graduating from a 4-year university with an undergraduate degree in Child Development and Family Studies I still knew that I wanted to get my degree in Special Education after switching majors from Elementary Education.
But first I had to decide and do plenty of research during my senior year of college to decide what kind of master’s program I would enroll in to further my education and dream. So I started looking up Masters in Art of Teaching programs in my home state of North Carolina.
First, let’s take a look at all the different types of Masters programs in Special Education and then I’m going to list the top 5 best colleges in North Carolina. But first I’m going to list all the different types of masters programs below.
The different types of programs you may see may be listed online as Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree tracks.
To simplify all of the different degree types in plain sight is that all of the Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts (M.A.), and Master of Science (M.S.) are for professionals who already have a teaching license, or already have a degree background in education who want to further their education or research in the field of special education.
The MAT program known as the Masters in Art of Teaching program is for people like you and me who have earned their bachelor’s degree in academic areas outside of teaching or education and want to transition into the field of education.
Best Master’s Degree Programs in Special Education in North Carolina
For example, I graduated with a degree in Child Development and Family Studies which was a non-license track program for individuals who could teach in the public school system as an assistant only and not as the lead teacher. So listed below were my top 5 M.A.T programs that I was considering after narrowing the list down from 10 of the top best universities in North Carolina.
1.) N.C State University Master’s Program
The MAT program at NC State University follows a mixed instructional model that includes online courses, face-to-face on campus, a mix of online and face-to-face (i.e., hybrid), as well as Distance Education off campus (i.e., in schools not far from the NC State campus in Raleigh). A total of 33 credit hours are required to complete the MAT degree program in special education (see below). Students are allowed to enroll in either part- or full-time status and begin studies in the spring, fall, or summer academic terms.
2.) UNC-Charlotte Master’s Program
The M.A.T. in Teaching: Special Education leads to initial certification in special education (General Curriculum or Adapted Curriculum) for students who have undergraduate degrees, but no teaching license. (Note: Our programs are for N.C. teachers, and students are expected to be in N.C. schools to complete field experiences and internships. Click here to see the licensure requirements in other states.) The program is comprised of two phases.
3.) UNC-Chapel Hill Master’ Program
A 12-month program consisted of coursework and field experiences that begin in early June and end the following year in late May. You must be enrolled full-time and complete the program in sequence. The program of study consists of 40 graduate credits derived from a combination of coursework and fieldwork experiences in the schools.
4.) Pheiffer University Master’s Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education (MAT-SPED) program prepares special education teachers to provide high-quality, research-based instruction and behavior support to students identified with mild to moderate disabilities who learn in the general curriculum. In addition to your coursework, you’ll gain practical, hands-on experience in the field to apply the ideas and techniques introduced in class.
Throughout your study, you’ll demonstrate your planning, analytical, and critical thinking skills as well as practice the principles of servant leadership. Successful completion of Phase I of the program and passing scores on the required licensure exams lead to a recommendation for licensure as a special education (general curriculum) teacher in North Carolina. Upon completion of Phase II, candidates qualify for the master’s degree and advanced-level licensure.
5.) N.C A & T State University Master’s Program
The MAT in Special Education has the following program requirements. 30 hours of coursework Maintain a 3.0 GPA Pass Licensure Exams Pearson or Praxis Mathematics Pearson Foundations of Reading Two semesters of clinical practice experience Clinical I: 60 hours Clinical II: Full instructional day for the entire semester Pass edTPA portfolio.
