What Is the Special Education MS?
The Special Education MS at Saint Joseph's University features online coursework and field experiences that offer a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum addressing critical areas of special needs instruction. Additionally, this program is taught by faculty with a variety of special education expertise.
Our most recent addition to the program offerings is the Reading Interventionist Certificate which provides teachers with the skills they need to help students become fluent, independent readers. Earn your certificate from a University with accreditation at both levels of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
Additionally, through Saint Joseph's 4+1 program, current undergraduate students can start earning credits towards a master's in special education, allowing them to earn a master's degree at an accelerated pace. If you're interested in this option, you'll need to apply to the graduate program in your junior year and be conditionally accepted before you complete your bachelor's degree.
Curriculum Shaped By Your Experience
Already a recognized leader in the field, Saint Joseph's special education master's program received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) in 2020 to offer the PK-12 Special Education Certification. The Department of Special Education offers two options for the Special Education Certification in Pennsylvania, with reciprocity in many other states:
- If you have an initial teaching certification, you can add the PK-12 Special Education Certification to the special education master's program. If you hold a Level I Certification at any education or study level and wish to obtain a certification to teach in special education classrooms and programs, you may choose between two grade-level certifications, PK-8 or 7-12, both of which prepare you for the Pennsylvania certification. This option will require completing 31 credits.
- If you have a bachelor's degree but do not have an initial teaching certification, you can add a stand-alone PK-12 Special Education Certification to the special education master's program, which includes a full semester of student teaching. This option will require completing 36 credits.
Special Education Certifications and Endorsements
Saint Joseph's University offers a variety of endorsements and certifications to add to the online special education master's degree. Endorsements and certificates include:
You can add more than one of these tracks to your graduate studies, and each one is also available as a stand-alone option.