M.S.Ed. in Special Education

Special Education

M.S.Ed. in Special Education (Online)

The M.S.Ed. in Special Education degree program prepares graduate students to work with individuals with mild/high-incidence disabilities in a variety of settings, and students complete a capstone project or master’s thesis in special education on a topic of their choice.

Students interested in obtaining initial licensure in addition to the masters must apply for both the M.S.Ed. in Special Education and the Fast-Track Special Education Licensure Program. The CoT licensure program involves residential and hybrid coursework (online tuition rates are not available for these courses).

  • Application Deadlines
    Starting SemesterDeadline
    Fall Jul 1
    Spring Nov 2
    Summer Apr 1

    International students are encouraged to apply early to allow extra time for their materials to arrive.

  • Admission Requirements

    The Graduate Studies Office will accept unofficial transcripts and self-reported test scores for admission reviews. Any admission made with these documents would be conditioned on receipt of official documents, which should be provided as soon as possible.

    Note: If you are currently enrolled or have applied in the past year, you should qualify for an application fee waiver. Click here for criteria and how to obtain the waiver.

    1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
    2. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00
    3. Completed online application that includes:
      • Personal statement
      • Resume (required from international students only)
      • Two letters of recommendation
      • GRE scores (required from international applicants only)
      • Minimum 79 TOEFL score or minimum 6.5 IELTS score (international students only)

    Learn more about how to apply

  • Program Requirements
  • Tuition and Fees

    Per credit hour

    ResidencyTuitionDE FeeTotal
    Indiana Resident$490.60$39.00$529.60
    Non-resident$588.66$39.00$627.66

    Find more information and calculate your expected costs at Student Central.

  • Funding

    Below is a list of potential resources for graduate students. Note: graduate assistantships are generally intended for students studying and working on the Bloomington campus.

    • Learn about the variety of fellowships and assistantships available to graduate students.
    • Visit Student Central for information about financial assistance.
    • Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.
    • Active duty military, veterans, and military families should visit the Center for Veteran and Military Students to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits.
  • Program Format

    The M.S.Ed. in Special Education requires completion of 36 credit hours. The requirements listed below are the minimum requirements for the M.S.Ed. Individuals who want to add licensure or obtain initial licensure in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention should refer to the respective program sheets for additional course requirements. 

    1. M.S.Ed. in Special Education without Licensure
      This is the traditional master’s degree program and is intended for individuals who have:
      • Earned a bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited postsecondary educational institution and have a current practitioner license in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (or equivalent out-of-state special education licensure/certification), OR
      • Earned a bachelor’s degree (in or outside of education) from an accredited postsecondary educational institution and want to learn about the field of special education, but do not want to obtain a practitioner license in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention.
    2. M.S.Ed. in Special Education with License Addition in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention
      This option is intended for individuals who currently possess a non-special education practitioner license at the elementary (K-6), secondary (5-12) or preschool through grade 12 (P-12) level. Individuals obtain a master’s degree in special education and can add licensure in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention to their current practitioner license. The license addition is added at the same instructional level (K-6, 5-12, or P-12) on the individual’s current practitioner license. Individuals who wish to pursue this option must apply for both the M.S.Ed. in Special Education AND the Graduate License Addition in Special Education: Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention.
    3. M.S.Ed. in Special Education with Initial License in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention
      This option is intended for individuals who want to obtain a master’s degree in special education and an initial practitioner license in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention at the secondary level (grades 5-12). This track is also appropriate for individuals who are currently teaching and possess an emergency permit in Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention. This track requires participation in the graduate Community of Teachers (CoT) program, which incorporates field-based seminars, a portfolio, and field experiences to prepare students to teach individuals with mild/high-incidence disabilities. Individuals who are not currently teaching on an emergency permit complete field experiences with an experienced special education teacher and complete 12 weeks of student teaching in special education. Individuals who are currently teaching and possess an emergency permit complete their field experiences in their employment setting. Individuals who wish to pursue this optionmust apply for both the M.S.Ed. in Special Education AND the Graduate-Level CoT Initial License in Special Education: Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention program.

Our faculty

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Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Research Areas:
Interagency collaboration in public schools and communities; improving educational and social outcomes, especially for young people with emotional and behavioral challenges
Email:
jander2@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 856-8155
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Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction Department Chair

Email:
brannana@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 856-8119
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Associate Research Scientist

Email:
tgrossi@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 855-4070
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Associate Professor

Research Areas:
Special Education, Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, Autism, Students with Disabilities
Email:
shurwitz@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 856-8134
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Professor, Director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Research Areas:
Disability, Adult Services, Policy, Employment, Community Living, Transition, Survey Research
Email:
dnord@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 855-7102
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Professor

Research Areas:
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Email:
tochoa@indiana.edu
Phone:
(812) 856-8135

Contact Us

Ana Maria Brannan
Associate Professor
brannana@iu.edu
(812) 856-8119

Susan Roberts
Visiting Assistant Professor
srr3@iu.edu
(812) 856-8251