Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 Online
This program offers an alternative route to teaching licensure in K-12 public schools for individuals who hold a non-education degree. Students can earn a provisional license, enabling them to start teaching while they continue coursework. The MAT provides a comprehensive foundation of methods for assessing and teaching students on a broad spectrum of exceptional needs.
Program Overview
Learn more about our online Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 program
Meet the growing need for special education teachers with our accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 online degree and licensure program. This program helps prepare you to start teaching after just your first semester—as few as 14 weeks—while you complete your master’s degree online.
Courses for this program provide you with a comprehensive foundation of methods for assessing and teaching students on a broad spectrum of exceptional needs. After you pass your first six credit hours of coursework and necessary Praxis exams, you can earn a provisional teaching license in the state of Arkansas.
The LEARNS Executive Order stipulates that the Arkansas Department of Education must develop a plan to ensure that all teacher candidates completing an Arkansas-approved teacher preparation program must participate in a one-year residency by 2027. Currently, the A-State Educator Preparation Programs are updating their coursework and clinical experiences in order to meet this expectation.
This program requires Live Text.
In this online special education program, you will:
- Develop foundational knowledge needed to apply professional ethical principles and practice standards
- Understand how exceptionalities may interact with developmental and learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities
- Learn how to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments
- Learn how to use multiple methods of assessment and data sources to inform instructional decisions
- Select, adapt and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities
- Study culturally responsive ways to collaborate and address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences
- Develop foundational knowledge needed to apply professional ethical principles and practice standards
- Understand how exceptionalities may interact with developmental and learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities
- Learn how to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments
- Learn how to use multiple methods of assessment and data sources to inform instructional decisions
- Select, adapt and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities
- Study culturally responsive ways to collaborate and address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for instructional and specialist roles in special education, including:
- Special Education Teacher
- Elementary Educator
- Postsecondary Instructor
- Instructor Coordinator
- Behavior Intervention Specialist
- Special Education Teacher
- Elementary Educator
- Postsecondary Instructor
- Instructor Coordinator
- Behavior Intervention Specialist
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.
Accreditation
Licensure programs within A-State’s College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by CAEP.
Tuition
Pay for your online program by the course
The MAT – Special Education K-12 online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Important dates for our students
A-State’s Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 degree is designed to be flexible for working students. This program features accelerated coursework and multiple start dates—making it ideal for busy schedules.
Please note that the internship course lasts a full semester and only starts in Fall 1 and Spring 1 of terms.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 12/16/24 | 12/18/24 | 1/9/25 | 1/10/25 | 2/28/25 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?
Admissions
Requirements for the special education K-12 program
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Teaching certification is NOT required to be admitted into the Master of Teaching – Special Education K-12 online program. Students interested in this program must meet the following requirements for admission.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 2.70 GPA
- Official transcripts
- Bachelor's degree
- A baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.70 on a 4.00 scale from an accredited institution, or a 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours of coursework
- A commitment from an educator who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (.PDF)
Application Submission Requirements
- Complete online application
- Pay the non-refundable $30 fee
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the sending institution.
Submit all documents to:
A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Courses
What you'll learn in your online M.A. in teaching courses
Students in the MAT – Special Education K-12 online program must complete 36 credit hours of coursework, including 10 online courses (30 credit hours) and a special education internship (six credit hours). Students who have completed the first six credit hours of ELSE courses are eligible to take Praxis 5511 and Praxis 5354 for provisional licensure in the state of Arkansas.
Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.
Students in this program must complete the following courses (36 credit hours).
The MAT SPED program is not available for students planning to teach in California.
As licensure requirements may change without notice, it is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for licensure in his/her state as it applies to the participation in an out-of-state degree program.