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Master's (MAT) in Special Education K-12 Online

Arkansas State University's online Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 is a 36-credit-hour, CAEP-accredited initial-licensure program completed in as few as 12-16 months through accelerated online courses (7 weeks in fall and spring, 5 weeks in summer). Built for career changers without a current teaching license or education degree, it prepares graduates to earn a provisional Arkansas teaching license after their first six credit hours and pursue roles teaching students with exceptional needs in grades K-12.

Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27

Program Overview

What does A-State's online MAT – Special Education K-12 offer?

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.

For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

This program requires Watermark – Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

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
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

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
  • Resource Room Teacher
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Autism Support Teacher
  • Special Education Case Manager
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
  • Resource Room Teacher
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Autism Support Teacher
  • Special Education Case Manager
+

Also available:

This MAT is A-State's initial-licensure path into special education. If you're already licensed or want a different credential level, explore the related programs below:

Total Tuition: $12,600
Program Duration: As few as 12-16 months
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

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Tuition

How much does the online MAT – Special Education K-12 program cost?

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:

Per Credit Hour: $350
Total Tuition: $12,600

Calendar

When can you start the online MAT – Special Education K-12 program?

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.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 18/19/268/5/268/5/268/17/268/17/2610/2/26
Spring 11/11/2712/28/2612/28/261/7/271/8/272/26/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/28/26
Start Class 1/11/27

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?

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Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the MAT – 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
View all admission requirements +

  • 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
  • Praxis: Pass Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge 5511 with a passing score of 148
  • Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (PDF).

Additional Information:

  • Please note, although not required for admission, you will be required to complete the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge 5355 exam with a passing score of 132 within the first 6 credit hours of the program.
View additional admission requirements +

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 courses are in the MAT – Special Education K-12 curriculum?

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). Following the completion of the first six credit hours of ELSE courses, students are eligible to take the Praxis 5355 exam. After passing the Praxis 5355 and Praxis 5511, students will meet eligibility requirements for provisional licensure in the state of Arkansas.

You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All

Students in this program must complete the following courses (36 credit hours).

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An overview of special education that includes the historical foundation of special education, litiga­tion and legislation, characteristics of students with exceptionalities, assessment procedures, the IEP process, and collaboration with families and professionals in the field of education.  Prerequisites: admission to the MAT in Special Education program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Experience in the admin­istration and interpretation of assessment procedures for planning and implementing instructional interventions for students with exceptionalities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Developing comprehensive understanding of diagnostic and corrective needs of individuals with reading dis­abilities in special education classrooms.  Prerequisites: ELSE 5653.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Relation­ship of language acquisition and literacy development for exceptional learners, focusing on the identification, analysis, and correction of literacy development in print knowledge, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  Prerequisites: admission to the MSE in Special Education Instructional Specialist K-12 program or MAT in Special Education K-12 program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Advanced in-depth study designed to develop knowledge of the characteristics and issues related to individuals with dis­abilities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
General and specialized curriculum and methods for teaching students with mild/moderate needs in the K-12 setting, including curricula and intervention strategies for the development of cognitive, academic, social, language and functional life skills for independent, community, and employment living.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Ev­idenced-based research is presented with regard to all educational programs for students with severe, intellectual disabilities and autism, including strategies educators use in concert with team members to plan, teach, and monitor students’ progress.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Development, implementation, and evaluation of the impact of positive behavior support at an individual level, including functional behavior assessment and behavior support in various settings. Fall, Spring. Prerequisites: ELSE 3223, ELSE 3643, admission to the Teacher Education program. Corequisites: ELSE 4212 or ELSE 4242.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A comprehen­sive, research-based study and overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 6
The Special Education MAT Internship requires supervised and directed experience in teaching for students with disabilities in grades K-12.  Prerequisites: Completion of required courses in the program prior to internship and pas­sage of Special Education Praxis II must be completed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the ethical and legal foundations for identification and education of students with disabilities, including overviews of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and how to implement requirements in classroom settings.

Built for Arkansas Educators

Arkansas State University's MAT – Special Education K-12 is designed for career changers pursuing initial teaching licensure in Arkansas. After passing Praxis 5511 (Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge) and completing the first six credit hours, candidates are eligible for a provisional Arkansas teaching license and can begin teaching while finishing the degree. For state authorization and Arkansas-specific licensure approval details, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

FAQ

MAT – Special Education K-12 Online FAQs

Intro copy

A-State's MAT – Special Education K-12 lets candidates earn a provisional Arkansas teaching license after passing Praxis 5511 and completing their first six credit hours — often within the first semester (as few as 14 weeks) — allowing you to start teaching while finishing the remaining coursework.
Not this one. A-State's MAT – Special Education K-12 is built specifically for career changers who do not hold a teaching license or an education degree. (By contrast, A-State's MSE in Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 and Special Education K-12 Certificate both require an existing teaching license.)
If you already hold a teaching license, A-State's MSE in Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 or its Special Education K-12 Certificate are typically a better fit than this MAT, since both are designed for already-licensed teachers rather than career changers starting from scratch.
Choose this MAT if you do not currently hold a teaching license or an education degree. It's A-State's initial-licensure path, leading to a provisional Arkansas license after your first six credit hours. Choose the MSE in Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 instead if you're already a licensed teacher seeking an advanced credential and instructional-leadership roles.

The MAT SPED program is not available for students planning to teach in California.

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