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The Department of Special Education at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ offers a fully online Master’s in Special Education with Concentration in Early Childhood Special Education (M.Ed.).

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ is a fully online graduate program designed to prepare professionals to work with individuals with disabilities across a range of educational and care settings. Grounded in the latest Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Advanced Preparation Standards, the program emphasizes evidence-based practices and high-quality professional preparation.

The Special Education Intervention Specialist Concentration offers specialized training to provide learning and behavioral interventions to students with disabilities in school settings. Students completing this concentration are provided with foundational knowledge and instructional practices required to support students with disabilities, including assessment, curriculum selection, and evidence-based teaching strategies. It emphasizes evaluating student progress, designing positive behavioral supports, and fostering language development, communication, and adaptive life skills. Additionally, it prepares educators to support transition planning and collaborate effectively with students, families, and educational professionals. By completing this area of concentration, students may seek .

The program offers flexible learning options, combining synchronous and asynchronous coursework in both traditional and accelerated formats, allowing completion in as little as 16–24 months. With tuition costs under approximately $14,000, it is among the most affordable programs of its kind, and select students may qualify for competitive graduate research assistantships.

Initial teacher certification in Exceptional Students Education (K-12)

This pathway prepares students for add-on Florida teacher certification in Pre-K Disabilities. It aligns with multiple professional standards, including those from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Florida’s educator competencies. Graduates are equipped to design inclusive learning environments and deliver instruction for young children with diverse needs. Learn more about Pre-K–Grade 3 Certification.

Program Overview

Consult the FAU Course Catalog for course descriptions and other details.

How to Apply

To be considered for admission into the Master’s program in the Department of Special Education, applicants must complete a graduate application online through FAU’s Graduate College at www.fau.edu/graduate; select M.Ed. in Special Education.

Students are admitted for Fall (August) or Spring (January) entry. Application deadlines for fall entry: January 15 (International); or June 1 (Domestic). Spring semester entry: June 15 (International) or October 1 (Domestic).

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DOMESTIC APPLICANTS

• Bachelor’s Degree
• An undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0. If GPA is below 3.0, applicants may submit one letter of recommendation from an (education related field) employer or current/former university instructor
• Personal statement not exceeding three double spaced pages, indicating applicant’s reasons for pursuing a Master’s degree and career goals

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

• Bachelor’s Degree (w/course-by-course evaluation of international transcripts if applicable)
• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 or if GPA is below 3.0, applicants may submit 1 letter of recommendation from (education related field) employer or current/former university instructor
• Personal statement not exceeding three double spaced pages, indicating applicant’s reasons for pursuing a Master’s degree and career goals
• Have attained minimum English proficiency scores within the last two years: TOEFL 548 (paper-based test), or 79 (Internet-based test); a score of at least 6.0 on the IELTS; or, Duolingo 110.