This master's degree is designed to prepare both educators for the classroom and individuals working in a special education context outside of the classroom with the specialized skills and content knowledge needed to support the needs of individuals with disabilities. Students may focus their program on a specific area in the field by completing a licensure concentration or non-licensure certificate program in conjunction with the MEd to fulfill the elective credits for the MEd degree program.

Policies

Students in the licensure concentrations must earn a B-or better in all licensure coursework. (This includes all required courses other than EDSE 517 and EDSE 590.) Prior to applying for internships students in all licensure concentrations, must successfully complete:

  • Emergency First Aid, CPR and AED certification or training 
  • Virginia Communication & Literacy Assessment (VCLA)

Prior to graduation, students enrolled in the K-12 General Curriculum Licensure and PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure concentrations must complete:

  • Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary

Prior to graduation, students enrolled in the PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure concentration must complete:

  • Praxis II: Braille Proficiency

Licensure testing requirements are determined by the Commonwealth of Virginia and may change at any time. If changes to these requirements occur, students must meet the current testing and licensure requirements as set forth in the legal Code of Virginia.

Banner Code: E1-MED-EDSE

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30-47

MEd without concentration (Non-licensure)

The 30-credit MEd in Special Education without concentration (Non-licensure) provides students the opportunity to individualize their program of study to work with children and adults with disabilities across their lifespan. Students who select this option do not complete licensure requirements. The Non-licensure option may be used as a pathway to doctoral studies.

Coursework

EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EDSE 590Special Education Research3
Language Development and Reading 3
Select one from the following:
Language Development and Reading
Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities
Applied Behavior Analysis: Verbal Behavior
Supporting Communication and Literacy for Individuals with Autism
Consultation and Collaboration 3
Select one from the following:
Autism Across the Lifespan: Collaboration with Critical Partners
Consultation and Collaboration
Collaborative Teamwork to Support Students with Significant Disabilities
Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysis
Restricted Electives15
Total Credits30

MEd with concentration in K-12 Adapted Curriculum Licensure (KACL)

The 42-credit MEd in Special Education with concentration in K-12 Adapted Curriculum Licensure provides students the opportunity to focus on individuals with severe disabilities. Students will learn to develop teaching strategies and curricula that enable individuals with severe disabilities to access an adapted curriculum and address areas of functional and independent living skills. Students who have completed graduate or undergraduate coursework equivalent to concentration coursework prior to admission to this program may request that some courses in this concentration be waived. Students who are eligible to waive coursework must complete a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits to graduate. A grade of B- or better must be earned in all licensure coursework. In addition to coursework, students must complete mandated state/accreditation assessments.

Core Coursework

EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EDSE 590Special Education Research3
Language Development and Reading
EDSE 557Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities3
Consultation and Collaboration
EDSE 663Collaborative Teamwork to Support Students with Significant Disabilities3
Total Credits15

Concentration Coursework

EDSE 531Transition and Community-Based Instruction3
EDSE 532Positive Behavior Supports3
EDSE 533Assessment and Program Planning for Adapted Curriculum3
EDSE 534Communication and Severe Disabilities3
EDSE 547Characteristics of Students with Severe Disabilities3
EDSE 661Curriculum and Methods: Severe Disabilities3
EDSE 669Individualized Supports and Specialized Care of Students with Severe Disabilities3
EDSE 784Internship: Adapted Curriculum6
Total Credits27

MEd with concentration in K-12 General Curriculum Licensure (KGCL)

The 39-credit MEd in Special Education with concentration in K-12 General Curriculum Licensure provides students the opportunity to focus on individuals with mild to moderate disabilities. Students will be prepared to support students with disabilities who access the general academic curriculum in inclusive settings and provide direct instruction in special education settings as needed. Students who have completed graduate or undergraduate coursework equivalent to concentration coursework prior to admission to this program may request that some courses in this concentration be waived. Students who are eligible to waive coursework must complete a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits to graduate. A grade of B- or better must be earned in all licensure coursework. In addition to coursework, students must complete mandated state/accreditation assessments.

Core Coursework

EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EDSE 590Special Education Research3
Language Development and Reading
EDSE 503Language Development and Reading3
Consultation and Collaboration
EDSE 662Consultation and Collaboration3
Total Credits15

Concentration Coursework

EDSE 502Classroom Management and Individualized Behavior Supports3
EDSE 540Characteristics of Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum3
EDSE 544Adapted Instructional Methods and Transition for Secondary Learners3
EDSE 627Assessment3
EDSE 641Instructional Strategies for Reading and Writing3
EDSE 643Instructional Strategies for Math3
EDSE 783Internship: Special Education in General Curriculum6
Total Credits24

MEd with concentration in PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure (PBVL)

The 47-credit MEd in Special Education with concentration in PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure prepares students to work with blind and visually impaired individuals, including those who have multiple disabilities. Students learn to support individuals in both general and special education settings. Students who have completed graduate or undergraduate coursework equivalent to concentration coursework prior to admission to this program may request that some courses in this concentration be waived. Students who are eligible to waive coursework must complete a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits to graduate. A grade of B- or better must be earned in all licensure coursework. In addition to coursework, students must complete mandated state/accreditation assessments.

Core Coursework

EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
EDSE 590Special Education Research3
Language Development and Reading
EDSE 503Language Development and Reading3
Consultation and Collaboration
EDSE 663Collaborative Teamwork to Support Students with Significant Disabilities3
Total Credits15

Concentration Coursework

EDAT 522Assistive Technology for Individuals with Sensory Impairments3
EDSE 511Characteristics of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments3
EDSE 512Braille Code3
EDSE 513Medical and Educational Implications of Blindness and Visual Impairments3
EDSE 514Orientation and Mobility for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments2
EDSE 518Curriculum and Assessment of Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments3
EDSE 532Positive Behavior Supports3
EDSE 613Teaching Methods for Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments3
EDSE 616Braille Reading and Writing3
EDSE 785Internship: Blindness and Visual Impairments6
Total Credits32

Bachelor's Degree (any)/Special Education, Accelerated MEd

Overview

Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA or BS in any degree area and an MEd in Special Education in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.

See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, and additional unit-specific criteria (see Application Requirements and Deadlines).

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific pre-requisites.

Accelerated Master’s Admission Requirements

Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MEd program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:

  • 3.0 overall GPA 
  • Completion of specific undergraduate coursework
  • Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements 

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit (to be determined by the student and their advisor):

EDSE 501Introduction to Special Education3
EDSE 517Computer Applications for Special Populations3
Select one from the following:3
Language Development and Reading
Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities
Applied Behavior Analysis: Verbal Behavior
EDSE approved electives up to 9 credits

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.