Support Success for
Exceptional Learners
Help All Students Achieve
with GMercyU’s Online MS in Special Education
Online Coursework
Begin your journey toward a career in special education with flexible online study that brings the GMercyU experience to you.
Accelerated Format
Graduate with a master’s degree in Special Education in as little as two years.
Faculty Mentorship
You’ll have the support of GMercyU’s faculty, who have real-world special education experience and a passion for teaching.
Add a Certification
If you want to enter the teaching profession, add a PreK-12 Special Education certificate with just three additional credit hours of study.*
Reach the Students Who Need You Most
Establish or extend your ability to support special-needs learners with advanced instructional and classroom management skills for PreK – 12 special education classrooms.
Equip Yourself for Advocacy
Our program covers the history, policy, and law that shapes special education so you can act as an informed advocate for your students—and all students with special needs. You’ll also build action research skills that will help you evaluate programs and policies throughout your career.
A Supportive Community
Our MS in Special Education features small classes led by faculty with direct experience teaching and leading in PreK-12 special education. You’ll be able to build meaningful relationships with them and with your peers.
Hands-On Student Teaching
Complete 14 weeks of full-time student teaching and gain insight into what it takes to effectively manage and motivate students to engage with course content.
Program Features
Extend your understanding of current theory and practice in special education instruction and special education policy and law while building practical research skills that will serve you for the duration of your career in education.
Key facts:
- 33-36 credits of flexible coursework offered online in seven-week blocks.
- Personal attention from faculty members for effective professional mentorship.
- A foundation of skills for pursuing future certification as a special education supervisor or earning a doctoral degree.
Start Your Teaching Career
in Special Education
PreK-12 Special Education Certification
If you are not already a licensed teacher in the state of Pennsylvania, you can begin your career as a special education teacher with Gwynedd Mercy University. Build advanced knowledge in instructional theory and practice by adding the PreK-12 Special Education Certification on the master’s degree core with a practicum experience.
The certification program option was designed to meet certification requirements for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s certification requirements prior to enrolling in this program.
Program Details
MS in Special Education Curriculum – 33 credits
- Action Research for Teachers I
- Action Research for Teachers II
- Behavior Management Skills for the Special Learner
- Current Issues in Special Education
- Diagnostic, Assessment, Prescriptive and Intervention Techniques for Special Education
- Effective Communication for Educators
- Foundations of Special Education in an Inclusionary Setting
- Methods, Materials, and Curriculum
- Researched Based Learning Methods and Materials for the Special Learner
- Special Education Law and Ethics
- The Learning and Teaching Process
MS in Special Education with PreK-12 Special Education Certification Curriculum – 36 credits
- Action Research for Teachers I
- Action Research for Teachers II
- Behavior Management Skills for the Special Learner
- Current Issues in Special Education
- Diagnostic, Assessment, Prescriptive and Intervention Techniques for Special Education
- Effective Communication for Educators
- Foundations of Special Education in an Inclusionary Setting
- Methods, Materials, and Curriculum
- Researched Based Learning Methods and Materials for the Special Learner
- Special Education Law and Ethics
- Student Teaching and Professional Seminar
- The Learning and Teaching Process
The MS in Special Education program enrolls new students twice a year, each spring and fall.
Upcoming Start Dates:
- Spring 2025: January 27, 2025
- Fall 2025: TBD
To qualify for admission to the Master of Science in Special Education program, you must provide:
- Proof you have obtained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0.* You must submit official transcripts from every college or university attended
- Proof of a Level I Certificate in one of the following areas: N-3, K-6, Pre K-4, K-12 and Reading Specialist
- A completed and signed application
- A current professional resume
- Two completed supervisory reference forms
- A minimum score of 550 (written), 213 (computer), or 79 (internet) on the TOEFL examination if English is not your native language
*If your GPA was lower than 3.0, we encourage you to apply for evaluation on a case-by-case basis. Personal interviews may be required for any candidates as determined by the admissions committee.
Estimated 2024-2025 costs: $750 per credit hour
- MS in Special Education ($24,750 for the complete 33-credit program)
- MS in Special Education with PreK-12 Special Education Certification ($27,000 for the complete 36-credit program)
Fees: The administrative costs of your education are covered through fees. Fees are not refundable. To learn more about tuition and fees, contact an enrollment representative today.
Financial Aid: To learn how to determine your Financial Aid eligibility, please contact the financial aid office at nontermaid@gmercyu.edu or 877-499-6333.
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Support Special-Needs Learners
with GMercyU
Take the next step—or the first step—on your professional journey in special education. Contact a GMercyU enrollment representative today to learn more about the online MS in Special Education!