The Master of Arts in Special Education is designed for students who want advanced study in special education. These programs are designed to provide training experiences leading to the development of those competencies specifically related to working with persons with disabilities in a variety of public school and community settings as a teacher or teacher consultant.

Special Education requires that a minimum of 15 semester hours toward any graduate program be taken on campus. "On campus" is not restricted to Mt. Pleasant. Therefore, students should contact the department chairperson to determine whether a course is considered "on campus."

Admission Requirements

Beyond the standards of the College of Graduate Studies admission, Special Education requires the following:

• Prior to admission to a master's degree program, the candidate must have a bachelor's degree and a valid Michigan Elementary or Secondary Provisional, Permanent, or Life certificate or special education endorsement. If applicants do not meet this requirement, they should contact the EHS Center for Student Services​ (421 EHS, CMU, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859, 989-774-3309).

• Conditional Admission to the Master of Arts degree program in Special Education requires an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75. (Applicants below the required grade point average may appeal through the chairperson for exception.) Additionally, applicants are required to submit a current statement of purpose for pursuing the degree, two letters of recommendation regarding the applicant's performance with Special Education populations. Application are available through the College of Graduate Studies.

• Any applicant who is not admitted to a degree option in Special Education may reapply to that option by following the same procedures for the initial application.

• After each applicant with conditional admission has completed 10 semester hours of graduate study on the program at Central Michigan University with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, he or she may petition for reclassification for Regular Admission. The faculty will then determine whether regular admission will be granted. An Authorization of Degree Program form must be filed at this time by students granted regular admission.

Degree Requirements

These graduate programs lead to a Master of Arts degree in Special Education. The degree is based upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate work and satisfactory demonstration of the competencies identified within the stated objectives and activities of the program.

The Master Teacher

The Master of Arts Degree in Special Education: The Master Teacher is conceptualized as a degree designed specifically to build upon the strengths of certified educators. It is intended to expand their skills and knowledge base in order to prepare them to assume the role of what the Carnegie Report refers to as "The Master Teacher."

Prerequisites: Special Education endorsement OR SPE 126 and 550 within the last ten years.

1. Special Education Core Classes (18 credit hours)
SPE 600 (3) Current Issues in Special Education
SPE 679 (3) Behavioral and Curricular Interventions for Individuals with Mild Disabilities
SPE 695 (3) Research for Counseling and Special Education
SPE 750 (3) Consultant Skills for Special Educators and Counselors
SPE 785 (3) Seminar in Special Education
SPE 790 (3) Seminar: Investigations and Solutions in Special Education

2. Required classes (15 credit hours) to be selected in consultation with adviser.

Courses within this area may include the courses necessary to add an endorsement in Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Learning Disabilities, or Autism. Contact your advisor for more information.

Total: 33 credit hours