{"id":2732,"date":"2025-03-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=2732"},"modified":"2025-03-04T23:41:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T07:41:52","slug":"online-mat-sped-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-mat-sped-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"New special education master\u2019s degree aims to fill workforce gaps, increase inclusive teaching practices"},"content":{"rendered":"
Editor’s note:<\/strong> This article was originally published<\/a> by Oregon State University’s Office of Media Relations.<\/div>\n

Amid a rising number of students with disabilities and an ongoing shortage of credentialed special education teachers, Oregon State University\u2019s College of Education is hoping a new master\u2019s program will help bridge some gaps in the workforce.<\/p>\n

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education (MAT-SPED)\u00a0degree<\/a>, which will welcome its first cohort of up to 35 students in summer 2025, is a fully online, flexible licensure program designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals.<\/p>\n

Across Oregon, news reports have highlighted a\u00a0major shortage<\/a>\u00a0of special education teachers in K-12 schools, with many of these positions being filled by\u00a0emergency licensed instructors<\/a>\u00a0who do not meet federally mandated standards for special ed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an ongoing shortage of special educators in Oregon and nationwide, more so since the COVID-19 pandemic. We\u2019re also seeing an increase in the number of students receiving special education services, and a majority of these students are in general education settings,\u201d said Nandita Golya, a senior instructor in the College of Education.<\/p>\n

By making the new MAT-SPED program fully online, college leaders hope to provide an option for those teachers who are currently filling special ed roles but are not yet licensed to gain their special education endorsement, said Niki Weight, the college\u2019s director of student success and advising. The flexible structure will allow them to continue teaching while they pursue the degree.<\/p>\n

The two-year master\u2019s program includes in-person classroom experiences … to ensure teacher candidates can apply their learning in a real-world setting.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Program applicants do not need to already be licensed teachers; they just need a bachelor\u2019s degree. The college is hoping to attract folks who may already be working as classroom aides or other support positions, as well as newly minted grads who want to pursue special education from the start.<\/p>\n

Though the coursework is online, the two-year MAT-SPED program also includes in-person classroom experiences with practicum and internship requirements to ensure teacher candidates can apply their learning in a real-world setting, Golya said. The college has worked closely with K-12 educators in Oregon to design the curriculum so that it prepares students for what teachers face every day in the field.<\/p>\n

Part of the increased need for special education teachers comes from schools moving toward inclusive education, rather than having separate classrooms for students with disabilities, Golya explained. Current federal law requires considering a general education placement first for all students with disabilities, although separate placements are still possible and warranted in some cases, highlighting the importance of disabled students receiving individualized educational plans at least yearly, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the push-in model, rather than removing students with disabilities from the general education classroom for specialized instruction, support services and resources are pushed into the general education setting. So you might see a special education teacher or a speech language therapist working with the teacher on how they can support students in the general education environment,\u201d Golya said. \u201cWhile there has been a paradigm shift toward recognizing the benefits of inclusive practices for all students, there is still progress to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n

“<\/span>We want to remove barriers that don\u2019t need to be there, which is good for all students, regardless of whether they have a diagnosed or hidden disability.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To continue with that shift, OSU educators will focus on inclusive teaching practices, which emphasize proactively making classroom spaces and curriculum welcoming to learners of all stripes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re reframing diversity with this intersectional, multi-identity approach that\u2019s also about universal design \u2014 how to design inclusive classrooms from the start, rather than seeing it as something separate you need to add on,\u201d Weight said. \u201cWe want to remove barriers that don\u2019t need to be there, which is good for all students, regardless of whether they have a diagnosed or hidden disability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inclusive practices based on universal design may look like presenting information in multiple formats so it\u2019s accessible and understandable for every student. It may mean incorporating sensory tools like fidget toys, weighted vests or noise-canceling headphones to help students remain calm and focused. It could also involve flexible seating arrangements, quiet learning zones or extra time for assignments or breaks.<\/p>\n

Weight said that by cross-listing the MAT-SPED courses so that upper-division undergraduates may also take them, the new program is expanding learning opportunities throughout the College of Education and increasing awareness of special education learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important for all teachers to have this change in mindset, to feel like all students, regardless of ability, are their students, and that they need to work collaboratively to support their students\u2019 needs,\u201d Golya said. \u201cOur college has long championed social justice and equity in teacher preparation, and I am thrilled that we are adding disability to this lens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about Oregon State University\u2019s online MAT-SPED program and get started on your journey today.<\/em><\/p>\n

Request information<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Editor’s note: This article was originally published by Oregon State University’s Office of Media Relations. Amid a rising number of students with disabilities and an ongoing shortage of credentialed special education teachers, Oregon State University\u2019s College of Education is hoping a new master\u2019s program will help bridge some gaps in the workforce. The Master of … New special education master\u2019s degree aims to fill workforce gaps, increase inclusive teaching practices<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":2715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,678],"tags":[180],"class_list":["post-2732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-faculty-and-programs","tag-college-of-education"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MAT-SPED-Photo-05-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-I4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/mat-beaverton-school-district\/","url_meta":{"origin":2732,"position":0},"title":"Oregon State, Beaverton School District to deliver new hybrid teacher licensure program","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Master of Arts in Teaching with an option in Clinically Based Elementary program is a two-year, full-time master\u2019s degree program that immerses students in the classroom from day one, where they will co-teach and work side by side with experienced Beaverton School District educators.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A teacher works with four students in the Beaverton School District. 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