Special education

M.A.T.
Online
delivery
$609 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
3 This program starts in Summer, Fall and Winter terms.§
start terms

Every student deserves an equitable education, and as a skilled special education teacher, you can play a critical role in making that possible. Oregon State University’s online Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program will equip you with the expertise to create inclusive classrooms and support diverse learners while preparing you to become a special education teacher who can work in a variety of settings within in the state of Oregon.

With an emphasis on removing barriers to academic success and socio-emotional well-being for special education students, the MAT-SPED program will provide you with in-demand skills related to differentiation and inclusive instructional strategies. This two-year program offers fully online coursework designed by faculty with personal experience in special education. The program culminates in a year-long, in-person teaching placement in your community, providing you with the opportunity to integrate what you learned into a real-time classroom environment.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online special education master’s degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s master’s degree in special education online program, you’ll gain extensive hands-on experience in order to work effectively with parents, agencies and other educators to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives.

  • Classroom management
  • Inclusive teaching
  • Learning assessment
  • Social justice advocacy
  • Literacy development
  • Educational research
A male teacher sits on the floor with young students in a circle, engaging them in discussion in a colorful classroom setting

Program details

The program emphasizes real-world applicability, with courses co-designed by OSU faculty and experienced K-12 educators with personal experience in special education. Your fully online coursework will cover general and special education topics such as special education math, special education literacy, behavioral supports and transition planning. This program is ideal if you’re already working as a classroom aide or in a similar support position. You can enroll in the summer, fall and winter terms.

The online special education master’s degree program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Education.

Degree requirements

A total of 53 quarter credits is required to graduate with your master’s degree in special education online. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog and on the College of Education's program website.

A teacher in a blue shirt leans in to guide a young student, gesturing toward her paper while others focus on their work.

Additional program features

When you earn Oregon State’s online special education master’s degree, you will hold a Special Education Generalist K-12 License in Oregon — making you qualified to teach and support students across a range of grade levels and abilities. OSU’s College of Education also has extensive experience in providing personalized support to program graduates who want to seek licensure in other states.

A core course in the MAT-SPED is a 3-credit practicum that you’ll complete in Year 2 of your studies. You also have the option of completing a field practicum for apprenticeship during Year 1.

You’ll gain hands-on, in-person experience through a 3-credit practicum and 9-credit internship to help ensure you’re qualified and confident applying your learning to a classroom setting. When possible, the college will help place you in an internship in your local area.

State of Colorado: This program requires an internship. Although Oregon State University participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), due to Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act, we have limited authorization to offer programs that require internships in the state of Colorado. The Colorado internship site must provide workers’ compensation. In some cases, a proposed internship site may not provide workers’ compensation insurance and, as a result, is not available as an internship site. Please contact Shannon Riggs, associate vice provost for educational programs and learning innovation, with questions.

Explore the detailed admissions information for the online special education master’s degree program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Education website.

Students are admitted to this program three times per year, and you can begin your studies in the summer, fall or winter. Visit Oregon State's academic calendar for term start dates.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Special education careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s master’s degree in special education program will help you fill in-demand jobs. You’ll graduate ready to create inclusive educational experiences and make a positive difference.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to special education. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.