Aug. 17, 2022
Next Start Date
11
Courses Required
$655
Cost Per Credit Hour
36
Total Credit Hours
Online Courses
Learning Formats
Would you like a career helping young people with disabilities? The Master of Arts in Multicategorical Special Education program prepares professional educators to work with children and adolescents with special needs across the areas of mild/moderate mental impairments, specific learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders.
This program prepares special education teachers and other professionals to provide high-quality educational programs and services in elementary and/or secondary schools. Graduates of the program will demonstrate knowledge and application of current evidence-practices as exemplified by reputable research and professional standards to deliver individualized instruction to develop academic and social skills.
The Multicategorical Special Education M.A. program leads to teaching certification by the West Virginia Department of Education.
The program is offered entirely online throughout the United States and in approved international locations. The online courses are taught by faculty who are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields.
The Multicategorical Special Education M.A. program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children. Students may study for a Master's degree in Special Education with certification in Multicategorical Special Education Grades K-6 or 5-Adult (or the equivalent in other states); or a Master's degree only in Special Education with emphasis in Multicategorical Special Education. West Virginia permits individuals who are completing a program in Multicategorical Special Education K-6 or 5-Adult to request an additional endorsement in Autism, after they are awarded their initial certification, by completing six additional credits of coursework, including two specialization courses in Autism.
"Being a WVU graduate and a first-generation college student, I’m happy to be back to help you navigate the WVU System. Something WVU Online wants to do is assist you in creating your sense of community and continuity, making sure you have the answers to any and all questions."
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Regular Admission
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
NOTE: School systems may require criminal background checks and formal board approval prior to placement.
Applications
The WVU Application for Graduate Admission is available here.
For assistance in completing applications, please contact: sped@mail.wvu.edu.
Financial aid is available. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827. Please contact the WVU Financial Aid Office at (304) 293-5242 or financialaid.wvu.edu for additional information.
The Multicategorical Special Education M.A. degree requires 36 credit hours to complete. Cost per credit hour is $655.
$23,580 – Residents and Non-Residents
Credits | Cost |
---|---|
1 | $655 |
3 | $1,965 |
6 | $3,930 |
9 | $5,895 |
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
A grade of B or higher is required in all graduate coursework.
Course | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
SPED 500 | Legal/Educational Foundations: Special Education | 3 |
SPED 601 | Academic Interventions for Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 603 | Classroom/Behavior Management for Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 609 | Technology Applications for Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 663 | Collaborative-Consultative Inclusion Strategies | 3 |
SPED 665 | Mathematics for Special Needs | 3 |
SPED 666 | Reading for Special Needs | 3 |
Select one of the following:
Course | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
SPED 667 | Elementary Content Methods | 3 |
SPED 668 | Secondary Content Methods | 3 |
LE 622 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
SPED 669 | Culminating Practicum: Multicategorical Special Education | 6 |
Or | ||
SPED 680 | Culminating Project |
Total Hours: 36
The Multicategorical Special Education M.A. degree from the College of Applied Human Sciences will prepare you to work with children and adolescents with special needs, including mild to moderate mental impairments, specific learning disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders. The program leads to certification by the West Virginia Department of Education.
If you complete the program in Multicategorical Special Education K-6 or 5-Adult, the state of West Virginia also provides additional endorsement in Autism, following the completion of six additional credits of coursework, including two specialization courses in Autism.
The Master of Arts in Multicategorical Special Education offered by the College of Applied Human Sciences is designed to prepare you to be a leader in the field of special education and to positively affect the lives of today’s youth, helping them to reach their full potential.
This graduate-level program prepares special education teachers to engage in current research-based practices and to provide high quality educational programs and services.
This program has been designed so that program graduates can accomplish the following learning outcomes:
Students who graduate from WVU Online with a Multicategorical Special Education M.A. degree will prepare themselves for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities open to you with this degree.
Self-Enrichment Education Teacher
Projected Growth: 11% or higher *Bright Outlook
Special Education Teacher - Kindergarten Elementary School
Projected Growth: 2-3%
Special Education Teacher - Middle School
Projected Growth: 2-3%
Special Education Teacher - Secondary School
Projected Growth: 2-3%
Special Education Teacher - All Other
Projected Growth: 7-10% Bright Outlook
Information about careers on this list comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
The minimum time to complete most certification or degree programs in special education is:
There are many career paths a student could take with a Multicategorical Special Education Master’s Degree, including: