Master’s Degree in Moderate to Severe Special Education

Special education teacher standing in a classroom
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Overview

Develop Skills for Teaching Moderate to Severe Special Education Students

The Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education: Moderate to Severe program is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree who are interested in teaching K-12 children who have advanced exceptionalities. This master’s degree can prepare you to seek initial teaching licensure in the field of moderate to severe special education. You will study topics ranging from ethical and legal practices to diagnosis and assessment in special education. In addition, you must complete a full-time, 15-week student teaching component with a certified special educator. 

Special education teacher working with a student
Special education teacher helping a student with paperwork
Why GCU

Work Toward Teaching Special Education in K-12 Classrooms

Grand Canyon University cares about promoting the well-being of students at a large scale, including academic, spiritual and vocational growth. For this reason, academics are supported by our Christian worldview and strong academic heritage. GCU also sees the benefit of achieving a balanced lifestyle. The online master’s degree in moderate to severe special education licensure program creates room for both academic excellence and personal flexibility that can suit your individualized needs.

Earn Your MEd in Special Education Online

The online format for the moderate and severe special education master’s degree can offer the convenience of flexible scheduling, allowing you to balance coursework with professional commitments and personal life. With accessible resources and a supportive virtual learning environment, this format can enable you to engage deeply with the curriculum at your own pace.

Embracing modern technology and interactive tools, GCU’s online platform aims to foster an enriching educational experience tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs. However, it's important to note that many teaching programs also include practicum/field experience hours that require in-person and hands-on experiences


This Degree Is Offered Online

Coursework

Special Education Moderate to Severe Curriculum and Teaching Courses

This graduate program includes a rigorous curriculum, relevant courses and faculty to support your journey to begin teaching students with moderate to severe exceptionalities. In this program, you will study special education moderate to severe curriculum that includes a variety of topics, such as:

  • Characteristics of intellectual exceptionalities and other physical health impairments
  • Ethical and legal practices
  • Developmentally appropriate skills
  • Instructional planning
  • Collaboration strategies
  • Diagnosis and assessment in advanced special education 
  • Communication and behavior strategies
  • Assistive technologies
  • Classroom management methods

Student Teaching Requirements

The special education degree program concludes with a full-time, 15-week student teaching component that must be completed with a certified special educator. You are expected to have access to K-12 settings with students who have significant special education needs in order to complete the 103 hours of practicum/field experience requirements. Additionally, upon successful completion of this program, graduates may go on to pursue a moderate to severe teaching credential online.

Special education teacher working with a student in the classroom
Careers

Career Paths for MEd in Moderate to Severe Special Education Graduates

Upon completion of this MEd program, graduates may be prepared to apply for a moderate to severe special education license to be able to adeptly support students facing advanced exceptionalities. Graduates are taught to become skilled in crafting personalized education plans tailored to meet the unique requirements of each individual student.

As a graduate, you may go on to pursue a career as a licensed special education teacher in various grade levels, including:

Preschool

Kindergarten

Elementary school

Middle school

Secondary school

Special ed teacher helps student with assignment
Accreditation

Accredited Master of Education Degrees

This moderate to severe special education master’s degree is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), an accrediting body endorsed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Additionally, GCU maintains institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, affirming our commitment to delivering quality education at both national and regional levels. Our MEd programs have received full accreditation from AAQEP, signifying our commitment to fostering effective educators who can evolve professionally and maintain the highest standards of quality in education. 

FAQ

MEd in Special Education: Moderate to Severe FAQs

Explore the questions and answers below to help provide clarity on various aspects of the special education track, helping you make well-informed decisions about your academic pursuits.

Teacher standing in front of classroom

Start Your Journey Today 

Embark on your journey in specialized education with our MEd in Special Education: Moderate to Severe. Enroll now to work toward acquiring teaching skills that can make a lasting impact on diverse learners. 

Apply Now

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).


Arizona Department of Education. (n.d.). Disability Categories. Retrieved on Dec. 19, 2023. 

2 Hamilton, I. (2023, May 24). By The Numbers: The Rise Of Online Learning In The U.S. Forbes. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024. 

3 Best Colleges. (2023, May 24). How Does Online College Accreditation Work? Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024. 

4 Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024. 

5 Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Special Education Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K-12. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024. 

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