Special Education Specialization, MAT

Our MAT in Special Education is a two-year program, designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and would like to teach exceptional learners at any grade level from Kindergarten through grade 12.

Successful completion of the program and licensure requirements will lead to a master’s degree and North Carolina Special Education (K-12) teacher certification.

Enjoy online evening courses with in-person and hands-on field experience designed to provide maximum flexibility for working professionals, including residency licensure teachers, teaching assistants in a special education classroom, professionals in disability-related service agencies and non-profits, direct support professionals and teachers in a non-special education setting.

Through courses you will become knowledgeable about disability characteristics, Individual Education Plans, applied behavior analysis, assessment and evidence-based practices, and field experiences will provide practical hands-on teaching experience.

Our program will prepare you to be a highly effective special education teacher. All courses are taught by dedicated faculty with classroom teaching experience  and extensive knowledge in this specialty field.

During the final semester, students participate in a full-time student teaching internship in a special education setting under the guidance of a mentor teacher and faculty supervisor.

Students can select from two concentrations: Special Education: General Curriculum or Special Education: Adapted Curriculum.

This program prepares special educators to teach individuals with high incidence disabilities including specific learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, and other health impairments in Kindergarten through grade 12.

Course content includes characteristics and needs of individuals with high incidence disabilities, assessment for data-based decision making, evidence-based assessment and instructional methods in literacy and math, and behavior intervention strategies to support all students.

This program prepares special educators to teach learners with significant intellectual and multiple disabilities from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Course content includes systematic instructional methods such as task analysis and prompting systems, teaching skills for independence across settings of life, supporting meaningful access to grade-level academic content, and assessment and intervention to support learners with complex communication needs.