Overview of the Online MS Special Education Program
Broaden your impact – because all children are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Are you a licensed teacher with a heart for empowering all students to achieve success? Grow your professional skills and prepare yourself to enhance the lives of students with disabilities with a Master of Science in Special Education. Our program sets you on the path to becoming a licensed special education teacher in Indiana or Ohio, offering:
- 100% online courses
- Accelerated program with 3 start options annually
- Christ-centered approach to special education
Licensure - Indiana & Ohio
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program with a major in Special Education is offered in an online format. The program is designed for practicing classroom teachers with an existing teaching license seeking an additional license in special education for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Candidates will complete a 33-credit hour M.S. program, which aligns to the initial licensure standards established by the Council for Exceptional Children state licensure requirements for Ohio, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation's advanced-level program standards. Courses are designed to provide participants with methods and materials to serve students with exceptionalities through mild to moderate intervention.
Non-Licensure
The Master of Science with a major in Special Education (Non-licensure) is a master's degree, non-licensure program. This program is open to candidates seeking advanced knowledge and skills in the field of special education for P-12 learners with mild to moderate exceptional learning needs.
Candidates will complete a 33-credit hour program which includes a 15-credit-hour Core and an 18-credit-hour major in Special Education, which aligns to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards. The 15 credit hours of Core courses in Education are designed to provide participants with methods and materials to deepen their teaching ability and help their own students learn, including culturally responsive teaching, ethics and faith, and research and technology tools. Course instruction is designed to model best practices and procedures in the classroom.
This program is open to candidates from all states and countries, and is not tied to state licensure. Candidates could include teachers or professionals in the following settings: International schools, ACSI schools both stateside and overseas, Charter Schools, Private schools, and residential programs and settings. This program may also appeal to traditional public school teachers who are seeking a master’s degree or continuing education, but are not interested in special education licensure.
You’ll Learn To…
- Identify diverse cultural and linguistic needs and develop culturally responsive learning plans
- Individualize learning for students with exceptionalities
- Create safe, inclusive learning environments by implementing evidence-based behavioral interventions for students with exceptionalities
- Collaborate with families, colleagues, related service providers, and other stakeholders to provide appropriate learning experiences for students with exceptionalities.
TUITION
33 Total
Applicable fees for resources and services will be assessed throughout the program. Tuition and fees for prerequisites and required elective courses are in addition to the charges shown on the program cost sheet. Your tuition rate will remain the same as long as you remain continuously enrolled in the same program. Cost sheets may be requested from an enrollment counselor by calling 866.498.4968 or emailing iwuenroll@indwes.edu.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans benefits, and employer reimbursement.
COURSES
Here is the list of courses required to complete the program. Full course descriptions may be viewed by clicking on the course titles. For further information, feel free to contact us.
11 Core Courses
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence.
EDUC-510,EDUC-520,EDUC-530,EDUC-600,EDUC-630,EDSE-510,EDSE-520,EDSE-530,EDSE-540,EDSE-550,EDSE-560
REQUIREMENTS
Click on each section to expand the different requirements for this program. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives at 1-866-498-4968.
- Submitted a signed School of Educational Leadership FERPA Release form.
- A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University. Transcripts from foreign institutions may need to be sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. If this outside review is necessary, students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process.
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least of minimum of 30 hours was completed.
- Indiana and Ohio Licensure Candidates:
- A valid (but not necessarily current) state teacher’s license.
- At least one year of teaching experience from an approved and accredited public, private, or parochial P-12 school in the United States or abroad.
- Supporting documentation demonstrating access to a P-12 classroom.
- Non-Licensure Candidates:
- Be currently employed in or have access to a P-12 public or non-public school or international school.
- Successful completion of the M.S. curriculum.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all graduate work and a minimum grade of "B-" in each course.
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
- Indiana Licensure Candidates:
- Provide evidence of passing scores for the Indiana licensure exam(s).
- Ohio Licensure Candidates:
- Provide evidence of passing scores for the Ohio licensure exam(s).
- Successful completion of twelve credit hours (undergraduate or graduate level) of teaching of reading courses – including at least one, 3-credit hour course in phonics.
Field and Clinical Experience Requirements
All candidates must complete field and clinical experiences embedded within the special education courses.
START DATES
The M.S. Special Education at Indiana Wesleyan University has many convenient starts throughout the year. Listed below are the next available starts. If you don’t see a start that fits your schedule, connect with our enrollment team to see more future starts.
Accreditation
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
Education programs at Indiana Wesleyan University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 1140 19th Street, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-223-0077.
*Effective 07-01-2022 through 06-30-2023