Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Special Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12) program is designed for college graduates who have earned a bachelor’s degree and want to become licensed special education teachers. Students completing this degree can become licensed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to teach in diverse special education settings for students with mild/moderate disabilities in grades K to 12.

This degree enables candidates to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to become excellent special education instructors at the elementary, middle, and secondary level. Students in the program will develop the professional attitudes that empower them to become lifelong learners and exemplary educational leaders through courses that focus on characteristics of learners with special needs; evidence-based special education methods used in inclusive and other settings; diagnostic and prescriptive reading and math, assessment, and IEP development; classroom and behavior management; educational and assistive technology; and other content.

The MAT program in Special Education is aligned with professional standards commensurate with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), The Council for Exceptional Children, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Graduates of the program are eligible to be licensed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12).

Teacher Education Licensure: Completing this master’s degree and obtaining a teaching license are separate processes. Admission to this master’s program does not guarantee admission to the Educator Preparation Licensure Program. To be recommended for licensure, candidates must first be formally admitted to the Educator Preparation Program. Failure to complete the Educator Preparation admission requirements during the first semester of enrollment may result in the student’s inability to register for certain required courses. Applicants and current students should visit the College of Education for guidance on specific requirements for graduation and licensure test/assessment requirements.

Specializations (or Careers)

• Special Education (Exceptional Children) Teachers (K-12)
• Exceptional Children's Advocate or Liaison

Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the MAT - Special Education degree, you must have:

• BS or BA degree from an AACSB-accredited College or University
• 24 credit hours of content-related coursework
• Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.80
• Criminal background check from county of residence
• Well-written Statement of Purpose outlining career goals in Special Education
• Three (3) recommendations (professional and academic only; personal recommendations such as family, friends, church members, etc. are not acceptable)
• Official transcript from all colleges and universities attended
• No current teaching license (other than temporary or residential)
• GRE is not required

Program Requirements

• Thirty (30) hours of coursework
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Pass Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications, Test Code 5543
• Pass Pearson Foundations of Reading, 090/091
• Pass Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest, 7813
• Two semesters of clinical practice experience
  • Clinical I: 60 hours
  • Clinical II: Full instructional day for the entire semester
• Pass edTPA portfolio