Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Roughly 37,600 openings for special education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.*
Maximize your options for employment in special education -- learn more about our Master of Education in Special Education degree and certificate options.
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We've taken our current program with highly qualified instructors and made it even better by creating student-centered, online formats while maintaining quality learning outcomes. A dedicated collaborative team has ensured the courses, program design, faculty training, student orientation and support are of the highest caliber.
- Online delivery, with limited synchronous video meetings for select classes designed to facilitate interaction and collaboration (Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis graduate certificates are offered 100% asynchronously)
- Licensure and non-licensure options
- Student-friendly, highly engaging technological tools to ensure an easy to access, rich and rigorous learning experience
- More accessible for teachers and aspiring teachers
- 24/7 technical support, self-paced introductory course, and student orientation
- The licensure based special education programs are designed to meet the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements in the state of Massachusetts. Students who plan to pursue licensure outside the state of Massachusetts are responsible for checking with their state licensure board to confirm licensure requirements and obtain additional guidance as needed from the respective licensure board.
- Licensure programs requiring a practicum also require that the practicum is completed in a public school setting within the state of Massachusetts.
Master of Education in Special Education Degrees
- Guided Studies - Applied Behavior Analysis
- Guided Studies, Individualized (Non-licensure)
- Guided Studies, Dyslexia Specialist (Non-Licensure)
- Reading Specialist (Initial Licensure)
- Reading Specialist (Non-Licensure)
- Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (Initial Licensure)
- Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (Initial Licensure)
Graduate Certificates
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Reading Specialist - Initial Licensure
- Special Education Director
- Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
Special Education Student Resources
Still have questions? We're here to help!
We know you're busy, so we've given you a few different options to conveniently get the answers you need. You can…
- Email an enrollment counselor gce@fitchburgstate.edu or call 978.665.3182
- Attend an Information Session
- Watch a webinar
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Special Education Teachers (visited April 3, 2023).