Master of Arts in Special Education with Initial Teaching Certification
Master of arts
Program details
| Credits | 38 |
|---|
Industry highlights
"Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030.""Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor"Program Format
| Hybrid (combination of in-person and online classes) |
Admissions requirements
Applicants must hold a 4-year bachelor’s degree in any area, have experience working with children, and complete a Candidates Disposition Inventory as part of the interview process.
Applicants are evaluated on undergraduate GPA,e xperience working with children, especially those with special education needs, and writing skills.
Program overview
This innovative master’s program is the first in the state to offer an expedited 18-month master’s level program in Special Education that results in an initial teacher certification. The College of Education and Human Development has implemented this program to keep up with the State of Michigan’s high need for special educators and to increase accessibility to those seeking a first-time teacher’s license.
Why the Master of Arts in Special Education with Initial Teaching Certification at Western Michigan University
- Program completion leads to State of Michigan initial teaching certificate and endorsement in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional impairments (EI), or learning disabilities (LD).
- Ample funding opportunities including graduate teaching assistantships, scholarships, and Urban Teacher Residency stipends.
- Cohort model provides a community of professionals with shared interests and goals to progress through the program together.
- 96% of CEHD Graduates are actively engaged in their field shortly after graduation.
- Top 100 ranked public Graduate School of Education.
Who should apply
Aspiring teachers seeking their initial teaching certification with a desire to work with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional impairments (EI), or learning disabilities (LD).
Career opportunities
A Master of Arts in Special Education with endorsements in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional impairments (EI), or learning disabilities (LD) is designed to lead students to a career as a Special Education teacher.
Funding
Students enrolled in this program may qualify for a $20,000 stipend through funds provided by the Urban Teacher Residency fund. All students are encouraged to apply, especially those working in Kalamazoo Public Schools and Benton Harbor Schools.
The College of Education and Human Development has awarded $2.2 million in scholarships over the last five years. View all scholarships.
The Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies typically hires 3-4 teaching assistants to assist faculty with teaching during the fall and spring semesters. Graduate students wishing to be considered for one of these positions should send a letter of interest and a resume to the chair.
If your employer has a tuition reimbursement program, such as Kalamazoo Public Schools, find out about WMU’s deferment program for employer paid tuition.