Special education is about more than providing services. It's about providing a better future.
The M.A. in Special Education includes ASD, ABS, and EBD concentrations. Our program will help you become a skilled professional in a high-demand profession. You’ll learn to customize programs to meet individual needs and serve with compassion. While supporting kids and their families, you’ll motivate students to meet their goals and live a meaningful life. This program will build your knowledge base and refine your skills to assess and educate students with mild to moderate disabilities in several areas, including LD, EBD, OHD, DCD, and ASD.
Program Option(s)
Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist Concentration
Our Academic Behavioral Strategist concentration prepares you to serve K-12 students in a variety of mild to moderate disability categories, including ASD, EBD, LD, OHD, and DCD. You’ll be equipped to work in resource rooms and inclusive K-12 settings within public schools.
| Delivery | Mostly Online |
| Locations | Anderson Center, and Online |
| Credits | 41 |
| Cost per Credit | $535 |
Special Education: Autism Spectrum Disorders Concentration
This concentration will prepare you to serve students in birth to age 21 settings who have been identified with autism spectrum disorders.
| Delivery | Mostly Online |
| Locations | Anderson Center, and Online |
| Credits | 41 |
| Cost per Credit | $535 |
Special Education: Developmental Disabilities Concentration
With our Developmental Disabilities License, you’ll become adept at implementing and adapting evidence-based instruction methods that will meet the needs of your students and help them succeed.
| Delivery | Mostly Online |
| Locations | Anderson Center, and Online |
| Credits | 41 |
| Cost per Credit | $535 |
Special Education: Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Concentration
Our Emotional and Behavioral Disorders concentration prepares you to serve K-12 students who have been identified with emotional and behavior disorders ranging from mild to severe.
| Delivery | Mostly Online |
| Locations | Anderson Center, and Online |
| Credits | 41 |
| Cost per Credit | $535 |
* These costs are estimated and subject to change.
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Preparing Compassionate, Competent Educational Leaders.
Here, we recognize that teaching children with special needs is a high calling. Our 20 faculty members—who are both recognized researchers and practitioners in multiple specialties within the field—train special education teachers to serve students, teachers, and families from a mindset of Christian values. With this frame, you’ll help create a positive environment that will keep your students engaged in learning and your work rewarding. Our multiple licensure options will help you lead in the largest growing field in education.
0 years licensing special education teachers
0% Students who pass the MTLE Pedagogy exam
Program Highlights
Experienced professors
Bethel’s special education professors are leading researchers and practitioners in the field with experience in multiple specialties, bringing personal experience to your learning to make coursework relevant to the real-world classroom.
Practical experience
During your program, you’ll have 4 opportunities to practice what you’re learning through clinical experiences so upon graduation you can make a real difference in the K-12 educational setting.
Student success
We’re committed to helping you succeed from admission to graduation. Rather than focusing on the results of one entrance exam for admission, we look for well-rounded people with work experience who can bring diverse perspectives into the classroom. And once you’re here, you’ll be supported by advisors and professors who are caring and ensure that you have everything you need.
Flexibility
We know many of our students work full time, have families, and are involved in their community while in graduate school. Our schedules make it easier for you to earn your degree by having limited in-class time so you can complete your assignments when it works best for you.
Christian environment
In our courses, we integrate Christian faith into ideas and practices. In this way, we model how your values and beliefs influence your teaching and scholarship.
The program was great and very practical. It really gave me the opportunity to practice the skills learned in classes.
Aldo Cantellano '13Current job: Dean of Students
Considering entering the field of special education, I felt that it was extremely important to be prepared for the task that lay ahead of me. Bethel challenged me both intellectually and spiritually and I am truly grateful for the opportunity.
Mary Fleetwood '15Current job: Special Education Teacher
Bethel provided me with a fantastic education and prepared me for teaching in a school setting. They were understanding, flexible, and creative in scheduling my classes so that I was able to teach full-time while still attending classes 3 hours away.
Derek Bauer '15Current job: Special Education Teacher in Grand Rapids, MN
Outcomes
Our M.A. in Special Education program will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be a confident, compassionate, successful teacher serving kids, families, and communities.
Skills
Learn how to:
- Effectively teach students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities
- Develop strategies for managing academic and behavioral problems
- Ethically carry out legal requirements of special education
- Collaborate with parents and colleagues
- Engage with students from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds
- Use a range of technology tools to interpret, evaluate, and apply information
Careers
Our graduates become:
- Special education teachers in public, private, and charter schools
- Directors of Special Education
- Principals
- Superintendents
Areas of Study
Our graduates go on to obtain additional licenses in the following areas:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders, birth to age 21
- Emotional Behavioral Disorders, K-12
- Developmental Disorders, K-12
- Work-based Learning, Technology, and Literacy
