Top 25 Online Master's in Special Education Programs for 2019
Teachers who work with special needs students need more than just patience and compassion; they also require extensive training and on-the-job practice. Earning an online master's in special education will enable you to educate children with disabilities by improving their academic, social, and behavioral competencies.
An online special education master's degree gives you the chance to make a meaningful difference in others' lives while, at the same time, entering a well-paying career with the potential for personal and professional growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 6% increase in the employment of special education professionals between 2014 and 2024.
WHAT ARE THE BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS?
Top 25 Online Masters in Special Education Programs for 2019
GWU offers one of the best online special education master's programs with licensure in the country. The master's of arts in secondary special education and transition services is a 12-month program that prepares teachers and specialists to serve the needs of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in middle and high school. This program is nationally recognized by the Transition Guideposts of the Department of Labor National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth and the CEC Advanced Knowledge and Skills Base for Transition Specialists.
The 33 credit-hour curriculum emphasizes social justice in action and offers evening classes and clinical internships in therapeutic school settings throughout DC and the surrounding region. Coursework covers a variety of topics, including affective development and behavior management in special education, developmental assessment of adolescents, and curriculum and instructional methods in special education. This program boasts exceptional post-graduation employment placements and a teacher-retention rate that is higher than the national average.
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How to Choose an Online Master's in Special Education Program
There are many factors to consider prior to enrolling in an online special education master's program. For example, you should investigate how long it will take to complete your degree, especially if you plan to continue working and need to study part-time. You should also determine if programs have any on-campus requirements on top of online coursework, particularly if you select a school located in a state other than the one where you reside.
Additionally, it is important to decide what subfield you want to specialize in and that your school adequately prepares you for jobs in that particular subfield. For example, you may wish to specialize in applied behavioral analysis, which requires you to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
You also need to assess the price of master's in special education online programs, factoring in administrative and technology costs, along with related fees.
Careers for Graduates of Master's in Special Education Programs
The professional opportunities in this field are as exciting as they are varied, which means you can define your own career trajectory once you complete your online master's in special education. Advancements in educational assessment tools allow schools to identify special needs students earlier than in the past. These advancements drive the demand for professionals who are well-trained and who can deliver appropriate instruction for this unique population of students.
These teachers support students with learning disabilities, helping them improve their functioning and ability to transition into traditional classes. In addition to the academic requirements of this job, teachers may need physical strength to help students with hygiene and mobility issues. These teachers should also have excellent communication skills for interaction with students, parents, administrators, and other teachers.
Median Salary: $45,000
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for special education teachers is strong, as the BLS projects that the field will grow 6% by 2024. This is at least partly attributable to better screening of children's disabilities, meaning their needs can be identified earlier so that they can enroll in special education programs. Professionals who specialize in particular areas, such as working with students with severe disabilities and those on the autism spectrum, are likely find job opportunities more plentiful. Salary for special education teachers varies depending on location and years of experience.
| Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 491,100 | 522,000 |
Source: BLS
SALARY GROWTH BY EXPERIENCE
Your salary as a special education teacher is likely to increase once you acquire several years of experience. Salaries can start at around $41,000 for preschool special education teachers, and can increase to $57,600 with 20 or more years of experience. Education administrators can make significantly more, with salaries starting at around $50,400 and increasing to over $80,000 as they become seasoned professionals.
The overall median salary for special education teachers is $57,910, according to the BLS. Other factors that affect your salary include bilingualism and specialization in areas such as applied behavioral analysis, behavior management, and autism spectrum disorder. Special education as a career can be both meaningful and lucrative, allowing professionals to impact young people's lives while also earning a salary commensurate with their level of experience.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Joining professional organizations after you complete your online special education master's degree allows you to network with peers and share your knowledge of the field. These organizations strengthen your understanding of best practices and give you access to various perks, including conferences where you can hear from special education experts. In addition, professional organizations offer career resources and job boards that keep you updated about various occupational tracks you can pursue throughout your career. Special education professional organizations include:
To determine the best online master's in special education programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 10 best online master's in special education programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.