Master of Arts (M.A.) in Special Education

Do you aspire to change outcomes for students who struggle academically, socially, or behaviorally because they have special needs? Talk to us about Marian University's Master of Arts in Special Education.

Why choose special education at Marian?

As a student in Marian University's M.A. in Special Education program, you will acquire the advanced knowledge and skills you need to ensure students in P-12 school settings have successful outcomes.

Upon completion of our program, you will be prepared to work with children who have exceptional needs that require intense educational interventions in reading, math, and written expression as well as mild behavioral interventions across a spectrum of disabilities. 

What will you study?

Marian University's M.A. in Special Education curriculum meets Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and it's Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA) standards for exceptional needs teachers.

In our program, you will complete 36 credit hours of required coursework, which can be finished in two years if you are a full-time student or three years (including summer sessions) if you are a part-time student.

Marian's curriculum is designed to ensure you:

• Participate in courses and field experiences that encompass high-incidence disabilities.
• Design programming that includes systemic, focused instruction that is individualized and collaborative in a range of school settings.
• Select and implement intense interventions to remediate academic, social, and behavioral deficits in children.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to create inclusive classrooms with positive academic outcomes.
• Understand how to intercede effectively when behavior negatively impacts the academic and social well-being of a student or a group of students.

For a complete course descriptions and degree requirements, please review the current Marian University graduate course catalog.

What are your career paths?

Licensed special education teachers work in public and private schools with elementary, middle, and high school students and families. 

Graduates of this program may also work as tutors, teachers, administrators, and educational consultants at nonprofit and social service agencies, mental health facilities, and therapeutic residential facilities.

Admission criteria

To be eligible for admission, you must have:

• A bachelor's degree or higher from regionally accredited institution
• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00
• A limited criminal history check through the Indiana State Police 

​To apply for admission:

• Go to marian.edu/applynow and click the link for "graduate students."
• Follow the application instructions, which include providing us with official transcripts from every college and/or university that you've attended.