teacher in classroom
What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

Minimum of 36 semester hours (Adapted Curriculum and Deaf Education concentrations are a minimum of 39 hours)

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: Does Not Admit
  • Spring: Does Not Admit
  • Summer:
    • March 1 (Deaf Education Concentration)
    • March 31 (Adapted Curriculum, Behavior Learning Disabilities (General Curriculum), Early Childhood Special Education Adapted and General)

Special Education, M.A.T.

Talk to the department
Sanquinette Vaughn
404-413-8040
[email protected]

Excel in special education through Georgia State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching program. Gain expertise from experienced faculty to educate children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services in schools.

A combination of practical courses and hands-on classroom experiences gives the student an opportunity to excel to their fullest potential to become a leader in the field. Classes cater to working professionals, offering flexibility in scheduling. As a teacher candidate, you will work in a cohort model enabling all to have the opportunity to become highly qualified teachers.

Upon completion and a passing score on the appropriate GACE test(s) you will receive a master’s degree and certification in one of five special education areas:

Adapted Curriculum

Those in schools on an adapted curriculum often have a diagnosed intellectual disability. They learn academic skills and functional life skills tailored to their individual needs. In Georgia schools they receive most of their academic instruction in small-group settings. With this concentration, you’ll focus on effective instruction for students on an adapted curriculum from preschool to 12th grade.

Behavior Learning Disabilities (General Curriculum)

Those with disabilities in the general curriculum follow the same curriculum as their peers without disabilities, but with specialized support and accommodations to meet their needs. In Georgia schools, students on a general curriculum receive most of their academic instruction in general education classroom settings. With this concentration, you will focus on effective instruction for students served in the general curriculum from preschool to 12th grade.

Early Childhood Special Education Adapted

More information coming soon.

Early Childhood Special Education General

More information coming soon.

Deaf Education

You will learn to educate students who are deaf or hard of hearing. You’ll learn to work in schools that use a visual language, including residential schools, day schools and public school programs. You’ll learn about services across a wide variety of placement options and get in-depth coursework and experiences that will develop your skills for teaching in multilingual settings. Upon successful completion, you will be certified to teach deaf children up through 12th grade.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Program Details

Admissions Requirements

When applying to the Special Education, M.A.T. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

  • Online Application
  • Application Fee of $50
  • Goals Statement (upload with the application). The statement should adhere to the guidelines below and must address all outlined topics. The goals statement will be assessed on the following: the quality and clarity of your writing, fully covering all topics, and your disposition toward students with disabilities. Guidelines: one-two pages in length, 12 font size, one-inch margins on each side, single-spaced:
    • Describe your experience working with students with disabilities, and what draws you to becoming a teacher.
    • Describe how your strengths, skills, interests, and experiences will contribute to the profession of education.
    • Describe how the professional and academic goals you hope to accomplish by completing this program of study will benefit the students with whom you intend to work.
  • Resume (upload with the application)
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
    • For applicants who are currently employed in a school setting:
      • One letter of recommendation must be from a current direct supervisor. For paraprofessionals, the classroom teacher you work with most frequently should complete one letter of recommendation. For provisional teachers of record, your mentor teacher should complete one letter of recommendation.
      • One letter of recommendation must be from your current school principal or assistant principal.
    • For applicants who are not currently employed in a school setting:
      • One letter of recommendation must be from a supervisor from your current place of employment.
      • One letter of recommendation must be from a current or former professor who can speak to your academic performance.
  • Official Transcript: minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA required for admission
    • submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Graduate Admissions | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302
  • To meet certification requirements in Georgia, you will also need to complete the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment prior to program admission. Visit the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment or information and how to register for the assessment.

 

Through the M.A.T. Special Education program, students take a variety of courses related to methods, classroom management, dyslexia, literacy, assessment and applied behavior analysis.

Students also have the opportunity to complete a practicum in their area of interest.

In addition to the training students receive for their concentration, they may also qualify for the autism endorsement, dyslexia and other reading disabilities endorsement or reading endorsement through successfully completing specific coursework.

Certification areas: Special Education Adapted Curriculum, Special Education Deaf Education, Special Education General Curriculum

Professional Education Core classes = 9 hours
Teaching Field/Major = 27-30 hours
Program total: Minimum of 36 semester hours
(Adapted Curriculum, Deaf Education and Early Childhood Special Education concentrations are a minimum of 39 semester hours)

For specific requirements and classes, review the catalog.

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

Teacher Preparation Program Effectiveness

With the completion of the master’s in art in teaching in special education, students can expect to earn their initial teaching certificate in Georgia along with earning their master’s degree.

 

Career Outcomes

Graduates across concentrations will be prepared to work with children and youth with special needs. Graduates are provided coursework and practicum experiences resulting in knowledge of characteristics, curriculum, instructional strategies and classroom management procedures.

Students will learn to work with students in a variety of settings such as:

  • separate specialized schools
  • typical school settings
  • alternative school settings (for example, residential and juvenile justice)
  • cognitive and behavioral specialty agencies

Teacher working with Special Education student

Contacts

Program Coordinators

Spec Ed Adapted and General Curriculum
Lauren Boden, Ph.D.
[email protected]

Deaf Education
Jessica Scott, Ph.D.
[email protected]
404-413-8040

Spec Ed Early Childhood Adapted and General Curriculum
Sarah Hansen, Ph.D.
[email protected]
404-413-8331

Learning Sciences
[email protected]
404-413-8040

Mailing Address & Office Location
Learning Sciences
College of Education & Human Development
Suite 750
30 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

College of Education and Human Development Logo30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303