Special education teacher with student

M.Ed. Special Education

Academics

Learn the tools you need to unlock each learner’s potential and lead inclusive classrooms with confidence.

Valeria Rivera-Perez

I chose Lehigh’s College of Education because of its reputation for producing high caliber teachers. 

-Valeria Rivera-Perez, master's student, Special Education

Overview

Advance your impact in special education. Our master’s program prepares candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in special education or a related field to create effective inclusive environments for students with a wide range of needs, guided by leaders in the field. Our Special Education faculty are noted experts in such areas as autism, learning disabilities, academic interventions, multilingual learners (MLs) with disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disorders.

Flexible Options for Concentrations

advances educators’ knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to effectively teach students with intensive academic needs, such as students with learning disabilities.

advances educators’ knowledge and use of evidence-based instruction to effectively teach students with low incidence disabilities, such as students with multiple and severe disabilities.

advances educators’ knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to support the learning and second language development of MLs in PK-12 settings. Students with a Level 1 instruction certification who choose this concentration will also earn an ESL certification upon successful completion of all coursework.

provides educators with in-depth knowledge about special education.

Already a special educator?

Go further.

Deepen your impact with advanced training in evidence-based practices, while positioning yourself for career and salary advancement. 

Application Requirements

  • Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate). Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.
  • Two letters of recommendation. These references must be professional or from a faculty member at an accredited institution.
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Personal essay
  • Deadline(s): July 15 for fall start, December 15 for spring start and April 15 for summer start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadlines.
Apply Now

The COE Advantage

The Master’s in Special Education at Lehigh University stands out for its focus on rigorous training, inclusive practice, and real-world impact. You’ll learn from nationally recognized faculty while building expertise in evidence-based strategies you can apply immediately in your work with students with disabilities. With flexible concentrations tailored to your goals and an emphasis on equitable access and meaningful outcomes, our program prepares you to not only strengthen your practice, but to lead inclusive change in schools and communities.

Centennial

Centennial School

Many of our current master’s students who are pursuing their Special Education master’s degree and/or certification work at our highly-acclaimed and nationally-recognized lab school, the Centennial School. A primary goal of Centennial is to prepare special education teachers to work with students with emotional and behavioral needs and autism spectrum disorder as well as students’ families.Graduate students work full time as supervised teacher associates, while completing their Special Education master’s degree and/or certification. 

Visit the Centennial School website for employment opportunities. Benefits include a stipend, 18 graduate credit hours of tuition remission annually, and full medical and dental benefits.

Autism Clinic

Lehigh University Autism Services

Master’s candidates have the opportunity to engage in research and clinical practice at Lehigh University Autism Services (LUAS). LUAS provides quality therapeutic services for young children with autism residing in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, developing and disseminating research-based practices that improve the well-being of children with autism and their families and serving the local community. 

Learn more about LUAS.

FAQ

Ten courses (30 credits) are required for this program.

The M.Ed. Special Education degree is an on-campus program.

The typical course load for this program is fall (2 courses), spring (2 courses), summer (2 courses) which allows candidates to complete the program in two years (two falls, two springs and one summer). 

The time to completion for this program is 2 years.

Field work is an important part of this program. Students who are already teachers have the opportunity to complete the field work at their current schools. 

Graduates of this program work as teachers in both public and private K-12 classrooms. 

Curriculum

All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.

course numbercourse name
Required Core (9 credits)
SPED 419Intensive Intervention in Reading
SPED 421Intensive Intervention in Mathematics and Content Area Literacy
SPED 452Assessment in Special Education
Research Requirement (3 credits)
EDUC 403Research
Diversity Requirement (3 credits)
SPED 404Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Electives: Choose 5 Courses with Advisor's Approval (15 credits)   
SPED 402Applied Behavior Analysis
SPED 409K-12 Classroom Environment and Management
SPED 410Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct
SPED 411Early Childhood Education
SPED 416Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices
SPED 432Positive Behavior Suppor
SPED 465Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12
EDL 432Special Education Law
EDUC 456Trauma and Resilience in Schools
EDUC 406Foundations of Social Emotional Learning
EDUC 401Globalization and Contextualization
Other electives as approved by advisor  

course numbercourse name
Required Core (9 credits)
SPED 418Alternative Curricular Approaches
SPED 423Supporting Transition for Individuals with Disabilities
SPED 452Assessment in Special Education
Research Requirement (3 credits)
EDUC 403Research
Diversity Requirement (3 credits)
SPED 404Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Electives: Choose 5 Courses with Advisor's Approval (15 credits)   
SPED 402Applied Behavior Analysis
SPED 409K-12 Classroom Environment and Management
SPED 410Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct
SPED 411Early Childhood Education
SPED 416Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices
SPED 432Positive Behavior Suppor
SPED 465Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12
EDL 432Special Education Law
EDUC 456Trauma and Resilience in Schools
EDUC 406Foundations of Social Emotional Learning
EDUC 401Globalization and Contextualization
Other electives as approved by advisor

course numbercourse name
Required Core (15 credits)
EDUC 391Educational Linguistics
EDUC 419Second Language Acquisition
EDUC 420Contemporary Issues in Multilingual Learner Education
EDUC 423Curriculum and Materials Design for Multilingual Learners
SPED 452Assessment in Special Education
Research Requirement (3 credits)
EDUC 403Research
Diversity Requirement (3 credits)
SPED 404Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Electives: Choose 3 Courses with Advisor's Approval (9 credits)   
SPED 402Applied Behavior Analysis
SPED 409K-12 Classroom Environment and Management
SPED 410Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct
SPED 411Early Childhood Education
SPED 416Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices
SPED 432Positive Behavior Suppor
SPED 465Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12
EDL 432Special Education Law
EDUC 456Trauma and Resilience in Schools
EDUC 406Foundations of Social Emotional Learning
EDUC 401Globalization and Contextualization
Other electives as approved by advisor

course numbercourse name
Required Core (6 credits)
SPED 452Assessment in Special Education
SPED 465Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12
Research Requirement (3 credits)
EDUC 403Research
Diversity Requirement (3 credits)
SPED 404Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Electives: Choose 6 Courses with Advisor's Approval (18 credits)   
SPED 402Applied Behavior Analysis
SPED 409K-12 Classroom Environment and Management
SPED 410Behavior Analysis: Ethics and Professional Conduct
SPED 411Early Childhood Education
SPED 416Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence-Based Practices
SPED 432Positive Behavior Suppor
SPED 465Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12
EDL 432Special Education Law
EDUC 456Trauma and Resilience in Schools
EDUC 406Foundations of Social Emotional Learning
EDUC 401Globalization and Contextualization
Other electives as approved by advisor

Our Program Also Offers:

  • Competitive Tuition: We pride ourselves on offering a top-ranked education at a price point that beats out our competitors. The College of Education also offers a Pennsylvania Educator Tuition Scholarship.
  • Faculty in the Field: Class instructors have firsthand experience working as special educators.
  • Small Class Sizes: A low student-to-faculty ratio means master’s candidates work closely with faculty throughout the program. 
  • Built for Working Adults: Courses are scheduled in the afternoons and evenings to allow you to continue working full-time, if desired.
  • Rapid Employment: Our reputation speaks for itself—our most recent graduates have secured jobs before graduation day.

Faculty & Staff