Special Education
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Quick Facts
Main Campus (Tucson)
In Person, Online
Prepare to teach, advocate, supervise or plan programs for adults and children with disabilities and special abilities across a variety of fields. Choose from five specializations to identify the right path for your career.
Combine theoretical knowledge and real-world experience to expand your career potential. With an MA in Special Education, you will have the opportunity to:
Gain hands-on skills that apply directly to your career
Explore the latest teaching methods and learning structures
Conduct original research in your area of interest
Choose Your Specialization
Applied Behavior Analysis
Interested in working with people who need assistance to improve their communication, social and adaptive skills? Prepare to provide evidence-based services in applied behavior analysis in clinical, school and home settings. Offered through Arizona Online.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Earn your MA, your Arizona teacher of deaf/hard of hearing certification and your national certification from the Council on the Education of the Deaf (CED), all in one place. Graduates have gone on to teach D/HH students as either itinerant, resource room or self-contained classroom teachers. Offered through Arizona Online
Mild to Moderate Disabilities
The Mild to Moderate Disabilities masters program is accredited by the Arizona Department of Education and is designed to prepare you to teach students with mild-to-moderate disabilities. Offered at the Tucson Campus with evening and hybrid class options for maximum flexibility.
Severe and Multiple Disabilities
The Severe and Multiple Disabilities program emphasizes inclusion practices and a functional approach to the education of children and youth with severe and multiple disabilities. Learn to effectively program for and work with students who have a wide range of severe and multiple disabilities and who represent the spectrum from early childhood to adulthood. Offered at the Tucson campus.
Visual Impairment
The Visual Impairment program prepares students to teach children who are visually impaired. Nationally recognized for excellence, this program will give you the skill set to help students with visual impairments succeed academically and socially. Offered at the Tucson campus.
Earn an Accelerated Masters Degree
Interested in earning both your bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in as few as five years? The Special Education Accelerated Master’s Program offers students pursuing the Bachelor of Science Mild to Moderate Disabilities degree the opportunity to begin taking graduate courses during their final year. After completing the undergraduate program, students take another year of courses to complete the master’s degree in the specialization area of their choice:
- Severe and multiple disabilities (hybrid program)
- Deaf and hard of hearing (online program)
- Visual impairment (hybrid program)
Eligible students in the mild to moderate disabilities undergraduate program can apply to the Accelerated Master's Program during their junior year.
Ready to Learn More?
Every student has an assigned advisor to help you with your academic journey. Get in touch with a College of Education advisor.