Special Education Master’s Programs

Choose to specialize in one of four areas: Birth – Grade 2, Birth – Grade 6, Grades 1–6, Grades 7–12

What Will I Learn?

Our program allows you to:

Focus on multiple ways to teach children identified with special needs
Develop abilities to work with other child-oriented professionals in a variety of settings (e.g., classroom, inclusion, and resource room)
Explore innovative approaches to interdisciplinary teaching across content areas
Plan, implement, and reflect on instruction that meets the diverse needs of students
Develop knowledge and skills to assess and respond to student learning
Create engaging and supportive learning communities
Promote ways to support and learn from families

What is Unique About Our Program?

Our early childhood and elementary M.S.Ed. programs are geared toward individuals who already hold an undergraduate degree and certificate in education.
For the grades 7–12 program, a B.S. or B.A in a field other than education is sufficient pending a transcript evaluation.
These programs satisfy the requirement for a master’s degree as required by NYSED (New York State Education Department) for professional certification
Flexible: Study full-time or part-time in convenient afternoon, evening, or online courses
Master core pedagogy while engaging in content-specific work
Tailored programs and electives allow you to pursue your unique interests and focus on areas of particular need
Engage in field experience connected to your coursework

What Are My Career Opportunities?

Special educators are in high demand throughout New York and across the country.

Special educators in the grade range specified by your program
Providers of AIS (Academic Intervention Services) who focus on instruction of learners with special needs

Job Market Outlook for Special Education

Additional Information

Program Requirements for Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Birth–Grade 2
Program Requirements for Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Birth–Grade 6
Program Requirements for Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Grades 1–6
Program Requirements for Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Grades 7–12

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. state where the institution is located and the U.S. states where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. states where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. state where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The Special Education (Birth – Grade 12), M.S.Ed. program at SUNY Plattsburgh is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York state. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that the Special Education (Birth – Grade 12), M.S.Ed. program at SUNY Plattsburgh meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. states: New York; however, it is important to note that SUNY Plattsburgh is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. states and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. states and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. state for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.

State	State Professional Licensing Contact for Teacher Education
Alabama	https://www.alabamaachieves.org/state-board-of-education/
Alaska	https://education.alaska.gov/TeacherCertification
Arizona	https://www.azed.gov/educator-certification
Arkansas	https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/licensure
California	https://www.cde.ca.gov/
Colorado	https://www.cde.state.co.us/
Connecticut	https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Certification/Bureau-of-Certification
Delaware	https://education.delaware.gov/
District of Columbia	https://dcps.dc.gov
Florida	https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/
Georgia	https://www.gapsc.com/
Hawaii	https://hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org/content/contact-us-2/
Idaho	https://www.sde.idaho.gov/
Illinois	https://www.isbe.net/Pages/contact-licensure.aspx
Indiana	https://www.in.gov/doe/educators/educator-licensing/
Iowa	https://educateiowa.gov/
Kansas	https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Teacher-Licensure-TL
Kentucky	http://www.epsb.ky.gov/course/view.php?id=2
Louisiana	https://www.louisianabelieves.com/teaching
Maine	https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert
Maryland	https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/Pages/default.aspx
Massachusetts	https://www.doe.mass.edu/licensure/
Michigan	https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/ed-serv/moecs
Minnesota	https://education.mn.gov/MDE/lic/
Mississippi	https://www.mdek12.org
Missouri	https://dese.mo.gov/educators
Montana	https://opi.mt.gov/
Nebraska	https://www.education.ne.gov/
Nevada	https://doe.nv.gov/Educator_Licensure_Contact/
New Hampshire	https://www.education.nh.gov/
New Jersey	https://www.nj.gov/education/
New Mexico	https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/licensure/
New York	http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
North Carolina	https://www.dpi.nc.gov/
North Dakota	https://www.nd.gov/espb/licensure
Ohio	http://education.ohio.gov/
Oklahoma	https://sde.ok.gov
Oregon	https://www.oregon.gov/tspc/pages/index.aspx
Pennsylvania	https://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Rhode Island	https://www.ride.ri.gov/TeachersAdministrators/EducatorCertification.aspx
Puerto Rico	https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/pr.html
South Carolina	https://ed.sc.gov/
South Dakota	https://doe.sd.gov/
Tennessee	https://www.tn.gov/education/educators/licensing.html
Texas	http://tea.texas.gov
Utah	https://schools.utah.gov/licensing
Vermont	https://education.vermont.gov/educator-licensure
Virgin Islands	http://www.vide.vi/
Virginia	https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/teaching-in-virginia/licensure
Washington	https://www.pesb.wa.gov/
West Virginia	https://wvde.us/certification-and-professional-preparation/certIfication/
Wisconsin	https://dpi.wi.gov/licensing
Wyoming	https://wyomingptsb.com/home/contact/

Additional Degrees in Teacher Education
Bachelor’s Degree
- Childhood (Elementary) Education B.S.
5-Year Combined Bachelor’s & Master’s Programs
- Adolescence Education Grades 7–12 B.A./M.S.T.
- Childhood & Special Education Grades 1–6 B.S./M.S.Ed.
Master’s Degrees
- Adolescence Education Grades 7–12 M.S.T.
- Childhood Education Grades 1–6 M.S.T.
Certificate Programs

Become a competent, caring & qualified educator

Special Education Master’s Programs

What Will I Learn?

What is Unique About Our Program?

What Are My Career Opportunities?