Why Get Your Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education?
Equipping prospective educators with the skills to empower one of the most vulnerable populations in the school system, Pacific’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education combines a thoughtful, socially-just curriculum with student-teacher placements designed to help you make an impact in the lives of children with disabilities. Trained to create equity in the classroom by meeting the specific needs of a diverse range of young people, teachers who graduate with an advanced degree in special education enter lifelong careers helping disabled students and their families discover their individual talents and potential.
Pacific’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education features entirely online coursework supported by hands-on training in the classroom. The flexibility that comes from this two-year online program means that you can pursue a graduate education degree without having to sacrifice professional or personal obligations. Whether you are an active teacher interested in specialization, a teaching assistant wanting to take the next step in their career or educational support staff looking to become more active in the classroom, the Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education at Pacific has the tools you need to help young people with disabilities thrive.
The online nature of Pacific’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program facilitates a student-teaching experience that connects you with schools in your area, allowing you to make a difference in the lives of children in your community. Through close connection with district leaders, Pacific’s College of Education has formed a strong partnership with many experienced special educators eager to mentor the next generation of leaders in the classroom. Regardless of your experience level before entering the program, your student-teaching placement from Pacific will help you develop a strong resume and skillset tailored to work in a variety of special education settings.
What Can You Do with a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education?
Demand for special education teachers is currently high — especially for those with advanced degrees such as Pacific’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education — as school districts look to better serve their students with disabilities. As a result, finding a role that allows you to put your passion for helping young people into practice is more accessible than ever, with plentiful opportunities to lead classrooms in communities you care about. That demand is paired with higher lifetime earnings, as having a master’s in special education can result in 30% higher pay over the course of your teaching career compared to only possessing an undergraduate degree.
Like many advanced degrees, the Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education enables teachers greater flexibility in how they choose to grow their career. Pacific graduates can further refine their teaching practice through specialization in areas that have enhanced relevance in the special education setting, such as technology learning, reading intervention and dyslexia strategies. Additional endorsement and certificates can greatly expand your ability to meet the needs of disabled students, and can lead to career paths in education design and administrative support to help innovate the framework of special education.
Denise Ready| Assistant Director Graduate Admissions
Pacific's teacher licensure programs are accredited by the Teacher Standards and Practice Commission and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in these U.S. states and territories.