Master's Degree in Special Education

Who is this program for?

The Master's degree in Special Education is designed for individuals who are passionate about supporting students with diverse learning needs and creating inclusive, accessible educational environments. Graduates can pursue careers as special education teachers, educational consultants, or behavior analysts, working in K-12 schools, therapeutic settings, or special education advocacy to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Program Overview

The Master’s in Special Education prepares educators to effectively support and advocate for students with diverse learning needs across a variety of educational settings. Grounded in evidence-based practices and inclusive teaching strategies, the program equips graduates with the skills to design individualized instruction, collaborate with families and professionals, and foster positive learning environments. Whether you’re entering the field or seeking advanced certification, this program offers the knowledge and practical experience needed to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students with disabilities.

Our program prepares students to work with individuals with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and moderate and severe disabilities in P-12 classrooms. Graduates of our program are employed in public and private schools, intervention programs, state government, and various other settings. Our program prepares its graduates to be reflective thinkers, consumers and producers of research, to implement best-practices and to demonstrate leadership in their profession.

Our Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), recognizing our commitment to high standards in teacher preparation. This accreditation assures prospective students that our program meets rigorous benchmarks for quality, continuous improvement, and positive impact in the field of education.

Offered by the College of Education
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Credential
MS
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Tuition / Credit Hour
Resident $825.50
Non-Resident $2,060.50

Plan to Pursue Licensure Outside of Kentucky?

If you plan to obtain professional licensure outside of Kentucky, please refer to the Licensure page to confirm whether the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in your state of interest.

Online Option Available

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What You'll Learn


Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.

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As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!

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Students who get involved in activities outside of the classroom tend to do better academically and develop meaningful relationships with others at UK. Our network of student organizations and activities has something for everyone, from academic to professional to fun!

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Complete the form to get the latest updates on this program, including special events and application deadlines.

Hidden Conditionals







Things to do on this form:
Take away "Term" for Transfers - "Unknown Term"? As well as "Not in High School"
And the same for "Online"

Possibly remove the "Readmit" option.
Feel like it would be pretty easy to see if the person already exists in our system and has a program enrollment record associated with them, which would shift them from "Freshman" or "Transfer" to "Readmit"
Gatton College of Business and Economics
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The University of Kentucky defines international applicants as those with citizenship other than the United States of America. Exception: Permanent Residents of the United States should complete a domestic application.



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