The M.A. in Exceptional Student Education is a comprehensive program. There is a critical shortage of certified teachers, administrators, related professionals, and specialists in many areas of exceptional student education.

The comprehensive master's degree program in Exceptional Student Education is part of the NCATE accredited Professional Education Unit, and is designed to develop master teachers who will be prepared for instructional and leadership roles in special education. While students may use the course work to apply for initial teacher certification, students who are seeking certification are responsible for referring to the appropriate school district or state Department of Education to determine specific requirements for teacher certification.

Students will be assigned a faculty mentor who will provide career advice and advisement concerning professional issues. Students in this master’s degree program must complete a 21-semester-hour core, which includes a twelve-semester-hour  School of Education core and a nine-semester-hour Educational Investigative Sequence as shown below.

Students must also complete a cognate program of study of at least 15 semester hours. The pre-approved cognate area options are the following:

• Special Education

• Applied Behavior Analysis

• PreK Disabilities

• Exceptional and Alternative Educational Studies

For more information about the Exceptional and Alternative Educational Studies Cognate

Non-Florida resident students admitted to UWF Online Campus programs and registered for online courses in pursuit of that degree may be eligible for a tuition waiver that reduces the out-of-state portion of your tuition anywhere from 100% - 75%. Please review the Tuition Waiver Availability information to determine if you qualify. Tuition waivers must be requested every semester.

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View Admission Requirements

For more specific requirements, visit the Online UWF Catalog.

Academic Learning Plan