Online Special Education ESE Master's Degree

Program Details

Next Start Date: January 8

Credit Hours: 33

Course Length: 8-16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

The University of West Florida’s online Master’s in Exceptional Student Education - Special Education program produces teachers, administrators or related professionals and specialists in many areas of exceptional student education.

Why Study Exceptional Student Education at UWF?

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with special needs, contribute to inclusive education practices, and open up various career opportunities within the field of special education with UWF's Exceptional Student Education, M.A. - Special Education specialization. You could work in the industries of education, healthcare, business and more.

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What You Will Learn

Florida continues to have a tremendous need for highly qualified teachers, including a critical need in the areas of mathematics, science, reading, technology and exceptional student education. With program curriculum that covers specialized teaching strategies and techniques, inclusive education, a comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical aspects of educating students with disabilities and developing and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), graduates of the Special Education specialization have enhanced credentials and can make you more competitive in the job market.

By completing this degree, you will be able to:

Explain and analyze evidence-based instructional strategies designed to reduce learning barriers and increase engagement and learning for students with diverse learning needs.
Systematically evaluate research-based approaches and strategies and apply reflective practices to demonstrate commitment to learning from experience.
Develop logical, well-reasoned arguments to guide future curriculum, instructional, and assessment practices.
Develop advocacy for improving the educational experiences and outcomes of individuals with diverse learning needs.

Courses

This program is not intended to lead to teacher certification. Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement. (Washington Student Achievement Council Degree Authorization, Feb. 26, 2013)

Note: This online degree may not be available in all states. If you are an out-of-state student, please review our State Authorization Statu s to confirm that the program is available in your state.

Courses & Requirements

UWF’s online Master of Arts in Exceptional Student Education - Special Education Specialization includes a total of 33 credit hours. A grade of C or better is required for all coursework to be applied to the degree program.

Required Core Courses (33 credit hours)

EDF 6691 - Issues of Diversity in Education: A Bio-Psycho-Social-Cultural Perspective
EEX 6051 - Exceptionalities
EDG 6415 - Issues in Classroom Management
EDG 6288 - Educational Assessment

Educational Investigative Sequence

EDG 6918 - Introduction to Research
EDG 6916 - Applied Research

Special Education Courses

EEX 6035 - Best Practices in Teaching Challenging Students
EEX 6612 - Behavior Management
EDG 6662 - Principles of Curriculum and Instruction
Advisor-approved electives (6 credit hours)

To be considered for provisional admission into the University of West Florida’s online master’s in exceptional student education program, you must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Other criteria for successful admission include:

An institutional undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree. Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be granted conditional admission with a corresponding high rubric score on their letter of intent.

How to Apply

To apply for admission to this program, you first need to submit an application for graduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted for admission into the University of West Florida. Review application deadlines. In addition, you must:

Submit official transcripts confirming a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies
Submit a letter of intent that includes the following information: your educational and career background, short- and long-term goals, contributions you would like to make to your field of study, and any strengths you feel you can bring to the program

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

Full Course Descriptions Registration Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

After receiving your Master of Arts in Exceptional Student Education, you can pursue many careers in special education.

Job Titles

Special Education Teachers
Education Coordinators
Advocacy Managers

Career Outlook

The median annual wage for special education teachers was $62,950 in May 2022
Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032

Source: BLS, 2024

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Exceptional Student Education, M.A. - Special Education Online Graduate Tuition
Component	Cost	Total*
In-state Tuition	$384.60 per credit hour	$12,691.80
Full Out-of-state Tuition	$1,044.24 per credit hour	$34,459.92
90% Out-of-state Tuition	$478.83 per credit hour	$15,801.39

Tuition waivers cover up to 90% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online campus programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. The renewal of Online Campus Out-of-State Tuition Waivers is not automatic. Waiver requests must be submitted every semester and are not retroactive for previous semesters. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. See more about Tuition Waivers.

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students. We provide eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See more about Financial Aid and Education Funding Opportunities.