Special Education (M.Ed.)

Special Education (M.Ed.) Overview

Chatham University’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education program is committed to producing compassionate, highly-skilled special educators who enrich the lives of students with disabilities and exceptional needs. Many Chatham Education courses draw from the UN Sustainable Development goals, preparing you to also take steps towards ending poverty, fighting inequality, and stopping climate change from your position as a classroom teacher. As a Chatham Education graduate, you will stand out from other new teachers because Chatham will train you to help all K-12 students—particularly those with exceptionalities—to critically examine and solve social problems, economic problems, and environmental problems in their community.

Degrees Offered

Program School

School of Arts, Science & Business

Application Deadline

Varies by Term

Fall Recommended Deadline – July 1 (rolling admission until August 1)
Summer Recommended Deadline – April 1

Credits Required

30

Most full-time students will be able to complete the program in two years.

Cost Per Credit

$987

Cost consists of program tuition (cost per credit times number of credits) as well as any applicable University and degree-specific fees.

Did You Know?

Certification

The M.Ed. requires that students already be certified in another area (Pre-K through 4, middle grades, or a secondary area such as English, science, history, etc.).

Explore the Master of Education in Special Education Degree:

Pre-requisites

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Probationary admission may be granted for applicants with a GPA of less than a 3.0 who show promise through their other achievements

Application Requirements

Applicants to the MEd Special Education program must submit the following information to the Office of Admissions for review:

Completed online application—resume and essay can be uploaded to the application but can also be sent independently.
Official Transcripts (must be sent from the school's Registrar’s Office) from all colleges and universities you have attended including those in which you may have transfer credits, attended a community college, received AP credits from a college while in high school, enrolled in a summer course, participated in a study abroad, etc.
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Two (2) Academic or Professional Letters of Recommendation (must be sent by the recommender) in the form of a Word or pdf document. This is a free form recommendation and there will not be a link or form sent to your recommenders.
Admissions essay—In approximately 500 words, please describe an experience that led to your interest in special education. How your personal or professional background relates to your interests and goals. How the Chatham MEd degree can help you achieve the goals that you have set for yourself.
Provide proof of teaching certification

All admissions documents should be emailed.

Chatham University
Office of Graduate Admission - Berry Hall
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

EDU634: Inclusion: Issues and Strategies

This course surveys practices of inclusion in education. It encompasses historical precedents, underlying philosophy, education theory, instructional strategies, and practical implications of implementation.

EDU644: Behavior Management in the Classroom

Students investigate the principles and systematic approaches used to identify and analyze problem management techniques, individual behavior and affective intervention strategies, and community-based support programs designed to address problem behaviors. Crisis intervention and conflict resolution are explored as strategies for confronting challenging behaviors.

EDU671: Collaboration, Consultation, and Teamwork

This course focuses on developing effective collaboration skills with members of the school community, as well as the community at large, to provide a realistic and integrated program for all children. Students engage in a variety of group activities that respond to the need to analyze group dynamics and implement effective communication strategies.

View Full Curriculum

The need for expertly trained, certified special education teachers has never been greater. Chatham’s graduate program produces superb practitioners in this critical field who are prepared to make their own contributions through teaching, research, or advanced study.

— KRISTIN HARTY, Ph.D., Education Department chair and graduate program director

Our Faculty

Faculty members are accomplished teachers, scholars, practitioners, and active leaders in the field.

Full Faculty

Kristin Harty

Program Director & Associate Professor of Special Education

Assistantships & Fellowships

Chatham offers graduate assistantships and work-study positions that provide students with valuable experience and help reduce the cost of tuition in the form of tuition remission or paid compensation. A limited selection of additional program-specific aid such as fellowships, scholarships and tuition waivers are available for specific programs.

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Built Around Your Schedule

Classroom instruction is held during evenings, convenient for working teachers as they develop enhanced skills and credentials.

Words from Our Students: Joe Holland

"I entered the M.Ed. program at Chatham to fulfill my goal of working with students with varying disabilities. The skills that I gained in courses such as Instructing Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Advanced Instructional Interventions provided me techniques to become a successful educator in any environment."

Alumna Profile: Dawn Loy-Lowmiller, Teacher at Propel North Side

"One of the experiences [at Chatham] that has remained with me was the opportunity to observe and complete field hours in the Children’s Institute. It enhanced my understanding of all the different forms of assistive technology available, different techniques to support students' needs, and the variety of disabilities. Upon graduation, I switched from a classroom teacher to become a special education teacher at Propel Northside Charter School."

Special Education (M.Ed.)