Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Special Education

About Our Master's Program

The Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in Special Education consists of 38 credit hours and is an ideal degree program for classroom teachers who wish to pursue teaching in the area of special education. In addition, those who enroll in this program will have the potential to build confidence in teaching, gain new ideas for current best practices of teaching, develop skills for reaching all students, and network with other educators for sharing ideas. This program is supported by highly qualified faculty, both university based and adjunct, providing an excellent combination of theoretical and practical application.

Associated Endorsement

SVSU offers endorsements in K-12 Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cognitive Impairments, Emotionally Impaired, and Learning Disabilities. Students have the option to complete an endorsement in one of these areas and follow with the completion of the master's degree or they may just complete the endorsement or master's degree only.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a certification advisor prior to starting this program. The certification advisor will walk the student through the coursework, course prerequisites, and state testing requirements for each endorsement program. The advisor will also counsel students on how their chosen endorsement program will evolve into a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education and provide additional information regarding the number of credit hours and courses that are needed for students who are employed in a special education classroom under a Emergency Special Education Permit.

Students must follow the courses in their assigned sequence. Any requests to take courses out of sequence must be directed to the student's faculty advisor to obtain written approval. If approval is given, the student will not be able to register through Cardinal Direct and will be required to obtain the faculty advisor's signature on the SVSU Course Registration Form that can be retrieved from the SVSU Registrar's Office or Regional Education Center on campus. Oakland and Macomb students must work with the staff at the Macomb Regional Education Center to register.

How to Get Started

Students must apply and be accepted to the master's program to be eligible to enroll in the courses required for this degree and endorsement program. The SVSU College of Education Office of Admissions and Certification, located in the Regional Education Center on the main campus, accepts application packets for our graduate, endorsement, and non-degree programs in education for each of our on and off campus sites throughout the year. General admissions policies and procedures are located on our website. If you should need further assistance with admissions, please contact the SVSU Regional Education Center's Office of Admissions and Certification directly at 989-964-4057 or 1-800-968-2540 (option #3).

Certification advisors are available at the Regional Education Centers to answer your initial questions about this master's degree and to set up your endorsement program prior to admission to the program. To schedule an appointment with a certification advisor on campus, please call 989-964-4057 (option #3). Macomb and Oakland students should call the Macomb Regional Education Center at 586-749-0067.

Upon admission to the program, you will work directly with a faculty advisor through the completion of your program.