Education, M.S.; Special Education

Master of Science in Education Degree

Include and Inspire

Longwood's Education graduate program with a concentration in Special Education General Curriculum transforms students into skilled and licensed special education teachers prepared to support special education students in a general education classroom.

Whether you’re already a licensed teacher, changing your career or starting your career, you will have all the tools, experience and knowledge to design and implement education programs that include and inspire students with special needs in the general education classroom in grades K-12.

What really sets Longwood’s program apart is its residency program that allows you to be a teacher by day and a graduate student along the way. You will be in a classroom teaching special education students from day one. Faculty review your teaching and your student interactions and offer supportive personalized feedback. Students graduate our program not only with knowledge but also with the ability to apply this knowledge in the classroom.

Through close guidance from faculty and optimal class sizes, you will be part of a learning community that will become your second family. Classes are offered online and on-campus, providing flexibility for a variety of schedules.

Career Path

Special education teachers promote growth for all students, advocate for children with special needs and provide support to their student's families.

Depending on where you are in your career, we offer several tracks that lead to teaching Special Education in Virginia.  All options are offered on a full-time or part-time basis and can be completed in a calendar year or spread over multiple years.  Our students go on to a variety of professions including:

  • Teachers in elementary, middle and high schools
  • Department chairs
  • School headmasters
  • Advocates for special education initiatives
  • Transition counselors
  • Special education coordinators
  • Professors*
  • Teach for America corps members
  • Special education teachers in general education classrooms

    *may require an additional degree

What You'll Study

Tracks

Depending on where you are in your career, we offer several tracks that lead to Special Education in Virginia.

5th Year Track

Are you an undergraduate interested in becoming a special education teacher? Start your Fifth Year track while you are an undergraduate student at Longwood!

Enter as a freshman, and in five years, you will earn your liberal studies degree, teacher licensure, and a graduate degree in special education with an option for dual enrollment in elementary education.

See the Fifth Year Track course flow (pdf).

Licensed Teacher Track

Do you have an undergraduate degree in Elementary, Middle School, or Secondary education and a valid Virginia State Teaching License (or another state equivalency)?

In the Licensed Teacher track as a full-time student, you’ll take 39 graduate credits, spread out over two sessions in the summer, one session in the fall, and one session in the spring.

At the end of the program, you’ll have your Master of Science in Education degree, with a concentration in Special Education, and will be eligible for the Virginia Department of Education Postgraduate Professional Teaching License with an endorsement to teach Special Education.

See the Licensed Teacher Track course flow (pdf).

Initial licensure Track

Enter with your bachelor's in any field and earn your master’s and teacher licensure in as little as 39 credits. Two prerequisites may be required.

See the Initial Licensure Track course flow  (pdf).

Admissions Requirements

  • Official bachelor’s degree transcripts from an accredited college or university and all transcripts for subsequent work
  • A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75+ (on 4.0 scale). Options are available if you do not meet this requirement.
  • 500+ word essay
  • Resume
  • Two letters of recommendation (initial licensure and licensed teacher tracks only.
  • Passing VCLA Reading & Writing scores, and passing Praxis Teaching Reading (5205) scores
  • Valid VA teaching license or equivalent from another state

Costs and Financial Aid

Longwood offers an outstanding and affordable education.

The K-12 Initial Licensure and Plus One pathways are both 39 credits, making the cost breakdown:

$16,614 - Estimated in-state cost
$426 per credit hour

$42,003  - Estimated out-of-state cost
$1077 per credit hour

The Liberal Studies Fifth Year pathway is 36 credits, making the cost breakdown:

$15,336 - Estimated in-state cost
$426 per credit hour

$38,772- Estimated out-of-state cost
$1,077 per credit hour

A Graduate Monthly Payment Plan is available.

Visit Longwood's Graduate student tuition estimates and hours webpage.

Visit Longwood's Financial Aid webpage.

For questions about cost or any part of the application process, contact Longwood Graduate Studies at graduate@longwood.edu.

Deadlines

Fall: Deadline June 1
Spring: Deadline November 1
Summer: Deadline March 1

These are suggested application submission dates. We will continue to accept applications until the program is full.
Want to check if the program is full? Email us, graduate@longwood.edu.

Program Flyer

View, download, and print the Master of Science in Education with a Concentration in Special Education (pdf) flyer.

Are you a provisionally licensed teacher? Complete all of your requirements for your postgraduate professional license in Special Education and earn your master's. 

View, download, and print the Initial Licensure track for teachers with a Provisional License (pdf) flyer. 

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“I chose the SPED Longwood graduate program because of the amazing faculty and support system! Being in the field while also obtaining my masters has been such a rewarding experience with a direct source of support from faculty and classmates. It is such a unique program that truly teaches individuals how to be the best special education teachers.”

Ashley Schweizer M.S.’23

In the News

Contact

Dr. Kat Alves

Special Education Program Director and Assistant Professor

(434) 395-2340

alveskd@longwood.edu

A Closer Look

Student Organizations

Student Organizations

Field Experiences

Field Experiences

Scholarships

Scholarships

Graduate Faculty

Graduate Faculty

Professional Organizations

Professional Organizations

Graduate Spotlight

Graduate Spotlight

Longwood alumni honored as top teachers

Chanel Vaughan Leslie ’97 Alabama PTA Council Elementary Teacher of the Year

Chanel Vaughan Leslie made her way on hands and knees under a loft in her Huntsville, Alabama, classroom to reach an autistic child.

"He wouldn’t come out; no one could reason with him," she said. "No one could do anything. I remember crawling under the loft and talking to him. Fifteen minutes later he and I crawled out, and he wrapped his arms around my neck, told me he loved me and went to sit down."

Moments like these are career-defining and underscore the passion great teachers have for connecting with their students. For Leslie ’97, 15 minutes under a loft with a child showed her she was where she was meant to be.

Read the full story

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