Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities Online

Become a better teacher advocate for students with special needs.

Apply by: 4/30/21
Start Class: 5/17/21
APPLY NOW

Program Overview

$13,505 Tuition
As few as 14 months Program Duration
37 Credit Hours

The Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities online program at Worcester State enhances your ability to work with a diverse group of students with moderate disabilities in all grade levels and beyond. Taught by distinguished, engaged faculty who set high standards of academic rigor and care about your goals and achievements, this TEACH Grant-eligible* program is designed for working professionals who are interested in special education.

You will learn to cultivate the literacy development and communication skills of those with exceptionalities, helping them to live enriched, successful lives. Your value as an educator will increase with your ability to integrate theoretical frameworks and develop special education services and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families.

With an initial teaching license in Massachusetts, you may use this degree to self-petition for professional licensure in Massachusetts. Neither a teaching degree nor teaching experience is required if you are not planning to petition for licensure. Students entering this program, however, should have some work experience in formal or informal learning environments. This degree is also helpful for parents and community health workers engaged with special education.

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Worcester State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

In this M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities online program, you will learn how to:

  • Articulate special education terminology and develop the progression of children with special needs
  • Apply special education law and regulation
  • Evaluate, design, and implement current assistive technologies and communication systems in the classroom, school, community, and system levels
  • Create, modify, and integrate instructional strategies to enhance the learning experience of individuals with exceptionalities
  • Build and distinguish strategies to enhance literacy development and communication skills of a diverse group of students
  • Create an educational research design to evaluate professional practice and enhance continuous instructional improvement
  • Evaluate the ethical practices and legal implications of the profession as related to current and emerging issues in the special education field
  • Integrate theoretical frameworks regarding collaboration and conflict resolution models to enhance special education services and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families
In this M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities online program, you will learn how to:+
  • Articulate special education terminology and develop the progression of children with special needs
  • Apply special education law and regulation
  • Evaluate, design, and implement current assistive technologies and communication systems in the classroom, school, community, and system levels
  • Create, modify, and integrate instructional strategies to enhance the learning experience of individuals with exceptionalities
  • Build and distinguish strategies to enhance literacy development and communication skills of a diverse group of students
  • Create an educational research design to evaluate professional practice and enhance continuous instructional improvement
  • Evaluate the ethical practices and legal implications of the profession as related to current and emerging issues in the special education field
  • Integrate theoretical frameworks regarding collaboration and conflict resolution models to enhance special education services and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families

Career Outcomes:

  • Special education teacher in a private setting
  • Intervention specialist
  • Inclusion teacher
  • Career and transition teacher
Career Outcomes:+
  • Special education teacher in a private setting
  • Intervention specialist
  • Inclusion teacher
  • Career and transition teacher

In this M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities online program, you will learn how to:

  • Articulate special education terminology and develop the progression of children with special needs
  • Apply special education law and regulation
  • Evaluate, design, and implement current assistive technologies and communication systems in the classroom, school, community, and system levels
  • Create, modify, and integrate instructional strategies to enhance the learning experience of individuals with exceptionalities
  • Build and distinguish strategies to enhance literacy development and communication skills of a diverse group of students
  • Create an educational research design to evaluate professional practice and enhance continuous instructional improvement
  • Evaluate the ethical practices and legal implications of the profession as related to current and emerging issues in the special education field
  • Integrate theoretical frameworks regarding collaboration and conflict resolution models to enhance special education services and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families
In this M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities online program, you will learn how to:+
  • Articulate special education terminology and develop the progression of children with special needs
  • Apply special education law and regulation
  • Evaluate, design, and implement current assistive technologies and communication systems in the classroom, school, community, and system levels
  • Create, modify, and integrate instructional strategies to enhance the learning experience of individuals with exceptionalities
  • Build and distinguish strategies to enhance literacy development and communication skills of a diverse group of students
  • Create an educational research design to evaluate professional practice and enhance continuous instructional improvement
  • Evaluate the ethical practices and legal implications of the profession as related to current and emerging issues in the special education field
  • Integrate theoretical frameworks regarding collaboration and conflict resolution models to enhance special education services and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families

Career Outcomes:

  • Special education teacher in a private setting
  • Intervention specialist
  • Inclusion teacher
  • Career and transition teacher
Career Outcomes:+
  • Special education teacher in a private setting
  • Intervention specialist
  • Inclusion teacher
  • Career and transition teacher
Have questions or need more information about online programs?
Request Info

Also available:

Tuition

Worcester State tuition is extremely affordable. Plus, you can pay by the course—making it easy to budget. Worcester State is committed to offering a high-quality education that is accessible to students at all levels of financial need. The M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities online program is TEACH Grant eligible.*

*The maximum grant amount can vary by year. TEACH Grants are available to qualified applicants and require approved recipients to sign a service agreement for certain teaching service obligations for four academic years. If you do not meet the requirements of your service obligation, the grant will turn into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with all accrued interest from the date of disbursement. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/teach or contact the Worcester State University Financial Aid Office.

$365 Per Credit Hour
$13,505** Tuition
View full tuition breakdown
View additional tuition information +
Program Per Credit Hour Per Program
M.Ed. in Moderate Disabilities $365 $13,505

Additional Fees

Application: $50

**Worcester State reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office at Worcester State is here to assist you with the guidelines and process of financing your education. We will work with you to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your financial aid options while attending Worcester State.

Worcester State online programs are eligible for financial aid, which is available for those who apply and qualify. The first step in applying for financial aid is to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Worcester State's Federal School Code is 002190.

Contact the financial aid office at:

Financial Aid Office
Shaughnessy Administration Building
Academic Mall, 1st floor
Office 150
508-929-8056
508-929-8194 (fax)
[email protected]

Calendar

It’s always a good time to earn your degree from Worcester State University online. We offer six start dates during the year so you can begin your program when it’s most convenient. Check out the chart below for important dates.

Now enrolling:
4/30/21 Next Application Due Date
5/17/21 Next Class Start Date

View full calendar  + 

SessionStart DateApplication DeadlineRegistration DeadlineDocument DeadlineTuition DeadlineLast Class Day
Spring 23/15/212/26/213/10/213/5/213/12/215/2/21
Summer 15/17/214/30/215/12/215/7/215/14/217/4/21
Summer 27/12/216/25/217/7/217/2/217/9/218/29/21
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Worcester State?
Apply Now

Admissions

The admission process is the first step toward earning your degree at Worcester State! Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

Work Experience in Formal or Informal Learning Environments
Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited (or equivalent) institution
Minimum 2.75 GPA
View full admission requirements
  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $50 application fee
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited (or equivalent) institution with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA
  • Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
  • We recommend a minimum of one year of work experience in formal or informal learning environments
  • If applicants do not have an undergraduate degree or minor in Education, it is recommended that students have the following coursework completed on the undergraduate level:

    • a course in Child Growth and Development (or a CLEP Human Growth and Development score of 50 or higher)
    • a Curriculum course in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Childhood
    • Education course in Reading Foundations

Official transcripts may be mailed or emailed directly from the granting institution(s) to:

Mailing Address:
Graduate Admissions Office
Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01602

Courses

For the Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities online, you are required to take 12 three-credit courses and a one-credit portfolio course for a total of 37 credit hours.

Expand All
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to address the physical, cognitive, behavioral and psychological aspects of atypical development of children and adolescents with varying disabilities. The course will examine special education laws, educational policies and regulations, legal and ethical responsibilities of special educators in inclusive classroom settings and as an active member of a multidisciplinary learning team. Emphasis is also given to the conceptual frameworks for understanding cultural, racial, ethnic, gender and linguistics differences and how they influence learning of individuals with exceptionalities. Participation of parents and the community in the educational process is addressed.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills of behavior analysis to enable special educators to design curriculum that support the social and cognitive demands of the environment for students with moderate special needs in a general education setting. It emphasizes on “positive behavior intervention support” (PBIS), modification and accommodations to promote students' positive and appropriate behaviors and classroom management. Special emphasis is placed on developing a functional behavioral plan to efficiently and effectively identify the interventions to address students' needs.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the principles of Universal Design for Learning and the practice of Inclusion for Special Education students. Topics related to the implementation of UDL principles and instructional design and inclusion in K-12 setting are discussed. The course will also focus on teaching content to students with disabilities through the UDL framework.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course focuses on the frameworks and principles involved in collaboration, consultation and interprofessional collaborative practice. The Individualized Education Program (IEP), interprofessional collaborative practice processes and competencies will be explored. Discussions will include dynamics of team process, roadblocks to communication and analysis of a school system, and special education services.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course explores historical, philosophical, psychological, legal, and cultural foundations for education and school practices.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course examines different research methods and designs, including writing hypothesis, reviewing literature, gathering data and preparing research proposals.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course focuses on educational issues. Students will conduct a formal study that seeks to investigate teaching and learning in the student's content strand of concentration.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students gain an in-depth understanding of speech/language development, knowledge of cultural differences and the disorders of speech/language.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course presents meaningful theory and related teaching strategies to aid pupils in reading and learning from their content area textbooks.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course presents mathematical concepts, methods and materials to facilitate learning. Emphasis is also placed on supporting students with mild to moderate disabilities learn and understand mathematic contents.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an understanding of the psychological bases of the reading process and applies the theories of the psychologist to classroom situations.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course focuses on research and evaluation methods and designs; includes gathering and analyzing data, writing research, and making evaluation reports.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 1
(Note: This course is to be taken last in the M.Ed. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education programs) The course documents the student's learning and provides a basis for evaluation of student's performance and mastery of the certification standards. (All required certification courses/mastery of program standards must be completed.) Prerequisites: ED 981 and ED 982.

Course rotation:

View Course Rotation

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Worcester, MA 01602

888-283-0890 888-283-0890

© 2021 Worcester State University

Privacy Policy

*The maximum grant amount can vary by year. TEACH Grants are available to qualified applicants and require approved recipients to sign a service agreement for certain teaching service obligations for four academic years. If you do not meet the requirements of your service obligation, the grant will turn into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with all accrued interest from the date of disbursement. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/teach contact the Worcester State University Financial Aid Office.

888-283-0890

Call 888-283-0890

888-283-0890

Request Info
Apply Now