Master of Arts in Educational Studies, Special Education

The master's program is hybrid. Most of the courses in the MA program are online (asynchronous) to accommodate the practicing teachers in the field. There is also a culminating experience, which is either master's thesis or a master's project, depending on the specialization you select.

Full time students can complete the program in 2 years. Part time students can complete the program in 3 to 4 years.

Students who complete the MA program have a wide range of employment options as teachers in K-12 schools serving students with a wide range of abilities. Students who complete the requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) have opportunities to serve students with disabilities and supervise staff in other community settings (e.g., special schools, clinics, hospitals).

Many of our part time MA students who are practicing teachers can do their field experience and thesis research in their own classrooms or other settings if they are interested. For our full time students, we offer many different options for field placement depending on the students' interests and academic focus.

At the start of the master's program, each student will select a specialization and then work with their advisors to customize a program to fit their interests. Throughout the program, students will work closely with their advisors to express their interests, leading up to their culminating project or thesis.

Almost all special education courses in this program are taught by OSU special education faculty. These faculty have experience teaching children and youth with disabilities in a variety of settings, have doctoral degrees in special education, are leading researchers in the field, are dedicated to teacher education, care deeply about their OSU students and the children they will teach and are committed to supporting master's candidates.

There are a number of clubs, organizations and related gatherings at Ohio State for graduate students. Find your niche at the OSU student organization site.

The College offers scholarships for newly-admitted and continuing graduate students, who have qualified credentials and a financial need. Several of these scholarships are geared toward individuals in special education programs. There may be graduate associateship positions (Graduate Teaching Associateship or Graduate Research Associateships) available at the Department or Program level. Individuals should apply for these funding opportunities, which are made public during the admission process.

The SPED faculty is a dedicated group, who desire to facilitate the development of competent  scholars and practitioners, who are exposed to and acquire evidence-based practices and critical-thinking skills. Members of the SPED faculty have received several national and international awards and are actively engaged in on-going research and scholarship. The faculty is accessible and committed to contribute to the professional development of students, enabling them to achieve their future professional goals.