Special Education: Teacher Certification MS
Master of Science in Special Education
Is this program right for you?
Interested in leading, collaborating, and improving lives for individuals with disabilities? A career as a special education teacher might be for you! No prior special education background needed—just a passion for students and advocacy. Our program boasts a nearly 100% job placement rate!
- A cross-categorical certification with emphasis on intellectual and developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disabilities
- Learn how to bring a deeper knowledge base and academic skills to their work in the field of special education
- Become a resource and advocate for persons with disabilities and will be able to assume a leadership role to enhance the education of all students
Education that works for you
Become a valuable resource and advocate for students with disabilities with your special education teaching certification from UW–Madison’s Master of Science in Special Education program.
Program type
Master’s degree
Degree awarded
Master of Science in Special Education
Commitment
4 semesters
Tuition
Resident: $670.47 per credit
Nonresident: $1,503.40 per credit
Format
Accelerated
Evening/weekend
Face-to-face
Credits
41 graduate credits
Admission terms
Program admits for fall, spring, and summer terms
Offered by
STEM opt eligible
No
International eligibility
Yes
Application deadlines
Summer 2025
- Summer international deadline: March 15, 2025
- Deadline: May 1, 2025
Fall 2025
- Fall international deadline: March 15, 2025
- Deadline: May 15, 2025
Spring 2026
- Deadline: October 15, 2025
Your questions, answered
Have questions? Fill out this form and we’ll get in touch!
Admissions and events
Program requirements
Application materials required
December 11, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Application Assistance: Teacher Education Center Programs
Join Recruitment Coordinator Anthony Baxter to learn strategies to make your Teacher Education Center Master’s Program application stand out. Content coordinators will then provide a brief overview of expectations and application review criteria, focusing on addressing applicants’ specific questions.
Register now →December 12, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Program Overview: MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics
Learn more about the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program, including curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →December 12, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Program Overview: MS in ELPA: Global Higher Education
Learn more about the MS in ELPA: Global Higher Education, including curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →December 18, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Application Assistance: MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Learn strategies to make your MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators application stand out.
Register now →January 22, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Program Overview: Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Learn more about the MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators program, including the curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →January 23, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Alumni Panel: ELPA: Global Higher Education
Join alumni from the MS in ELPA: Global Higher Education as they discuss their experiences in the program, how it met their academic needs, why it was a good fit and how it might help you in your future pursuits.
Register now →January 29, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Program Overview: ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation
Learn more about the MS in ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation program, including the curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →February 11, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Equity & Impact: Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics
Join recipients of the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics Committed Scholars scholarship program for a session focused on identifying data (in)equities in several urban school districts.
Register now →February 12, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Career Outlook: Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Join Lisa Hebgen, MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators program director, to learn more about instructional coaching.
Register now →February 20, 2025 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Application Assistance: ELPA: Global Higher Education
Join Professor and Program Director Weijia Li to learn strategies to make your MS in ELPA: Global Higher Education application stand out.
Register now →February 26, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Career Outlook: ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation
Join Tina Salzman, program director for the MS in ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation program, to learn more about the path to school leadership.
Register now →March 6, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Program Overview: ELPA: Global Higher Education
Learn more about the MS in ELPA: Global Higher Education, including the curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →March 6, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Program Overview: Teacher Education Center Programs
Learn more about Teacher Education Center Master’s Programs, including the curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →March 12, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Application Assistance: ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation
Join Program Director Tina Salzman and learn strategies to make your MS in ELPA: Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation application stand out.
Register now →March 12, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Pathways: Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics
Learn how K-12 teachers have leveraged the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program to impact within — and beyond — the four walls of their classroom.
Register now →March 12, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Student Panel: Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Join students from the MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators program as they discuss their experiences in the program, how it meets their academic needs, why it is a good fit and how it might help you in your future pursuits.
Register now →April 3, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Student Panel: Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics
Join students from the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program as they discuss their experiences in the program, how it meets their academic needs, why it is a good fit, and how it might help you in your future pursuits.
Register now →April 15, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Program Overview: Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics
Learn more about the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program, including the curriculum, application process and potential career paths.
Register now →April 16, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Faculty Spotlight: Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Join a faculty member from the MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators program for a talk.
Register now →May 7, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pathways: Educational Psychology: Professional Educators
Join Lisa Hebgen, MS in Educational Psychology: Professional Educators program director, to learn more about career options for program graduates.
Register now →Results that work for you
Special Education: Teacher Certification MS
$61,800
Estimated market salary in 2021
Job titles
4%
Projected growth from 2020-2030. Source: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight. 2020.
#1
The UW–Madison School of Education was ranked first in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Education Graduate Schools rankings — marking the 10th straight year it has been rated among the top five.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Education Graduate Schools rankings
What you’ll learn
Prepare to create supportive learning environments and effective instruction for students with disabilities in the Special Education: Teacher Certification MS program. Through a combination of coursework in inclusive practices and development and field experiences, you’ll be equipped to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
- Creating inclusive classrooms and settings
- Instructional planning for disabilities
- Diagnosis and assessment in special education
- Methods for transition and vocational education
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