Master of Education in Special Education

This is an archived copy of the 2024-2025 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Master of Education in Special Education is designed to prepare professional educators with advanced competencies related to the field of special education. This is a 36-hour degree plan that originates in the School of Teaching and Learning. The candidate must successfully complete a departmental comprehensive examination. Candidates must be enrolled in coursework during the semester they take the comprehensive examination. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education is accredited by CAEP, CEC, and SBEC. 

The M.Ed. in Special Education course of study advances their students' knowledge and expertise in innovative research and teaching practices for learners with disabilities. This online program seeks to examine and refine disability policies informed by current research, implement and evaluate research-based practices, seek solutions to systemic injustice, and explore diverse cultural perspectives on disability. Students enrolled in the online M. Ed. Special Education program maximize their professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, advocacy, and systems’ change competencies. This online program offers the convenience of studying at one’s own pace and in comfortable spaces. 

The M.Ed. in Special Education with Transition Services Certificate course of study is aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children's Advanced Special Education Transition Specialist standards and is designed to meet the growing need for a specialized skilled set in transition services for special education teachers and professionals working in the field of special education transition services. Students enrolled in the online M.Ed. in Special Education with Transition Certificate program maximize their professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, and advocacy and systems’ change competencies in the field of transition. Courses are taught online; eleven (11) courses are online asynchronous and one (1) course is hybrid.

The M.Ed. in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification course of study provides the academic foundations necessary for the Standard Educational Diagnostician Certification. This program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to apply research, methods, and recommended practices for the effective assessment and instruction of learners with special needs in diverse school and community settings. This is a hybrid program with seven (7) asynchronous online courses and five (5) hybrid courses. 

The M.Ed. in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification and Bilingual Diagnostician Certificate  course of study provides the academic foundations necessary for the Standard Educational Diagnostician Certification. This program provides students who have Spanish and English language proficiency the ability to evaluate Emergent Bilinguals (EB) as well as students who are monolingual English speakers. Graduate students learn to establish language dominance and proficiency in Spanish and English, conduct assessments, interpret results, and make educational recommendations for learners in school settings. This is a hybrid program with seven (7) asynchronous online courses and five (5) hybrid courses.

To be eligible to receive the Standard Educational Diagnostician Certification, a candidate must:

  • Successfully complete an educational diagnostician preparation program that meets the requirements of TAC §239.82 (complete all the requirements on the SHSU Course Plan) and TAC §239.83.
  • Successfully complete the examination based on the standards identified in TAC §239.83.
  • Hold, at a minimum, a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education that at the time was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating board.
  • Hold a valid classroom teaching certificate.
  • Have three creditable years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher (2 years of service may be earned while enrolled in the program)


Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.