Special Education, MA | Piedmont University

This program
is designed to:

meet the needs of those professionals who are currently certified in Special Education and who wish to pursue advanced study in their content field on the Athens campus.

SCHOOL OF education

Financing Graduate School

Who will my professors be?

Elias Clinton

Associate Professor, Education

706-778-8500 x8053

Meet our faculty

QUESTIONS?

Our Graduate Admissions team can help!

Graduate Admissions
P: 706-778-8500 x1352
E: grad@piedmont.edu

The Special Education MA degree is a 30-credit program and is offered primarily online with occasional face-to-face meetings on the Athens campus. Candidates complete the MA program with advanced expertise in:

Specially-Designed Instructional Methods for Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, High-Functioning Autism
Curriculum and Assessment for Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, High-Functioning Autism
Basic and Advanced Behavior Management Strategies
Evidence-Based Approaches to Collaboration and Inclusion
Special Education Policy and Law
Translating Research Findings to Real-World Teaching Practice

Candidates take three elective classes and have the flexibility to specialize in a chosen content area or an endorsement. For example, candidates have the option of completing the Autism Spectrum Disorder endorsement or the Gifted Education Endorsement during their program of study – the Georgia PSC recognizes both endorsements.

For those seeking initial certification, click here for the Master of Arts in Teach in Special Education.

Admissions Requirements

Master of Arts (MA) degrees in education are designed for teachers and/or individuals who hold a valid teaching certificate or who are currently teaching in a private school accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) at the Accredited With Quality (AWQ) or Accredited (ACC) level. Eligibility for application requires a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 cumulative GPA from an accredited college or university and a copy of a valid teaching certificate or letter from the principal or head of school verifying full-time employment as a teacher or educational administrator.*

Note: Master of Arts (MA) degree programs do not lead to initial educator certification nor to the conversion of a non-renewable certificate (Provisional or Waiver certificate) to a Professional certificate. (Piedmont has Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and certification-only programs leading to initial certification.)

Applicants must also submit:

Graduate Admissions Application
Official, final transcripts from the college or university awarding the Bachelor’s degree showing all course work from all colleges and universities attended. (Piedmont University transcripts are on file.)
Two (2) professional references. One reference is required from a supervising administrator, and the other can be a choice of the following: a former professor, or instructor (college instructor, staff development instructor or mentor), or professional colleague
Copy of valid, current professional Georgia teaching certificate at the appropriate level or letter from the principal or head of school verifying full-time employment as a teacher or educational administrator. For those holding provisional certificates a copy of the current certificate and a copy of the PSC letter outlining requirements for updating to a clear-renewable certificate
- (Note: If your certificate is not a Georgia certificate and you desire to be certified in Georgia, you must complete all requirements through Professional Standards Commission [PSC].)
Personal Affirmation Form

* These programs are for advanced certification and do not lead to a recommendation for an initial Georgia Teaching Certificate. Holders of out-of-state certificates should contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for reciprocity rules.

** Teachers using this option must have taught three out of the past five years with a professional teaching certificate in an accredited public school or private school [SACS or GAC (top two levels)] verified through submitted annual evaluations.