Program Description

This online master's degree program was designed specifically for certified teachers in Alabama who either work in Special Education or who have special needs students in their classrooms and who are not within commuting distance of the campus.

The Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education and the Master of Education in Collaborative Teacher distance learning programs are identical to AU’s traditional, campus-based program aside from the distance delivery format. Within this format WebCT (an e-learning tool) is used to deliver course content and facilitate communication. Distance learning students in the program will join on-campus students for approximately 6 to 7 weeks in the early summer (late May through early July). During this stay at the university campus, the students will receive hands-on instruction from program faculty and will participate in a learning clinic of their choice.

Through the Master's program focusing on Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), graduate students are prepared as special education teachers to serve infants and toddlers (0-2 yrs) in early intervention settings and young children in preschool (3-5 yrs.) and primary (6-9 yrs) age level settings. Depending upon each student's situation, there are two options to choose from:

The Traditional Masters Program in ECSE is for prospective students who currently hold an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Special Education and who also have a teacher certificate in ECSE.

The 5th Year Masters Program in ECSE is for applicants who currently hold an undergraduate degree not in ECSE, but who have a teacher’s certificate and are currently employed teaching students with special needs in the state of Alabama.

Through the master's program focusing on Collaborative Teacher Special Education, student graduates are prepared to serve, as special education teachers, students with disabilities at the primary and secondary age-level. Depending upon each student's situation, there are two options to choose from:

The Traditional Masters Program in Collaborative Teacher is for prospective students who currently hold an undergraduate degree in Special Education and a teacher certificate in Collaborative Teacher.

The 5th Year Masters Program in Collaborative Teacher is for applicants who currently hold an undergraduate degree not in Special Education, but who have a teacher’s certificate and are currently employed in the Special Education field in the state of Alabama.