Inclusive Special Education (Initial), M.S.

Build the professional skills to reach every learner.

Your existing bachelor’s degree, paired with your passion for inclusive and equitable education, can be your gateway to a professional teaching career.

The M.S. in Inclusive Special Education (Initial) prepares recent graduates and career changers with no prior classroom experience or teaching certification to become certified special educators serving students with disabilities across all grades. All courses are offered online, and field experience components are completed in schools local to you. The 36-credit program can be completed in as little as 15 months.

Priority Application Deadline: March 15 | More admissions information

Why Inclusive Special Education at Syracuse?

• No teaching background required. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences, you are eligible. This program is designed for teaching candidates entering the classroom for the first time, whether directly from an undergraduate degree or from a different career altogether.
• Online courses, local experience. All courses are offered online, giving you the flexibility to complete your degree while continuing to work or manage other commitments. Field experience components are completed in educational settings that serve students with disabilities in schools local to you, so you gain hands-on practice in your own community without disrupting your career.
• A versatile special education credential. Completion of this program meets the academic requirements for initial NYS certification in Students with Disabilities All Grades (K-12), qualifying you to work with students with disabilities from kindergarten through grade 12 across a wide range of educational settings.
• A legacy that defines the field. Syracuse University was the first research university to offer a fully integrated inclusive special education program and among the first to lead to dual certification in general and special education. Nearly a century of scholarship, advocacy, and teacher preparation informs every course in this program.
• A curriculum built for today’s inclusive classrooms. Coursework spans the full K-12 grade band and addresses literacy intervention, significant disabilities, assistive technologies, augmentative and alternative communication, positive behavior supports, psychoeducational evaluation, and inclusive professional practice. That is everything you need to serve students with disabilities effectively at any level.

“What sets SOE’s inclusive teacher preparation programs apart is the emphasis on open dialogue, meaningful discussion, and authentic field experiences. Rather than simply learning about education in a classroom, students are immersed in the real work of teaching through placements in multiple school settings throughout the program.”
—Jared Khan-Bagley ’22, G’23

Who Should Apply?

The master’s degree in Inclusive Special Education (Initial) is built for people entering the classroom for the first time who want to develop their career around advocacy for students with disabilities. You are a strong candidate if you are:

• A recent college graduate or career changer with a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts and sciences who wants to enter teaching as a certified special educator, with no prior classroom experience or certification required.
• Drawn to work as a resource room teacher, consultant teacher, integrated co-teacher, or teacher of students with significant disabilities.
• Ready to combine full-time graduate coursework with intensive field placements, including a 70-day student teaching placement.

Program at a Glance

The Master of Science in Inclusive Special Education (Initial) is a 36-credit degree program designed to be completed full-time in 15 months beginning each summer; a part-time option is available for students who need a longer timeline. All courses are offered online.

• Hands-on experience, close to home—In addition to online coursework, students complete in-person field placements in schools local to them, accruing hours that lead up to a full-time 70-day student teaching placement.
• A credential that opens doors—Completion of this program meets the academic requirements for initial New York State teacher certification in Students with Disabilities All Grades (K-12).
• A portfolio that proves your practice—The program culminates in a peer-reviewed professional teaching and learning portfolio: a tangible, career-ready demonstration of your growth and competence as a special educator.

More information on academic requirements available in the Syracuse University Course Catalog. SOE is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

What Our Graduates Do

Students with Disabilities All Grades teachers are among the most sought-after educators in New York and nationally, and this certification opens doors across a wide range of classroom settings and career pathways.

• Special education teacher in K-12 inclusive, resource room, or self-contained settings
• Consultant teacher or inclusion specialist
• Transition coordinator for students with disabilities
• Educational specialist in district curriculum, professional development, or instructional support

NOTE: Teachers who have a bachelor’s degree, initial Students with Disabilities All Grades (K-12) certification, and three years’ teaching experience may apply to New York State to be evaluated for professional certification.