Executive Certificate in Special Education
Earn a Postgraduate Credential in Special Education While Preparing for Future Doctoral Studies
As a professional in the field of education, you are always looking for ways to increase your knowledge, skill set, and impact. After completing your master’s degree, you may be interested in adding a new special education credential to your list of achievements. Or you may be preparing for future doctoral studies and want to get your feet wet before jumping head-first into a Ph.D. program. Whatever your personal or career goals may be, Liberty has a postgraduate program to help you achieve them.
Our 21-credit-hour Executive Certificate in Special Education allows you to complete the same core classes found within our Ph.D. in Education – Special Education program. You will learn how to assess and evaluate various situations within special education while diving into the history and future of the field. The array of courses in this certificate can help you accomplish your unique career goals while providing essential milestones for your personal pursuits in higher education.
Military Tuition Discount
If you have served in the military, we want to go above and beyond to show you our gratitude. That’s why we designed our 21-credit-hour certificates to work especially well for you. Earning an Executive Certificate makes you eligible for our military alumni doctoral discount — you’ll receive the discounted $375/credit hour military rate both during the certificate and later during a doctoral degree.* Many of our certificates roll directly into a corresponding doctoral degree, allowing you to get a jumpstart on your doctorate!
If your plans to earn a doctoral degree lie further in the future, each certificate also stands on its own as a professional development credential, setting you apart from your peers and giving you the flexibility to start a doctoral degree whenever you’re ready. It’s one more way we show our appreciation.
*In order to retain the $375/credit hour rate, the doctoral degree must be started within 2 years of completing the Executive Certificate.
What Will You Study in Liberty University’s Executive Certificate in Special Education?
- A critical review of special education literature
- Administration and supervision within special education
- Issues and trends in learning technologies
- The history and future of special education
Liberty’s 21-credit-hour communication certificate will prepare you for career advancement, leadership positions, and future doctoral studies in a Ph.D. program. Our certificate provides you with courses focused on problem-solving, solution-oriented thinking, and the theoretical framework for professionals in special education settings.
Potential Careers for Graduates of Our Executive Certificate in Special Education
- Educational faculty member
- Professor
- School administrator
- Special education consultant
Some of these occupations may require that you have a Ph.D. That’s why Liberty created Executive Certificates that can seamlessly transfer into one of our corresponding Ph.D. programs. So if you are looking to further your studies after completing your certificate in special education, you will be able to transfer all 21 credits into our Ph.D. in Education – Special Education!
Benefits of Pursuing Your Executive Certificate in Special Education with Liberty University
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online Executive Certificate in Special Education from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Online undergraduate tuition rates have been frozen for the last 10 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- You can complete this certificate program in as little as 1.5 years.
- Our Executive Certificates allow you to transfer all 21 credit hours into one of our corresponding Ph.D. programs. With the majority of our doctoral programs being 60-credit-hours long, you will need as few as 39 credits to complete your doctoral studies!
Military Benefits
Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:
- Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/retirees
- Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
- Current Department of Defense employees
We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $375 per credit hour for postgraduate courses
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
Please note: The $375/credit hour doctoral military rate cannot be combined with the First Responder Discount.
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Credit Hours
Available Online
Class Type
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total
Next Start Date
Jun 23, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
