MAT in Special Education – General Curriculum 45-Hour Make An Impact With Every Lesson

45

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

If you have a desire to enter the special education field but want to ensure that you meet the demand for grade-level expertise, you may need the flexibility of an additional endorsement. This can be difficult to accomplish with traditional MAT degrees, but Liberty has a program designed specifically for your needs. You can have a rewarding career helping special needs students and earn a grade-level specific credential with Liberty’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – General Curriculum 45-hour program.

These additional standards can help you stand out as an expert in special education teaching, and the cutting-edge skills you learn can help you be ready to meet the challenges of the field. With in-class experience in your area, you can have the hands-on training and critical teaching knowledge you’ll need to be successful in your future classroom.

Empowering teachers to succeed is essential. So, at Liberty, you can earn your MAT degree for less than at many other online schools — at only $415 per credit hour for full-time enrollment. With our online format, this special rate makes the MAT one of our most flexible and affordable master’s programs.

Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.


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Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America

What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 600+ Online Degrees
  • No Standardized Testing for Admission
  • Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
  • Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

By earning your MAT in Special Education, you are preparing for a rewarding career in a field desperate for qualified, effective teachers. Through this program, you will earn a teaching license in special education with an add-on endorsement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transition and Special Needs. This add-on endorsement can help you meet new standards for special education and set you apart as an expert in special needs transition methods.

At Liberty University, we don’t just train educators — we train educators who want to make a positive impact on the next generation. The well-being of your special needs students and their families matters, so here you can learn to evaluate education theory from a biblical worldview. By integrating special education skills with a biblical worldview, you’ll learn to confidently address students’ educational, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). With excellent and affordable online education, Liberty’s online MAT in Special Education will help you meet licensure requirements and set you up for success in your teaching career.


As a student studying special education, you can learn how to provide individualized education support and care for students with significant disabilities. You can learn to create lesson plans and provide intellectual stimulation for special needs students while encouraging growth. Topics covered within this program include educational behavior and development, theories and methodologies of education, current trends in the education field, and methods of teaching with classroom management. You will also learn how to make decisions about student progress, instruction, program, placement, and transitional services.

Our courses are taught from a Christian perspective by educators equipped with years of experience teaching in the field of special education. You can learn how to apply a biblical worldview to your classroom in Christian, private, public, or homeschool settings.

Here are some of the specific subjects you will study throughout your program:

  • Current trends in the education field
  • Educational behavior and development
  • Methods of teaching and classroom management
  • Theories and methodologies of education

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)


State Licensure Requirements

Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.


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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.


Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Graduate Education Full Time $415/Credit
Graduate Education Part Time $615/Credit
Military Graduate $275/Credit

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.


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Military

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

  • Active Duty
  • Reserve/National Guard
  • Veterans/Retirees
  • Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
  • Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
  • 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)

*Not applicable to certificates.

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.