MAT in Special Education – Adapted Curriculum Inspire the Next Generation
36
Credit Hours
Online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026
Do you have a passion for helping students with disabilities or special needs adapt to the challenges of education? You can have a rewarding career helping students with special needs attain their best futures with Liberty’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – Adapted Curriculum with an add-on endorsement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transition and Special Needs.
Empowering teachers to succeed is important. So at Liberty, you can earn your MAT degree at only $430 per credit hour. With our online format, this special rate makes the MAT one of our most flexible and affordable master’s programs.
To meet rigorous state requirements and ensure you are well-prepared for the special needs classroom, you need a way to pursue multiple tracks or cover missing content competencies all in one degree. With the adapted curriculum specialization, your Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education can help provide you with specially designed core content that aligns with the following advanced standards:
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 become ready to meet the challenges of the field.
Liberty’s MAT in Special Education Adapted Curriculum will provide you with training on current research, resources, and best practices so you can educate and care for students with more significant disabilities. With in-class experience in your area and optional on-campus intensives, you will have the hands-on training and critical teaching knowledge you’ll need to be successful in your future classroom.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – Adapted Curriculum with an add-on endorsement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transition and Special Needs.
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.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026
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 can earn a teaching license in special education with an add-on endorsement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transition and Special Needs. This credential 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 students with special needs and their families matters, so you can learn to evaluate education theory from a biblical worldview. By integrating special education skills with Christian principles, you’ll learn to confidently address the educational, emotional, and spiritual needs of your students.
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 students with special needs while encouraging growth. Topics covered within this program include educational behavior and development, theories and methodologies of education, current trends in the education field, methods of teaching, and classroom management. You will also learn how to make decisions about student progress, instruction, program, placement, and transitional services.
The adapted curriculum specialization will provide you with additional in-depth studies in individualized transition planning. These courses include an investigation of the medical, social, and employment challenges for students with severe disabilities as well as the best methods to assess and prepare students for transition into daily independent living.
Here are some of the specific subjects you will study throughout your program:
Degree Completion Plan
Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
Pursuing our online Master of Arts in Teaching licensure-track may make you eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant.
| Graduate Education Full Time | $430/Credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate Education Part Time | $645/Credit |
| Military Graduate | $290/Credit |
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.
Please note: Guidelines are subject to change in federal or state regulations for the licensure of school personnel.
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
Please see the Online Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
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Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
Available Benefits:
*Not applicable to certificates.
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.
Yes. Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Yes. Students in this program gain hands-on experience with in-person practicums and 1 semester of student teaching.
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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.