MAT in Special Ed. | Early Childhood & General Curr.

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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

Mentor Students with Special Needs with a Special Education Degree Online from Liberty University

Do you have a desire to reach those with special needs? Maybe you’d like to take the next step in your teaching career by earning a license, or perhaps you are just getting started in this exciting field. With a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – Early Childhood Special Education and General Curriculum from Liberty, you can get the credentials you need to pursue your goals.

You want more than an education – you want to make an impact. At Liberty, we offer a training ground for developing strong leaders and an unmatched dedication to your success. With both early childhood and general curriculum endorsements, you can prepare to work with children with special needs of all ages – from their early years through 12th grade.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – Early Childhood Special Education and General Curriculum.

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.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Special Education Degree?

We know that you are passionate about serving children with special needs – and we also know that you may have other commitments that prevent you from attending courses in person. That’s why at Liberty, our master’s in special education program is offered online with no set login times, which means that you can complete all of your practicum and student teaching requirements at an approved school near you!

We believe that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality for flexibility – and at Liberty, you don’t have to. Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In addition, Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As you complete your master’s in special education online at Liberty, you can be confident that you are receiving a world-class education.

Throughout your online special education degree program, you’ll find that our courses are taught by knowledgeable professors who have years of experience and advanced degrees to match. You’ll have the opportunity to study under faculty who are dedicated to your success – from your first day of class to graduation.

What Will You Study in Liberty’s Online MAT in Early Childhood and General Curriculum Degree?

In our master’s degree in special education, you will take a wide variety of courses that are designed to help you serve children of all ages. Some of the topics covered in this degree include curriculum and methods for early childhood education, characteristics and medical aspects of severe disabilities, and individualized programming and curriculum.

Additionally, you will dive into topics like transition and assessment for exceptional learners, foundations in early literacy instruction, and principles of behavior management. One of the hallmarks of our master’s in early childhood special education is the opportunity to gain field experience through practicum and student teaching courses – which you can complete at an approved location near you! When paired with a degree from Liberty, field experience can help set you apart from other job candidates.

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

This program falls under the School of Education.
View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
This program requires a background check.
Complete at least 90 practicum hours and at least 1 full semester of student teaching prior to graduation.
This program can help you achieve your initial teaching licensure.
Upon completion of an eligible Graduate Education program, you may be eligible for certification through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Review the State-Specific Approval Disclosures.

Degree Completion Plan

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.

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

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Tuition & Aid

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.

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.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

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Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our Master of Arts in Teaching – Early Childhood Special Education and General Curriculum

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

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:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

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.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

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 – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
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.

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.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What other accreditations does this program have?

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have lowered our tuition for our Master of Arts in Teaching program. At $430 per credit hour for full-time students, Liberty University’s MAT online is available at one of the lowest tuition rates for this degree in the country.

Additionally, pursuing our online Master of Arts in Teaching licensure track may make you eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant.

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

Will this program provide any hands-on experience?

Are you ready to change your future?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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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.

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Master’s in Special Education – Early Childhood & General Curriculum Early Expert Intervention Leads To Lifelong Impact

Mentor Students with Special Needs with a Special Education Degree Online from Liberty University

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Special Education Degree?

What Will You Study in Liberty’s Online MAT in Early Childhood and General Curriculum Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

State Licensure Requirements

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Master of Arts in Teaching – Early Childhood Special Education and General Curriculum

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

What other accreditations does this program have?

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

Will this program provide any hands-on experience?

Are you ready to change your future?

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