MAT in Special Education | General & Adapted Curriculum

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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

Make the Most of Your Education by Earning Dual Endorsements with Liberty’s MAT in Special Education – General and Adapted Curriculum

Are you interested in becoming a special education teacher but want to work with students who have a variety of needs? Imagine being able to graduate with not 1 but 3 endorsements in special education. Thanks to Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum with a Career and Technical Education (CTE)-Transition and Special Needs add-on endorsement, now you can!

Liberty has designed this special education program to meet rigorous state requirements. Normally, you must get your initial teaching license for special education and then go back to school to pursue additional endorsements. However, our experienced faculty has designed this program to meet all the competencies required for multiple endorsements – so you can get all the credentials you need in the same program, including an initial teaching license. Liberty’s online MAT in Special Education – General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum with CTE-Transition and Special Needs track is designed to help you achieve your career goals by meeting the exact needs of your licensure requirements for special education.

With classroom experience in your area, you can gain hands-on training and critical teaching knowledge to help you lead your future classroom. Partner with us and receive the training you need from a pioneer in online master’s in special education programs.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum with a Career and Technical Education (CTE)-Transition and Special Needs add-on endorsement.

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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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

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s MAT in Special Education – General and Adapted Curriculum Degree Program?

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 special education teaching license in both general and adapted curriculum while studying under professors who share your passion and who can mentor you in your journey.

Empowering teachers to succeed is important, so at Liberty, you can earn your MAT degree for 30% less than other online schools – at only $430 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 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 can help you meet licensure requirements and set you up for success in your teaching career.

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

What Will You Study in Our MAT in Special Education Degree?

Liberty’s MAT in Special Education online will allow you to pursue 3 special education teaching endorsements instead of pursuing them separately.

Create lesson plans and provide intellectual stimulation for students with special needs
Learn to provide students with mild disabilities with a K-12 structure in the general curriculum endorsement
Meet significant student needs by creating individualized support and care in the adapted curriculum endorsement

Topics covered within this program include educational behavior and development, theories and methodologies of education, current trends in the education field, and classroom management methods. You can also learn how to make decisions about student progress, instruction, programs, placement, and transitional services. Learning how to assess students and prepare them for independent living can make a huge difference in their future endeavors as they move into the community and either enter the workforce or continue with further education.

To round out your degree, you’ll complete at least 90 practicum hours and at least 1 full semester of student teaching prior to graduation. Check out our featured courses below for more information!

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

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our MAT in Special Education Online Degrees

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’s included in this degree?

The general curriculum endorsement can help enable you to teach students with disabilities who follow the general K-12 curriculum.
The adapted curriculum endorsement can provide training on how to teach students with more moderate to severe disabilities who are not following the standard curriculum but rather one that is customized for their needs.
You can also earn the add-on endorsement for career and technical education (CTE)-transition and special needs, which incorporates technical and occupational knowledge to help students with disabilities transition into independent living, the professional workplace, or postsecondary education.

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have lowered tuition for our Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education programs. At $430 per credit hour for full-time students (at least 9 hours per semester), 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.

Does this program have any additional accreditation?

What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this online?

Will this program provide any hands-on experience?

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply Now

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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MAT in Special Education – General Curriculum & Adapted Curriculum Nurture Every Child’s Potential

Make the Most of Your Education by Earning Dual Endorsements with Liberty’s MAT in Special Education – General and Adapted Curriculum

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s MAT in Special Education – General and Adapted Curriculum Degree Program?

What Will You Study in Our MAT in Special Education 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 MAT in Special Education Online Degrees

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in this degree?

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

Does this program have any additional accreditation?

What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this online?

Will this program provide any hands-on experience?

Are you ready to change your future?

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