Athens,
GA,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
MA in Teaching in Special Education (Birth Through Kindergarten/Preschool Special Education) in Athens United States | University of Georgia
University of Georgia
|
Athens United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Masters Degree
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
24,630
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
18 months
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education provides initial certification for individuals with bachelor's degrees in non-education fields who aren't currently certified teachers. Candidates must build both foundational and advanced competencies before receiving certification. The curriculum combines required coursework with hands-on practicum experiences. Additionally, all graduate students in special education complete applied research as part of their degree requirements.
This program equips educators to support children from birth to age five, including those with and without disabilities. The birth-to-kindergarten/preschool special education focus emphasizes developmentally appropriate, inclusive teaching methods and collaborative approaches. Graduates develop expertise in delivering meaningful instruction and assistance to young children and their families. Upon completion, the program endorses candidates for Georgia's clear renewable teaching certification in birth-through-kindergarten and preschool special education.
Participants receive training to teach in diverse early childhood settings, including inclusive preschools, pre-K and kindergarten classrooms, as well as early intervention (0-3 years) and preschool intervention (3-5 years) programs.
The 36-credit minimum program features core courses and customized applied research aligned with each student's professional goals. This structure enables candidates to develop specialized knowledge and skills across multiple special education domains and age ranges.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 6.5
Qualification Requirements
Students who meet all of the following requirements are eligible to apply:
Professional preparation: Earned, or will have earned, a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution before the date of enrollment at the University of Georgia.
GPA: Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 for all courses taken.
TOEFL: Foreign applicants will also need to score a minimum of 20 points each on the Speaking and Writing sections of the TOEFL with an overall minimum score of 80. Test scores must be within 5 years from the date of application.
The state of Georgia now requires that all teacher prep candidates either pass the GACE Program Admission Assessment or exempt it (1000 Verbal + Math SAT, 43 English + Math ACT or 297 Verbal + Quantitative GRE) before they can be accepted into programs. The state also requires that all candidates have a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate or previous graduate work. Go to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission website for details.
In the Graduate School application, students should upload the following items:
Statement of purpose: Please submit a two page, single-spaced statement of purpose, outlining your teaching philosophy, experience and career goals, as well as answering the following questions:
What types of disabilities do you have experience with and envision yourself working with?
In what setting would you like to work (e.g., school, clinic, home-based)?
What is your primary age/grade of interest?
Resume
The state of Georgia also now requires that all teacher prep candidates either pass the GACE Program Admission Assessment or exempt it (1000 Verbal + Math SAT, 43 English + Math ACT, or 297 Verbal + Quantitative GRE) before they can be accepted into programs. The state also requires that all candidates have a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate or previous graduate work. Visit the GAPSC website for more details.
Applicants will be admitted based on the faculty's evaluation of undergraduate GPA, GRE/MAT (and TOEFL where relevant) scores, quality of essay, letters of recommendations, and resume.
Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with at least 20 on speaking and writing
Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0
Professional preparation: Earned, or will have earned, a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution before the date of enrollment at the University of Georgia.
GPA: Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 for all courses taken.
TOEFL: Foreign applicants will also need to score a minimum of 20 points each on the Speaking and Writing sections of the TOEFL with an overall minimum score of 80. Test scores must be within 5 years from the date of application.
The state of Georgia now requires that all teacher prep candidates either pass the GACE Program Admission Assessment or exempt it (1000 Verbal + Math SAT, 43 English + Math ACT or 297 Verbal + Quantitative GRE) before they can be accepted into programs. The state also requires that all candidates have a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate or previous graduate work. Go to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission website for details.
In the Graduate School application, students should upload the following items:
Statement of purpose: Please submit a two page, single-spaced statement of purpose, outlining your teaching philosophy, experience and career goals, as well as answering the following questions:
What types of disabilities do you have experience with and envision yourself working with?
In what setting would you like to work (e.g., school, clinic, home-based)?
What is your primary age/grade of interest?
Resume
The state of Georgia also now requires that all teacher prep candidates either pass the GACE Program Admission Assessment or exempt it (1000 Verbal + Math SAT, 43 English + Math ACT, or 297 Verbal + Quantitative GRE) before they can be accepted into programs. The state also requires that all candidates have a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate or previous graduate work. Visit the GAPSC website for more details.
Applicants will be admitted based on the faculty's evaluation of undergraduate GPA, GRE/MAT (and TOEFL where relevant) scores, quality of essay, letters of recommendations, and resume.
Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with at least 20 on speaking and writing
Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0
Tuition
USD
24,630