Enhance Your Role As An Educator

The University of Hartford prepares you to become a highly competent teaching professional—deeply knowledgeable in a range of disciplines related to the unique needs of children with disabilities, highly skilled in instruction, and proficient in sensitively collaborating with families and other educational specialists in learning systems.

This rigorous program touching on learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral issues, and intellectual disabilities prepares you to teach effectively across the learning spectrum. Training with a range of special education students makes you versatile in the workplace, allowing for greater career advancement opportunities. Our program offers three tracks to best serve the needs of our students:

• Master of Education in Special Education – Advanced Program: This track is designed for teachers who have an Initial or Provisional Certificate in Special Education and would like to qualify to apply to the state of Connecticut for the next level of certification. The track is also ideal for non-certified teachers and non-teachers who want to gain expertise in the field of special education, such as behavior specialists, instructional coordinators, homeschoolers, and parents of special needs children. Please review the Professional Licensure Disclosure section below for additional information. Students may utilize the Professional Licensure Dashboard to locate a link to each state’s licensing agency for the Special Education MEd.
• Master of Education in Special Education – Cross Endorsement Program: This track is designed for licensed teachers who hold a valid Connecticut teaching certificate in another area (e.g., elementary education, secondary education etc.) Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply to the state of Connecticut to add an additional endorsement in Special Education to their teaching certificate. Please review the Professional Licensure Disclosure section below for additional information. Students may utilize the Professional Licensure Dashboard to locate a link to each state’s licensing agency for the Special Education MEd.

Most courses include project-based learning, applying lessons learned in actual classroom settings. Guided by experienced faculty, you will develop a deeper understanding of required competencies.

For the Advanced Program, capstone projects are research projects completed by collaborating with a faculty advisor in a real-world classroom setting over two semesters.

Students in the Cross Endorsement and Initial Certificate programs choose which areas of special education to focus on and complete two student teaching experiences (6 practicum credits).

1. To prepare exemplary special education professionals (teachers and related services personnel) to provide all students with quality educational experiences and be their advocate.
2. To prepare teaching professionals to be positive agents of change within their educational environments.
3. To develop highly qualified special education professionals to apply evidenced-based strategies and collaborative and ethical practices with students and colleagues.
4. To prepare highly qualified special education professionals with multiple opportunities to bridge theory with practice.

The University of Hartford Special Education MEd program is designed to meet professional licensure and certification requirements for Connecticut. States and other jurisdictions vary in what professions they require to be licensed and the requirements for licensure within their borders. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certification. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University of Hartford, and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time. Students may utilize the University of Hartford’s Professional Licensure Dashboard to look up the special education program and the state they intend to be licensed in order to obtain a link to each state’s licensing agency for additional information.

Students who relocate while enrolled in a professional licensure program may impact their ability to remain in the program, meet state licensing requirements, and/or receive financial aid funding. Students considering relocation are advised first to contact their academic program director and the student financial aid office to discuss the potential impact of relocation. Students are also advised to contact the state licensing agency to which they are relocating to determine new licensing requirements they may need to meet. Please use the Professional Licensure Dashboard to locate a link to each state’s licensing agency for the Special Education MEd.