Quick Facts
Next Start Date:
August 18, 2025
- Delivery: 100% Online
- Major Credits: 30
- No GRE required
- Nationally ranked by U.S. News
Ball State University’s 100 percent online Master of Arts in Special Education prepares you for numerous employment opportunities to serve children and adults with disabilities. This degree empowers you to become an expert practitioner, equipped with the advanced knowledge and skills to foster inclusive and supportive learning environments. Designed for busy professionals, our flexible online program allows you to advance your career while balancing your personal and professional commitments. Explore our curriculum, discover the benefits of a Ball State education, and take the next step toward becoming a leader in special education.
National Rankings
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Ball State is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in best online graduate education programs.
- U.S. News ranks our Master’s Degrees in Education Programs in the top 25 in the nation for best online programs for veterans.
- Our program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), a professional accreditor of U.S. teacher education programs.
- Our master’s in special education is nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children.
Calculate the Cost of a Master's in Special Education
It's important to you to understand the expenses associated with your education. We encourage you to utilize our cost calculator to gauge the anticipated cost of your education to plan for your future. Need assistance? Our student success specialists stand ready to support you.
Calculate Your Costs
Ball State has joined the Federal Academic Alliance and is offering reduced tuition rates for all eligible, non-Indiana resident Federal Government Employees (civil servants), spouses, dependents, and retirees who enroll in online graduate-level programs and courses through Ball State’s Teachers College. Learn more.
Course Requirements
Completion of 30 credits, including 21 core credits and 9 credits from a concentration, is required to earn your master’s degree. Coursework will provide you with a critical foundation in special education, including coursework on collaboration, law, intervention, assessment, and research practices. Concentrations include administration, autism, deaf education, early childhood special education, emotional and behavioral disorders, mild intervention, and intense intervention.
All concentrations are centered in the provision of services for students with disabilities in schools, allowing you to earn a degree that has prepared you to be an effective practitioner and leader in the field of special education.
For a full list of program requirements and courses, see the course catalog.
View Catalog
Concentrations
Concentrations that you may choose from include:
The Special Education Administration concentration focuses on leadership roles in special education at the school- and district-levels. Students will gain a deeper understanding of education finance, law, and administration of special education programs.
The Autism concentration focuses on providing students with an understanding of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ways to positively engage them in the classroom. Students will learn a basic overview of ASD and potential interventions that may be used to both teach new and change existing behavior using evidence-based methods of applied behavior analysis. Students will learn to apply tactics to address academic, functional, and interfering behaviors of social significance to the learner, the classroom, and the community.
The Deaf Education concentration prepares educators to support the diverse linguistic, academic, and social needs of deaf and hard of hearing students in P-12 settings. Through this concentration, students will explore aspects of educational settings, Deaf culture, and communication strategies while gaining foundational knowledge of speech and language development. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based instruction, assessment, and curriculum development specifically designed for deaf and hard of hearing learners. Graduates will be equipped to create inclusive, accessible learning experiences that foster literacy, language development, and overall academic success.
The concentration in Early Childhood Special Education focuses on the education of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Students will be prepared to identify and assess infants and toddlers at risk or developmentally delayed, as well as design and implement evidence-based instruction and intervention.
The Emotional and Behavioral Disorders concentration focuses on the design of educational services for individuals with emotional and/or behavioral conditions (EBD), which adversely affect their educational performance. Students will be prepared to identify, assess, and evaluate students and their behaviors; develop individual education plans and behavior intervention plans; and design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based instructional strategies and interventions for children and youth with or at risk for EBD.
The Intense Interventions concentration focuses on the education of children and youth with intense intervention needs. Students will gain experience in academic and behavioral assessment, evidence-based instructional methods and intervention, and designing legally defensible IEPs tailored to the unique needs of students with intense intervention needs. A particular focus of this area is preparing individuals with intense interventions needs with the critical skills necessary to increase their opportunities in the community.
The Mild Interventions concentration focuses on the education of children and youth with high incidence disabilities who require mild to moderate academic and behavioral intervention and supports. Students will be prepared to make data-based instructional and programmatic decisions within an MTSS framework. Students will gain experience in academic and behavioral assessment, evidence-based instructional methods and intervention, and designing legally defensible IEPs tailored to the unique needs of students with high incidence disabilities.
Please note that completion of a concentration does not lead to teaching or professional licensure. If you are interested in pursuing an add-on special education teaching license in addition to your master’s degree, you will follow a plan of study prescribed by special education licensure standards and are required to complete a license evaluation with Ball State’s Office of Teacher Education Services and Clinical Practice before starting the program. Additional coursework and/or field experience hours may be needed to fulfill licensure requirements. Learn more about the add-on license programs.
The Department of Special Education currently offers five graduate certificate programs. Additional coursework, beyond the required MA curriculum, may be needed to fulfill certificate requirements. Learn more about the department’s graduate certificate programs.
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Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.
Want to Learn More?
Do you have questions about this program or online learning? We’re here to help! You may request more information using our online form, or feel free to reach out directly to one of our staff.
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