Educators: Level Up With Online Graduate Programs
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Master’s in Special Education With Additional Licensure
Enroll in one of the few programs offering licensure in top SPED areas.
Educator licensure can feel like a maze — but at Saint Mary’s, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our programs focus on the three high-need licensure areas identified by Minnesota school districts: Learning Disabilities (LD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD).
Our Master of Arts in Special Education (Additional Licensure) is designed for licensed educators seeking to add a new credential without pausing their careers. The program offers a streamlined, state-approved path that integrates the master’s degree with licensure coursework, eliminating unnecessary classes.
Whether you’re a general education or special education teacher (Tier 3 or 4), or a future administrator looking to strengthen your expertise in SPED leadership, this program is for you.
In less than two years, you’ll gain the expertise to make a lasting impact in special education. Apply today to expand your credentials in special education — and your ability to make a lasting impact.
Biennial Report –Supply & Demand of Teachers in Minnesota (Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, 2023).
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Customize your degree.
Expand your licensure portfolio and customize your master’s degree by selecting from one of three high-demand special education areas:
The K-12 EBD licensure concentration is designed for educators who work with students facing emotional or behavioral challenges. This concentration equips teachers with strategies to address behavioral issues, create a positive learning environment, and promote the social-emotional well-being of students.
B-21 ASD licensure concentration is designed for educators specializing in working with students on the autism spectrum. This concentration prepares teachers to address the diverse needs of students with autism.
This licensure concentration provides targeted training for teachers supporting students with specific learning disabilities, including challenges in reading, writing, and math. Please note: The LD licensure track has limited offerings. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
Program Highlights
- Benefit from expert advice as our program director, a Certified Licensing Officer, guides you through licensure requirements for each disability area.
- The program features workplace-based assessments in a asynchronous format designed to fit your schedule with strong instructor presence and support.
- Meet the growing demand for qualified SPED teachers through workplace-based, PELSB-aligned coursework with Out-of-Field Permissions (OFPs) eligibility so you can make an impact sooner.
- Use this program to secure a lane change and earn your special education license — or as a stepping stone toward an administrative or doctoral degree from Saint Mary’s
- Learn more about grants and financial aid including Teacher Forgiveness loans and TEACH grants, plus how your district could help.
- See if your district is part of our Trusted Partnership Program, offering scholarships through partnerships with numerous school districts. Learn more.
What You'll Learn
- Inclusive instructional design for diverse learners
- Collaboration with families, specialists, and interdisciplinary teams
- Current evidence-based research and educational theories
- Data-driven decision-making and progress monitoring
- Legal and ethical practice in special education environments
Information Sessions
Admissions
Ready to apply? Learn about taking the next steps.
- Applicants may apply for admission to master’s degree programs at any time during the year.
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
- Applicants must hold a Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota professional teaching license to be eligible for the M.A. in Special Education with Additional Licensure program.
Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States, unless from a waiver country listed here, are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing.
Saint Mary’s accepts:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
- International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 100. Please see our academic catalog for a list of all approved waiver countries.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed application form.
- An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)
- You have two possible options for obtaining official transcripts:
- 1. Order official transcripts from all institutions yourself.
- Saint Mary’s can order and cover the cost of transcripts from institutions that allow third-party requests for eligible degree-seeking applicants. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
- Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a university-accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards). Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
- You have two possible options for obtaining official transcripts:
Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission:
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Avenue,
Minneapolis, MN 55404Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
Please reach out with any questions about the application process.
Phone: (612) 728-5100
Toll-free: (866) 437-2788
E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu
- Summer 2025: April 5, 2025
- Fall 2025: Aug. 2, 2025
- Spring 2026: Dec. 5, 2025
- Summer 2026: April 4, 2026
The priority application deadlines are listed but these are general as not all of our programs have a start every semester.
You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.
Explore options to finance your education.
We’re committed to making your investment as accessible and affordable as possible. Our counselors will guide you to find a financial aid plan that works for you. Explore all the ways to help pay for your degree.
Course Catalog
You’ll take courses such as:
- Assessment & Evaluation of Learners with Exceptionalities
- Literacy Development and Interventions
- Social Emotional Learning and Well-Being
- The IEP Process
- Transition and Collaboration
See all the courses you’ll take and requirements in the catalog.
Careers & Salary
Saint Mary’s master’s in Special Education with Additional Licensure is designed for teachers, behavior specialists, and administrators. Common settings include:
K-12 public school systems across Minnesota
-Catholic, charter, and private schools
-Community-based early childhood programs
-Juvenile detention centers
-Mental/Behavioral health clinics
-For career insights, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, bls.gov/ooh, or the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
Related Programs
Advance your career with flexible programs designed for busy professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Saint Mary’s, we want you to succeed, and we help you do so, inside and outside of the classroom:
Student Central: Your one stop for student services.
Library: Resources and services are available 24/7 to all students.
Writing Center: Offers virtual and face-to-face services to support students.
Career Services: Can help you develop your career-readiness skills at any point in your education.
The only thing virtual about your online experience is the classroom. Our flexible online programs offer the rigor and reputation you expect from Saint Mary’s. Explore more here.
If you are in a degree-granting program and enrolled at least half time, you may be eligible for financial aid. Learn more here.
Life gets busy. Whether you’re raising a family, pursuing your career, or playing an active role in your community, we know you want to keep up with what you love while you take the next step in your career. That’s why Saint Mary’s online programs are flexible and designed to fit your demanding life. Learn more here.
The Master of Arts in Special Education is a fully online, asynchronous program.
Yes, you must have access to classrooms to complete course activities. If you are seeking Minnesota licensure, you must also complete field experience/student teaching in a variety of school settings.
Yes, you must have access to classrooms to complete course activities. If you are seeking Minnesota licensure, you must also complete field experience/student teaching in a variety of school settings.
Yes, and Saint Mary’s has a field placement office that will identify and secure practicum opportunities that fit your needs. Appropriate placements may exist in:
- Your current workplace or special education classroom of instruction
- K12 Special education departments within local school districts
- Trusted Partner Schools
- Public/private/charter schools
- Transition centers
- School-linked mental health providers
This program is designed for individuals who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and are currently licensed general or special education teachers (Tier 3 or 4) or aspiring administrators.
If you’re seeking your first Minnesota teaching license, Saint Mary’s also offers pathways through both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with initial licensure.
- B.S. in Special Education — For those who need to earn a bachelor’s degree and initial teaching licensure
- M.A. in Special Education with Initial Licensure – For individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are seeking their first teaching license
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