Program Overview

Graduate Program in Special Education

The Graduate Program in Special Education at the University of Maryland is designed to prepare highly qualified teachers, provide graduate-level content, and prepare researchers, teacher educators, and leaders in the field of special education.

Program Options

• M.Ed. in Special Education with Generic Elementary/Middle age based certification
• M.Ed. in Special Education with Generic Elementary/Middle age based and severe disabilities certification
• M.Ed. in Special Education with severe disabilities certification only
• M.Ed. in Specialty Program (30 credits)
• M.A. in Special Education (36 credits)
• Advanced Graduate Specialist Certificate (30 credits beyond the master’s degree)
• Ph.D. program
• Ed.D. program

Financial Assistance

A limited number of fellowships, assistantships, and/or grants are available to qualified applicants.

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• CV/Resume
• Writing Sample (M.A. and Ph.D. only - one required, up to two more optional.)
• Supplementary Application (optional for M.Ed/Cert, not required for the other programs)

Admission Criteria

For the M.Ed. programs, students must submit scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test (meeting the State of Maryland passing scores) prior to admission into the program and have an undergraduate 3.0 GPA. The Master’s of Arts program requires a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and the submission of the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination test scores at or above the 40th percentile rank. The AGS program requires a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, a master’s GPA of 3.5, and submission of scores on the MAT, GRE, or Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test. Admission to the Ph.D. program requires:

1. Master’s degree or equivalent in Special Education or a related field from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.5 or better;
2. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better;
3. A score on the Graduate Record Exam placing the student at or above the 50th percentile on verbal, quantitative, and analytic subtests;
4. Two years of research or work experience with exceptional populations;
5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who have direct knowledge of the applicant’s academic capabilities, work experience, and professional characteristics;
6. A statement of academic and research goals including intended area of study, research interests, and plans for future employment;
7. Evidence of writing skills shown in the statement of academic and research goals;
8. EDMS Research Methods I or equivalent.

Application Deadlines

Graduate Application Deadlines-Fall

• Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline
  • Domestic Applicants
    • US Citizens and Permanent Residents
      • M.Ed. (with Certification): March 3, 2026
      • M.Ed. (without Certification): June 16, 2026
      • M.A.: December 2, 2025
      • Ph.D.: December 2, 2025
  • International Applicants
    • F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants
      • M.Ed. (with Certification): March 3, 2026
      • M.Ed. (without Certification): March 13, 2026
      • M.A.: December 2, 2025
      • Ph.D.: December 2, 2025

Faculty

The faculty members for the Special Education program include:

• Abera, Nicole Taylor
• Amilivia, Jennifer Marie
• Andrusik, Katryna Natalya
• Beckman, Paula J.
• Burke, Philip J.
• Chen, Briella Baer
• Cummings, Kelli Dawn
• Danehey, Agnesanne J.
• De La Paz, Susan C.
• Dynia, Jaclyn M
• Egel, Andrew L.
• Hankins, Laura Diane
• Intepe Tingir, Seyma
• Keitt, Janae
• Kim, Yeh Jun
• Kohl, Frances L.
• Leone, Peter E.
• Lieber, Joan
• McCatharn, Jennifer Marie
• McLaughlin, Margaret J.
• Moon, Sherril M.
• Neubert, Debra Ann
• Page-Voth, Leslie V.
• Perillo, Patty A
• Piantedosi, Kelly Worland
• Stormont, Heather Anne
• Taboada Barber, Ana
• Toulan, Dina
• Wexler, Jade
• Williams, Stacey C
• Yakubova, Gulnoza

Program Description

The Special Education program provides an unparalleled setting for graduate study. The program’s proximity to outstanding public schools in Maryland provides students who wish to pursue teacher certification the chance to gain experience with a culturally and linguistically diverse student population in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Additionally, students pursuing a doctoral degree can have experiences in advocacy and professional organizations, government agencies, including the US Department of Education, in addition to the coursework they take at the University.