Master of Education in Special Education with Two Specialty Tracks - Online:

M.Ed. in Special Education with Texas Educational Diagnostician Certification (For Texas Educators Only)

M.Ed. in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Specialization (For Non-Texas Educators)

M.Ed. in Special Education with UT Tyler Behavior Specialist Certificate

Mission Statement:

The mission of the School of Education is to prepare professional educators who are knowledgeable, skillful, caring, and ethical. We do so by working collaboratively to resolve pressing educational challenges locally, statewide, regionally, and beyond.

The Special Education master’s degree program has two specialty tracks that students can select. The first is the educational diagnostician track and the second is the behavior specialist track. Each specialty track is a 36-hour degree program with specific course sequence, benchmark assessments, and practicum experience. Students are prepared to practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators adopted by the Council for Exceptional Children. Our educational diagnostician curriculum has been aligned with state standards and we share accountability with our candidates for their performance on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES). Our educational diagnostician program is aligned with the Advanced Special Education Diagnostician Specialist Standards set forth by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Our behavior specialist program is aligned with the Advanced Specialty Set: Special Education Behavior Intervention Specialist set forth by the CEC.

Master of Education in Special Education

Complete coursework online
Graduate in 24 months
M.Ed. = 36 hour program
Based on academic year 2024-2025 TExES scores, TExES passing rates among the best in Texas with 100% pass rate putting our graduates among the best prepared in Texas.
Currently employed full-time, K-12 teachers are eligible for up to $200 off the first graduate semester by applying for the Teachers in Excellence Scholarship. Awards are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Deadlines:

Applications for the current M.Ed. in special education cohort will open on or around September 1, and remain open until March 31 of the following year. All application materials, including official GRE scores if you do not meet the GRE waiver, are due no later than April 14, and you must complete all admission interviews no later than April 22 for consideration for admission to the cohort that will begin classes in early May. Applications submitted after March 31 or incomplete applications after April 14 will not be considered for admission without prior approval.

Program Cost:

Tuition costs are subject to fluctuation, as UT Tyler annually reviews and updates program and student costs. Please visit the tuition & fees webpage for up-to-date information.

Requirements for Admission:

To be considered for admission to the Master of Education in Special Education program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Possess a valid teacher certification in any field. Certification requirements vary by degree track.
- M.Ed. in Special Education – Educational Diagnostician Certification (Leads to Texas Educational Diagnostician Certification) - Requires a current valid EC–12 Texas Teacher Certification in any field. Only Texas residents are eligible for this track.
- M.Ed. in Special Education – Educational Diagnostician Specialization (Does not lead to Texas certification) - Requires a current valid EC–12 Teacher Certification from any state. Out-of-state applicants may apply, but must check with their own state to determine whether UT Tyler coursework will meet local certification requirements.
- M.Ed. in Special Education – Emotional and Behavioral Specialization Track (Leads to a UT Tyler Behavior Specialist Certificate) - Requires a current valid EC–12 Teacher Certification from any state.
  Open to both Texas and out-of-state teachers.
Have at least one year of full-time teaching experience as the teacher of record.
Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in either the overall undergraduate degree or the last 60 hours of coursework.
Submit official GRE scores (taken within the past five years), unless eligible for a waiver. The GRE requirement is waived if any of the following conditions are met:
- - A GPA of 2.75 or higher in either the last 60 hours of coursework or overall undergraduate degree.
  - A graduate degree GPA of 3.0 or higher.

If the GRE is required, minimum scores are:
- - Verbal: 143 or higher
  - Quantitative: 140 or higher
  - Writing: 3.0 or higher
International applicants from countries where English is not an official language must submit TOEFL iBT that meet the Texas Education Agency standards (19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C)):
- - Speaking 20-24
  - Listening 17-21
  - Reading 18-23
  - Writing 17-23
Complete the application submission process (detailed below).

Admission is determined based on undergraduate GPA and, if necessary, satisfactory scores on the GRE in combination with the undergraduate GPA, successful admission interview, letters of recommendation, successful completion of the Statement of Purpose, and the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study.

Application Submission Process:

Step 1: Submit Graduate Application and Transcripts

Complete the graduate program application.
Request official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions. Transcripts should be sent to:

By Email: GradAdmissions@uttyler.edu

By Mail:

The Office of Graduate Admissions, HPR 248
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, Texas 75799

Step 2: Upload Required Documents

Once you receive your student ID, submit the following through the application portal:

GRE scores, unless waived by meeting GPA requirements listed above.
A copy of your teacher certification. Certification requirements vary by degree track.
A copy of your complete teaching service record from all school districts where you have worked (available from HR departments).
Complete the Reference Request Form. Provide the name and email address for two people you would like to complete a reference form for you. Please provide professional references including your current principal.
After you have received your student ID, complete the Department Information Sheet and Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose prompt is as follows:
- - Placing students with disabilities in general education classrooms is not without its critics and proponents. Please share your thoughts on this type of special education placement in public schools. In the statement, include a minimum of two scholarly sources to support your position (not to exceed approximately one typewritten page).

Step 3: Complete the Admission Interview

Within a week of receipt of all admission documents, you will receive an email about scheduling an admission interview.

In accordance with Texas Administrative Code, all applicants must be fully admitted prior to taking any coursework in the area in which they are seeking certification. Therefore, no provisional admission is allowed.

Admission Decision:

Once all application components have been received and reviewed, you will be notified of the admission decision. If accepted, you will receive an official offer of admission and program acknowledgment forms that must be accepted to finalize your admission to the university and the Educator Preparation Program.

Note: This program does not offer provisional admission. You must be fully admitted to begin coursework.

Criminal History Acknowledgement:

As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.

In order to receive an educational diagnostician certification, you must pass a criminal history background check.
If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educational diagnostician, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
You have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.

For more information, see Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.

Additional Information:

*Note: Students admitted to the program must pay a $250 admission fee to the School of Education Educator Preparation Program. This fee helps cover practicum supervision expenses. This fee is used to supplement program resources (i.e. needed assessment materials) and practicum supervision expenses.

Transfer of Credit/Experience:

In compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in accordance with the policies of the UT Tyler Graduate School, transfer of graduate credit from an accredited institution is limited to nine (9) hours for the master’s degree. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better, completed within the last seven years, and approved by the degree-granting program. Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved during the first semester. The course being transferred into a degree program should be a direct equivalent to the course within the degree program. Students who have extended work experiences that cover the content of a course should work with their advisor and Director of the School to determine if those work experiences cover course content. Students should work with their advisor to have courses evaluated for transfer.

Contact:

For Special Education Program Information:

Dr. Derek Daskalakes, Program Coordinator
Email: ddaskalakes@uttyler.edu (Preferred method of contact)

For Educational Diagnostician Program Information:

Dr. Cristina Chen
Email: cristinachen@uttyler.edu (Preferred method of contact)

For Behavior Specialist Program Information:

Dr. Staci Zolkoski
Email: szolkoski@uttyler.edu (Preferred method of contact)
Phone: 903.565.5612

For Admission Information:

Email: SOEgraduate@uttyler.edu
Phone: 903.566.7361

For complaints about this certification educator preparation program, please follow the policy outlined in the Certification Program's Complaint Policy.