The Clemson Master of Education in Special Education is a 100% online graduate program for educators interested in enhancing the field of Special Education. Students take coursework in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in academics and behavior. The rich, engaging curriculum will prepare you to advance your professional standing in just 24 months.
Clemson University has combined the educational excellence that we are known for with the flexibility that many teachers desire and need. The result is a completely online Master of Education Degree in Special Education. This program is open to educators who work in formal educational settings. Consistent access to students is critical to your success in the program since many courses require assignments working with children or adolescents. We will consider some informal educational settings (e.g., clinics), but suggest contacting the program coordinator prior to applying.
Benefits of earning a M.Ed. in Special Education from Clemson University:
Admission to the Program
The Special Education M.Ed. program admits students for a Fall entrance term. Only complete applications are considered for admission.
Application Deadlines
All application materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:
Application Requirements
To be considered for the program, applicants must:
Additional information concerning supporting materials can be found at: https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/admissions/preparing-to-apply/supporting-materials.html
Test Requirements (only required if a 3.0 GPA or higher was not obtained in last degree earned)
Official test results are required. Scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Scores older than five years are considered expired.
The M.Ed. in Special Education is an entirely online degree. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in their coursework.
M.Ed. in Special Education:
The M.Ed. in Special Education is a 24-month program spanning six semesters. Fall and spring courses last seven and a half weeks each, allowing students to focus on one course at a time. Likewise, summer courses are also taught one at a time but in a five-week timeframe.
Special Note
The M.Ed. in Special Education does not lead to teaching licensure in South Carolina.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted for this degree program.
South Carolina is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and Clemson University (CU) is an approved SARA institution, which means we adhere to established standards for offering post-secondary e-learning programs in all member states. Please review our state authorizations to see if this program is offered in your state and our process for student complaints against the university.
The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
EDSP 8540: Applied Behavior Analysis
EDSP 8710: Ethical and Legal Considerations in Applied Behavior Analysis
EDSP 8720: Advanced Classroom Management
EDSP 8730: Experimental Analysis of Behavior
EDSP 8740: Single-Case Research Design
EDSP 8750: Advanced Single-Case Research Methodology
EDSP 8760: Behavior Analytic Supervision
All courses are taught by full-time Clemson University Special Education faculty.
Our Verified Course Sequence (VCS) number is 51288, and a link to the Course Sequence Information can be found here.
Please direct questions about the VCS and how it can fit into the MEd in Special Education program of study to the program faculty.
ABAI VCS Coordinator: Dr. Shanna Hirsch (shannah@clemson.edu)
MEd in Special Education Program Coordinator: Dr. Catherine Griffith (cgriff@clemson.edu)
With the support of CU Online, Clemson uses the most advanced online technology to provide a rich, supportive, seamless learning environment. Courses will be asynchronous thus allowing students to access courses when and where they need. While students have great flexibility in asynchronous learning, there are key deadlines in each course when learning modules must be completed. Students will be provided with timely support from instructors and technology personnel so that learning is maximized. Canvas, a very user friendly learning management system, is used for all courses to guide the learning experiences. An orientation module will be provided before the start of the program to allow students to become comfortable with expectations and the technologies before classes formally start.
The online M.Ed. programs at Clemson University are among the most economically priced.
Tuition and Fees
This program is an Online Tier 5. Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator. (Be sure to choose the ‘Go to Online’ tab at the top of the page.)
SC Teacher Incentive
The Special Education M.Ed. offers a South Carolina Teacher Incentive reducing tuition by 10% for all in-state SC K-12 teachers/leaders.
Financial Aid
For information regarding Financial Aid, please contact the office of Student Financial Aid.
Catherine Griffith
864-704-9937
cgriffi@clemson.edu
Abby Allen
864-656-5992
aaallen@clemson.edu
Shanna Eisner Hirsch
864-656-5796
shannah@clemson.edu
Janie Hodge
864-656-1613
hodge@clemson.edu
Antonis Katsiyannis
864-656-5114
antonis@clemson.edu
W. Kent Parker
864-710-0726
wprker@clemson.edu
Joseph Ryan
864-656-1531
jbryan@clemson.edu
Pamela Stecker
864-656-5110
stecker@clemson.edu
M.Ed. in Special Education Virtual Information Sessions
The Clemson Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education is a 100% online graduate program for individuals interested in enhancing the field of Special Education. Students take coursework in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in academics and behavior. The rich, engaging curriculum will prepare you to advance your professional standing in just 24 months.
Have you been considering a Master’s degree in Special Education from Clemson University? Please consider attending a virtual information session to learn about the program and have your questions answered.
January 2021 Virtual Information Session Dates
We will have virtual information sessions on the following dates:
Register in advance for the meeting at
https://clemson.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwucuurqj8qHtDFUv4Mga_j8qlHTMc11Jte
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have questions about the meeting or program, please contact Dr. Catherine Griffith at cgriffi@clemson.edu.
What is the Board Certified Behavior AnalystⓇ (BCBA) examination pass rate for the Clemson University, College of Education program (Verified Course Sequence 51288)?
The Clemson College of Education’s M.Ed. in Special Education now offers students an Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) - Verified Course Sequence (VCS). This is a VCS within the College of Education. The BACB does not report data for VCS in their first four years of operation.
Who teaches Clemson University, College of Education M.Ed. in Special Education courses?
Our courses are taught by full-time Clemson faculty members in Special Education, including Shanna Hirsch, PhD, BCBA-D (ABAI VCS Coordinator), Catherine Griffith, PhD (MEd Program Coordinator), Abigail Allen, PhD, Antonis Katsiyannis, EdD, Wendell Parker, PhD, Joseph Ryan, PhD, and Pamela Stecker, PhD
Can I work full- or part-time while completing the program?
Yes. We encourage individuals to work in an education setting while completing the program to gain experience implementing strategies and interventions discussed in the courses.
Does this program include supervised field experiences?
No. You will not have supervised field experiences. However, you will have course assignments that will require you to have access to students.
Do I need to be online for class at a certain time?
No. All coursework is asynchronous. You will have established deadlines within each course but will not have required live sessions. However, faculty will be available to assist and support students.
For more information about this program, please contact Alison Search at alisonp@clemson.edu or Dr. Catherine Griffith at cgriffi@clemson.edu.
