Special Education, MEd (online)

The BGSU School of Counseling and Special Education (CSE) offers online graduate programs leading to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education and university certificates. Master’s degree specializations are available in Applied Behavior Analysis, Assistive Technology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Secondary Transition. Graduates are prepared to become leaders in the field and advocates for individuals with disabilities. The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program is intended for individuals interested in professional careers in education, healthcare, or other fields in which they work with children, adolescents, and/or adults who have behavioral challenges.

Information regarding Licensure, Endorsement, or Accreditation: The program provides preparation towards the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the Special Education program are expected to be able to:

1. Generate possible solutions to current challenges in meeting the academic, behavioral, and social emotional learning (SEL) needs of students with disabilities through interpretation, analysis, and applcaitons of the professional research literature.
2. Create lessons that integrate high leverage practices essential to effective teaching and fundamental to supporting student learning.
3. Present an analysis of court cases pertaining to the education of students with disabilities through synthesis of historical, legal, and policy foundations of special education.
4. Evaluate research reports in special education.
5. Plan studies with the appropriate research designs and methods to answer research questions in special education.

Admission Requirements

Documents required:

• Statement of Purpose

Statement of Purpose Instructions:

The Statement of Purpose is an integral part of the application. This is your opportunity to tell the faculty about important experiences, values, and aspirations you bring to graduate study. The statement should be 300-700 words in length, adhere to APA style guidelines, and demonstrate graduate-level writing skills. A strong Statement of Purpose communicates the following:

• your motivation to pursue graduate study in your chosen field;
• your professional goals and how you believe our program can support you in meeting those goals; and
• your personal attributes, background, and/or experiences that have prepared you for success as a graduate student.

International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement. 

Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click here for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores.

Application Requirements 

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements