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Master of Arts in Special Education Program

Marian University's Master of Arts in Special Education program prepares graduates to teach and assist students who have special needs academically, socially, and behaviorally. This program is offered through Klipsch Educators College, which offers benefits such as the opportunity for scholarships and financial aid. The special education program is a hybrid (on-campus and online), 36-credit hours, part-time program.

In Marian University's M.A. in Special Education program, you acquire the advanced knowledge and skills needed to ensure students in P-12 school settings have successful outcomes. Upon completion of our program, graduates are prepared to work with children who have exceptional needs that require educational interventions in reading, math, and written expression, as well as mild behavioral interventions across a spectrum of disabilities.

Special Education Curriculum

Marian University's M.A. in Special Education curriculum meets the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) requirements and its Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA) standards for exceptional needs teachers. Courses in this program include Assessment of Children with Exceptional Needs, Teaching Reading Pre K-Elementary, and Instruction with Assistive Technology. There is also an internship offered for students to gain knowledge of classroom management and instruction on their way to becoming a special education teacher.

Marian's curriculum is designed to ensure you:

  • Participate in courses and field experiences that encompass high-incidence disabilities.
  • Design programming that includes systemic, focused instruction that is individualized and collaborative in a range of school settings.
  • Select and implement intense interventions to remediate academic, social, and behavioral deficits in children.
  • Collaborate with general education teachers to create inclusive classrooms with positive academic outcomes.
  • Understand how to intercede effectively when behavior negatively impacts the academic and social well-being of a student or a group of students.

Special Education Careers

Licensed special education teachers work in public and private schools with elementary, middle, and high school students. Graduates of this program may also work as tutors, teachers, administrators, and educational consultants at nonprofit and social service agencies, mental health facilities, and therapeutic residential facilities.

This degree is perfect for those looking to make a difference with children in a variety of different grades.

When do classes start?

Semester Application Deadline File Completion Deadline Courses Begin
Fall 2025 July 15, 2025 August 1, 2025 August 18, 2025

What does the application process involve?

Quick Checklist

All admission documents must be received at least two weeks before start of each semester.

  • Apply online in our application portal
  • Upload a copy of your current resume with your online application.
  • A personal statement or essay (maximum 500 words) should be submitted with online application. It should:
    • Explain your interest in becoming a teacher.
    • Outline your professional goals.
    • Describe your interest in a culture and/or language different from your own.
    • Reflect on your own learning experiences.
  • Send official transcripts directly to Marian University's Office of Undergraduate Admission for all previously attended high schools and colleges. For any university you attended that is not in the United States, we require a course-by-course evaluation. Evaluations must include the U.S. equivalency, a course-by-course list, and copies of the original transcripts. 

If your university does not provide transcripts in English, we require a word-for-word translation of the transcript. You can translate the transcript yourself, but we recommend using a third-party translator like indytranslations.com.

  • If your native language is not English, send an official English language proficiency test result directly to Marian University. Minimum acceptable scores are:
    • TOEFL IBT  69
    • IELTS  6.0
    • ELS Level 112
    • PTE 48
  • Two of your professional references should be uploaded to your application portal. Recommendations from family members will not be accepted.
  • Obtain a criminal history background check from the Indiana State Police – INkless. Please follow the instructions available at marian.edu/backgroundcheck to schedule a fingerprinting appointment. This will ensure that the results are sent to Marian University. 
  • Pay the required, non-refundable $55 online application fee.
  • Thoroughly review the Marian University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. As an accepted student, you are expected to abide by the code outlined in this document.

Where should you send your application documents?

Send your required application documents to:

Office of Graduate Admission
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN  46222-1997

GRadmissions@marian.edu

What are the tuition rates?

Please visit the Business Office "Tuition Rates" page. Credit hours vary based on the program and anticipated licensure area. Degree programs are a minimum of 36 credit hours. Licensure-only programs are approximately 21 credit hours.

Cost DOES NOT include the $55 application fee, rental of cap and gown for graduation, costs for purchasing textbooks, and other university fees.

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting federal and state aid for your graduate studies.

Marian University’s Master of Arts in Special Education provides students with the tools they need to become special education teachers. Interested in learning more about this opportunity? 

Learn more about the Master's in Special Education program

Contact Us

Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222-1997
(317) 955-6000

admissions@marian.edu
COMadmissions@marian.edu

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Notice of Nondiscrimination
Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students.
*Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.

Students may make a complaint to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education.

Marian University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana.

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