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Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
Embark on your journey in specialized education with our MEd in Special Education: Moderate to Severe. Enroll now to work toward acquiring teaching skills that can make a lasting impact on diverse learners.
Upon completion of this MEd program, graduates may be prepared to apply for a moderate to severe special education license to be able to adeptly support students facing advanced exceptionalities. Graduates are taught to become skilled in crafting personalized education plans tailored to meet the unique requirements of each individual student.
As a graduate, you may go on to pursue a career as a licensed special education teacher in various grade levels, including:
Preschool
Kindergarten
Elementary school
Middle school
Secondary school
Explore the questions and answers below to help provide clarity on various aspects of the special education track, helping you make well-informed decisions about your academic pursuits.
Programs such as the Master of Education in Special Education: Moderate to Severe (Licensure) degree qualifies you to apply for your teaching license following completion. If you already have a teaching license, a master’s in special education (non-licensure) program may be a good option for you to build on your previous teaching knowledge and obtain your graduate degree.
The different levels of special education encompass varying degrees of needs, with categories spanning from mild to moderate to more intensive, such as moderate to severe exceptionalities. According to the Arizona Department of Education, these categories can include conditions like autism, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, emotional disability, specific learning disability, orthopedic impairments, developmental delay, health/hearing impairments, among others, each requiring specific interventions and support.1
GCU offers different graduate certificates and degree options available for the specific levels mentioned above, including a Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate and Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education: Moderate to Severe (Non-licensure) degree.
Yes. While this master’s degree program at GCU requires you to hold a bachelor’s degree to be eligible, it does not need to be a bachelor’s in education. The program is designed to help prepare you to possibly change careers or help you work toward enhancing your current career in the education field.
An online master’s degree in special education from GCU delivers the same quality education as a traditional, on-campus degree while providing you with a more convenient format. Online degrees are becoming increasingly popular, and employers are typically most concerned with an institution’s accreditation status rather than the format in which the degree was obtained.2,3
The main difference between mild to moderate and moderate to severe special education lies in the varying levels of severity. Mild to moderate special education typically addresses conditions such as autism, traumatic brain injury, certain emotional or behavioral disorders, developmental delay and/or other health impairments.4 Students in this category may require specialized instruction and support but often participate in general education settings for a significant part of their school day.
On the other hand, moderate to severe special education involves more profound impairments that can significantly impact a student's cognitive, behavioral, social or physical functioning. This category includes severe intellectual challenges, significant developmental delays or health impairments, severe autism spectrum disorders, orthopedic impairments and severe behavioral or emotional disturbances.5 Students with moderate to severe exceptionalities usually need more intensive and individualized support, specialized educational settings, extensive accommodations and may often face challenges accessing the general education curriculum.
Yes. Specialized focuses in advanced special education, like autism spectrum disorders or emotional and behavioral disorders are available depending on the school you attend. At GCU, you have the potential to advance your focus in special education programs by pursuing one of our master’s programs in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). These concentrations can offer more focused coursework and interventions like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), communication skills, social development, behavior management, and tailored support strategies for ASD or EBD challenges. These specialized tracks can help you support individuals with diverse needs in educational settings.
This graduate program includes a rigorous curriculum, relevant courses and faculty to support your journey to begin teaching students with moderate to severe exceptionalities. In this program, you will study special education moderate to severe curriculum that includes a variety of topics, such as:
Grand Canyon University cares about promoting the well-being of students at a large scale, including academic, spiritual and vocational growth. For this reason, academics are supported by our Christian worldview and strong academic heritage. GCU also sees the benefit of achieving a balanced lifestyle. The online master’s degree in moderate to severe special education licensure program creates room for both academic excellence and personal flexibility that can suit your individualized needs.
The online format for the moderate and severe special education master’s degree can offer the convenience of flexible scheduling, allowing you to balance coursework with professional commitments and personal life. With accessible resources and a supportive virtual learning environment, this format can enable you to engage deeply with the curriculum at your own pace.
Embracing modern technology and interactive tools, GCU’s online platform aims to foster an enriching educational experience tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs. However, it's important to note that many teaching programs also include practicum/field experience hours that require in-person and hands-on experiences.
If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).
2 Hamilton, I. (2023, May 24). By The Numbers: The Rise Of Online Learning In The U.S. Forbes. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024.
3 Best Colleges. (2023, May 24). How Does Online College Accreditation Work? Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024.
4 Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024.
5 Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Special Education Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K-12. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2024.
The special education degree program concludes with a full-time, 15-week student teaching component that must be completed with a certified special educator. You are expected to have access to K-12 settings with students who have significant special education needs in order to complete the 103 hours of practicum/field experience requirements. Additionally, upon successful completion of this program, graduates may go on to pursue a moderate to severe teaching credential online.
This moderate to severe special education master’s degree is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), an accrediting body endorsed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Additionally, GCU maintains institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, affirming our commitment to delivering quality education at both national and regional levels. Our MEd programs have received full accreditation from AAQEP, signifying our commitment to fostering effective educators who can evolve professionally and maintain the highest standards of quality in education.
The Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education: Moderate to Severe program is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree who are interested in teaching K-12 children who have advanced exceptionalities. This master’s degree can prepare you to seek initial teaching licensure in the field of moderate to severe special education. You will study topics ranging from ethical and legal practices to diagnosis and assessment in special education. In addition, you must complete a full-time, 15-week student teaching component with a certified special educator.
