Best Master's in Learning Disabilities Special Education Programs in 2026

Concordia University-Saint Paul offers a Master of Arts in Special Education with an emphasis in Specific Learning Disabilities, structured as an asynchronous online cohort that moves through one eight-week course at a time. That pacing, along with clinical experiences embedded directly in coursework rather than staged as a separate practicum, marks it as a program engineered around the schedules of working Minnesota teachers. Enrollment requires a current, valid Minnesota Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license, and the program leads to a Minnesota Specific Learning Disabilities endorsement, though it is not approved by other states' licensing boards. A shorter endorsement-only option is available for those who do not need the full degree, and a capstone research course anchors the master's track. Concordia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The result is a tightly focused, state-specific route to the SLD endorsement. As a master's degree in learning disabilities special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Minnesota.

Hunter College's School of Education offers a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Childhood Special Education with a focus on learning disabilities, built around two distinct pathways. Candidates who arrive without prior New York State certification follow a track that leads to dual initial certification in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities for grades 1 through 6, while those already certified pursue a single added credential, so the program serves both career changers and practicing teachers deepening their specialization. Developmental fieldwork is layered through the sequence and capped by supervised student teaching, giving candidates graduated classroom experience before they lead their own inclusive rooms. The clinical emphasis, rather than a research thesis, signals a program oriented toward practitioners preparing to work directly with children who have learning disabilities. All candidates complete New York State fingerprinting as part of the certification pathway. As a master's degree in learning disabilities special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in New York.

Francis Marion University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Learning Disabilities designed for teachers who want to add a Learning Disabilities certification area to an existing certificate. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the 36-credit-hour program is organized into a foundation core, literacy preparation, and professional preparation, with coursework that works through the legal foundations of special education and the development of individualized education programs. Four embedded practicum courses carry candidates through reading assessment, reading and writing instruction, mathematics instruction, and a methods seminar, keeping the degree tightly practice-based. That heavy clinical scaffolding, combined with its add-on certification purpose, reads as a program built for practicing educators expanding their credentials rather than newcomers to the classroom. Its structure moves candidates steadily from theory into supervised application. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in South Carolina.

Buena Vista University offers a Master of Education in Special Education built for teachers who are already licensed and want to stay in the classroom while they earn the degree. The two-year online format layers a practicum and a capstone portfolio onto candidates' current teaching jobs, and a required K-12 license to enroll signals that this is an add-on credential rather than an entry into the field. Instructional Strategist tracks let candidates specialize in mild-to-moderate disabilities, behavior and learning disabilities, or cognitive and intellectual disabilities, or pursue a comprehensive path covering all endorsements. Approved by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, the program carries a special education consultant endorsement alongside the master's. With no GRE required, it reads as a practical, endorsement-driven route for working Iowa educators. This master's-level learning disabilities special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Iowa.

Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Science in Special Education focused on mild-to-moderate disabilities, delivered online and structured so candidates can choose the grade range they intend to serve. An elementary and middle school focus covers grades 1 through 8 while a secondary and adult focus covers grades 6 through 12, letting teachers align the degree with their own placement. The program splits into a 39-credit track that leads to teacher certification and a 36-credit track for those who do not need it, a design that serves both new certification seekers and educators pursuing advanced study. It can be completed in as few as five semesters, with coursework finished within five years. Distinct from the university's separate severe disabilities and applied behavior analysis track, this program centers the high-incidence classroom. As a master's degree in learning disabilities special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Maryland.

Northern Michigan University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education in Learning Disabilities that mirrors the specialist depth teachers need without requiring time away from their districts. The program follows a three-tiered course structure with an internship and seminar requirement, and candidates choose between a thesis and a seminar capstone to close out the degree. It leads to the Michigan K-12 Learning Disabilities endorsement (Code SM) and requires passing the state's MTTC subject-area test in Learning Disabilities. A notable feature is that teachers in districts qualifying for Michigan's Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant can complete the degree tuition-free. Taken together, the online delivery and grant pathway position this as an accessible, cost-conscious route for Michigan educators moving into learning disabilities work. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of Michigan's special education teachers.

American University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education: Learning Disabilities, a diagnostic-prescriptive program grounded in the Sally L. Smith Methodology for reaching students who learn differently. Requiring no prior teaching experience and completable full-time in about a year, it functions as an intensive on-ramp into special education for career changers and new teachers alike. A partnership with the Lab School of Washington offers select candidates a 12-month residency fellowship, embedding them in a school built around this instructional approach. The program prepares graduates for licensure in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with reciprocity noted in more than 40 additional states, and it requires passing the Praxis exams. A companion Special Education Multidisciplinary track is offered online, while this learning disabilities track runs both in-person and online, giving candidates a hybrid mix of clinical immersion and flexible coursework. Graduates of this learning disabilities special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

Baldwin Wallace University offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Mild to Moderate Educational Needs, delivered in a hybrid cohort model that lets students enroll on campus or online while progressing together. The 36-credit-hour program leads to Ohio's Intervention Specialist license for grades K-12, contingent on passing the state licensure exam and completing Ohio's mandated 12-hour reading core, and it can be finished in as little as two years of part-time study. A supervised practicum working with children diagnosed with learning disabilities grounds the coursework in direct classroom practice, and optional Advanced Practice Minors in Literacy and Technology Integration let candidates sharpen a specialty. The cohort structure and part-time pacing point to a program shaped for working educators earning licensure alongside their jobs. As noted on the university's site, the program is no longer admitting new students as a major, though currently enrolled students remain supported. As a master's degree in learning disabilities special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Ohio.

Notre Dame de Namur University offers a Master of Arts in Special Education whose Mild/Moderate track leads to a California Education Specialist Credential for teaching students with learning disabilities. Graduates are qualified to work in resource specialist programs and special day classes serving students from kindergarten through age 22, and a separate Extensive Support Needs track prepares candidates for students with more significant disabilities. The program is structured so students first complete a 44-unit credential and then add the master's degree with a single three-unit capstone course, an efficient design for teachers who want both the license and the degree. Offered in-person, hybrid, and fully online, it adapts to the schedules of working candidates across the region. Backed by the university's WSCUC accreditation, the credential prepares graduates for California's inclusive and specialized classrooms. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of California's special education teachers.

William Carey University offers a Master of Education in Mild and Moderate Disabilities designed for teachers who want to strengthen their work in inclusive K-12 classrooms. The fully online, 30-credit program can be completed in 12 to 15 months and carries no synchronous meeting requirement, making it a self-paced fit for educators balancing full teaching schedules. Six hours of directed electives give candidates a way to add an endorsement in Gifted Studies or Severe/Profound Disabilities, or to prepare for the Foundations of Reading exam, so the degree can flex toward a teacher's goals. Throughout the coursework, candidates build a professional teaching-materials portfolio they can carry into practice. The program reads as a streamlined, classroom-ready path with room to add targeted state endorsements. As a master's degree in learning disabilities special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Mississippi.

East Carolina University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Special Education, which the university describes as the only totally online program of its kind in North Carolina and which students can pursue part-time or full-time. Candidates choose among four areas, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, and Low Incidence Disabilities, and for this track the program leads to a North Carolina Advanced (M) Level license for the Learning Disabled K-12 area. The 30-credit-hour curriculum keeps scholarship close to practice by requiring either a thesis or an action research project alongside a two-semester in-depth case study of an individual student with learning disabilities. That extended case work anchors the degree in real classroom decision-making, making it a fit for working teachers who want to move to advanced licensure without leaving their schools. The online format supports educators balancing full-time positions with graduate study. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in North Carolina.

The University of Southern Mississippi offers an online Master of Education in Special Education whose four emphasis areas give candidates unusually broad room to specialize. Tracks in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Emotional/Behavior Disorders, Severe/Low Incidence Disabilities, and Gifted Education let teachers target the population they most want to serve, and each is designed to lead to Mississippi Department of Education licensure. The 30-credit program builds in an Advanced Practicum in Special Education and hands-on K-12 field experiences, keeping the online coursework tied to real classroom work. Students who arrive without current licensure complete an additional foundational course to establish the necessary base. NCATE-accredited and completable in one to three years depending on course load, it functions as a flexible, licensure-oriented program with strong subject breadth. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of Mississippi's special education teachers.

Furman University offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Special Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities, aimed at teachers who have already met South Carolina Department of Education requirements for elementary education certification and want to add specialized preparation. The curriculum pairs coursework on the nature of the specific disability with related practica, culminating in a final practicum that has candidates apply their skills in a real-world classroom setting. Because it builds on an existing certification rather than granting initial licensure, the program functions as a focused specialization for practicing educators deepening their work with students who have learning disabilities. A parallel concentration in Emotional/Behavioral Disorders sits alongside it within the same degree. The applied capstone practicum signals a program that values demonstrated classroom competence over research output. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in South Carolina.

Walsh University is a private nonprofit four-year institution in suburban North Canton, OH offering a Master's in learning disabilities special education. Total enrollment across the university is 2,192. Coursework is available in an online format, which suits candidates already working in schools. It awarded 2 master's degrees in learning disabilities special education in the most recent reporting year, below the national median of 3. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Ohio.

Eastern Michigan University offers a Master of Arts in Learning Disabilities designed for practicing teachers, requiring certified-teacher status and at least a year of classroom experience to enroll. The on-campus program moves through a three-tiered course sequence with prerequisites between tiers, a structure that builds specialist knowledge in deliberate stages. Candidates complete a required internship and choose between a thesis and a non-thesis research seminar capstone, a flexibility that accommodates both scholarly and practice-minded students. The degree leads to the Michigan K-12 Learning Disabilities (SM) endorsement, and a dual-endorsement pathway with Cognitive Impairment or Emotional Impairment is open to candidates who already hold one of those endorsements. It reads as a focused, endorsement-oriented program for experienced Michigan educators deepening their reach. Graduates of this learning disabilities special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

Spring Arbor University offers a Master of Special Education with a learning disabilities emphasis that pairs faith-integrated study with hands-on preparation for the classroom. The curriculum is built on the university's Model for Effective Teaching framework and combined with practical, clinical field experience, giving candidates a grounded path from coursework into practice. Completing the program leads to a learning disabilities endorsement and prepares candidates for state teacher licensure requirements. The on-campus format and Christian mission make it a good fit for educators who want their preparation shaped by a values-centered teaching philosophy. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of Michigan's special education teachers.

Converse University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Special Education with a Learning Disabilities focus, scheduling most courses after 4 p.m. so that working professionals can pursue the degree without stepping away from their careers. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by the South Carolina Department of Education, and it leads to dual South Carolina certification in Learning Disabilities paired with Elementary Education for grades PK-12, a credential that carries reciprocity with many other states. Directed student teaching in area public schools under faculty oversight gives candidates supervised classroom experience central to the licensure path. The university points to Praxis pass scores that average more than 25 points above the required cutoff as evidence of its preparation. As of January 1, 2027, new students can no longer declare this specific track, pending SACSCOC approval of a Multi-Categorical Special Education M.A.T. offered in its place. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in South Carolina.

Lubbock Christian University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education delivered in a hybrid format built on 8-week course terms, a pacing that lets candidates complete the 36-credit-hour degree in roughly two years. The program prepares candidates for the Special Education TExES certification exam through the Texas Education Agency and is aimed at Texas-certified teachers or those entering work with individuals who have learning disorders. Coursework spans special needs assessment and behavior management, and the non-thesis design substitutes a professional portfolio, orienting the degree toward demonstrated practice rather than original research. Candidates can add a Dyslexia emphasis, while a related Educational Diagnostics track is available for those drawn toward assessment roles. The compressed terms and portfolio capstone read as a program shaped for working educators building applied expertise. Graduates of this learning disabilities special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

Fairleigh Dickinson University's Metropolitan Campus offers a Master of Arts in Education for Certified Teachers leading to the Teacher of Students with Disabilities credential, aimed squarely at educators who already hold certification. The hybrid design blends fully online coursework with embedded field experiences and clinical practice, and candidates can shape the degree through tracks in Orton-Gillingham, English as a Second Language, educational leadership and supervision, or early literacy. Completing the 36-credit program leads to the New Jersey Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification, while a shorter 21-credit certification-only pathway serves those who do not need the full master's. A Standard Teaching Certificate or Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing is required to enroll, and the program emphasizes neurodiversity-affirming instructional practices. Accredited by CAEP, it offers certified teachers a specialization-rich route into disability services. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's special education teachers.

Mississippi College offers an online Master of Education in Special Education with a Mild/Moderate (K-12) concentration, built as a faith-based, accelerated route for teachers adding a specialty to an existing license. Delivered in eight-week terms, the program can be completed in as few as 10 months full-time or 20 months part-time, a pace that suits educators moving quickly to expand their credentials. The curriculum is aligned with Council for Exceptional Children standards for graduate programs leading to initial licensure, and completion adds Mild/Moderate Special Education (K-12) to a candidate's Mississippi educator license. A standard, renewable teaching license is required to enroll, and the comprehensive exam is waived for students who maintain a strong GPA. It reads as an efficient, endorsement-focused option for licensed Mississippi teachers. A master's-level path in learning disabilities special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Mississippi.

Northwest Nazarene University offers a fully online Master of Education in Special Education designed for teachers who already hold elementary, secondary, or special education certification and want to formalize their expertise. The core 33-credit track can be extended to a 37-credit endorsement pathway, and candidates may add a Teacher Leader endorsement in special education for those moving toward leadership roles. Completion qualifies graduates for recommendation to the State of Idaho for a K-12 Special Education Generalist Endorsement, keeping the program firmly tied to practical licensure outcomes. Even in its online format, the degree includes a hands-on practicum teaching children with special needs, so candidates apply their coursework directly with students. The result reads as a flexible, endorsement-driven path for practicing educators deepening their special education credentials. Earning a master's degree in learning disabilities special education is a common route toward becoming one of Idaho's special education teachers.