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The evolution toward inclusive classrooms has meant that teachers in all grades and subjects are increasingly called on to work with children with a broad range of abilities. Giving master’s candidates the tools to support each child learn and grow is the mission of Lehigh’s M.Ed. in Special Education.

The master’s program is designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in Special Education or related fields and seek to gain effective methods for working with and advocating for individuals with disabilities. Lehigh’s faculty in Special Education are noted experts in such areas as autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, academic interventions, and emotional and behavioral disorders. Our students engage in coursework to become skilled practitioners in establishing effective teaching and learning environments for students who have a broad range of learning, cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and speech/language needs.

Those seeking to earn a master’s degree take required courses and choose one of the following areas of concentration:

Intensive Academic Intervention will advance educator’s knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to effectively teach students who have intensive academic needs, such as students with learning disabilities.

Low Incidence Disabilities will advance educator’s knowledge and use of evidence-based instruction to effectively teach students with low incidence disabilities, such as students with multiple and severe disabilities.

English as a Second Language is for educators to gain knowledge and use of evidence-based instructional practices to support the learning and second language development of English learners (ELs) in PK-12 settings. Students with a Level 1 instruction certification who choose this concentration will also earn an ESL certification upon successfully completing all coursework.

General Special Education Studies is for educators to gain in-depth knowledge about special education.

Our program is designed to be flexible, so that students have the opportunity to obtain two areas of concentration (e.g., Intensive Academic Intervention and Low Incidence Disabilities). Students also have the opportunity to earn a certificate by completing approved coursework in a particular area: Certificates in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The certificate in Behavior Analysis fulfills the coursework required for BCBA certification.