Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities online
Be better prepared to meet the needs of all students.
Program Overview
What our online master’s in Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities offers
The Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities online program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills to become an advocate and decision-maker for students affected by autism and related disabilities.
In this 100 percent online education program, you will study the characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities and use evidence-based methods and practices to enhance their academic ability and social-emotional and behavioral needs.
Taught by the same practitioner faculty who teach on campus, you will study current trends in special education and explore the legal issues and federal requirements involved in educating students with disabilities. You will also learn how to collaborate effectively with parents and fellow educators to prepare exceptional students for transition to adulthood including employment, community and daily life.
The curriculum for this online special education program concentrates on supporting positive outcomes for learners with autism and related disabilities and meets the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). As a graduate, you will be prepared to work in a variety of roles. No teaching license is required to enter this program. For those seeking a teaching license, this program neither prepares the student for nor fulfills the requirements necessary to receive a teaching license.
The educator preparation programs at Youngstown State University meet rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). For more information, contact CAEP by mail at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 or by phone at 202-223-0077.
In this online autism education program, you will learn to:
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
Graduates of this online master’s in special education program will be prepared for a variety of roles, including:
- Special Education Teacher
- Resource Teacher
- Intervention Specialist
- Exceptional Student Education Teacher
- Special Education Consultant
- Emotional Disabilities Teacher
In this online autism education program, you will learn to:
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Special Education Teacher
- Resource Teacher
- Intervention Specialist
- Exceptional Student Education Teacher
- Special Education Consultant
- Emotional Disabilities Teacher
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
YSU offers students the opportunity to earn their special education degree online with affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
*In-state tuition.
Note: No payment plans are available for accelerated online students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | |
| M.S.Ed. Special Ed – Autism & Related Disabilities | $415 | $420 | $1,245 | $1,260 | $12,450 | $12,600 |
Additional Fees
Application: $45 (waived if you are an active/veteran military member)
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. The first step in applying for financial aid is to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). YSU's Federal School Code is 003145.
Contact Us
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships1 Tressel Way
Meshel Hall, 203
Youngstown, OH 44555
Phone: 330-941-3505
Fax: 330.941.1659
Email: [email protected]
Calendar
See important dates for Youngstown State's online students
At YSU, we offer multiple start dates throughout the year so you never have to wait long to get started on your online degree program. The chart below shows upcoming start dates, along with important deadlines, such as when your application should be submitted and when payments are due.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| First Starts | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/6/25 | 12/16/24 | 12/23/24 | 1/1/25 | 1/3/25 | 2/16/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/17/25 | 2/24/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/7/25 | 4/20/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/21/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/9/25 | 6/22/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/9/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/25/25 | 6/27/25 | 8/9/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/22/25 | 10/12/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/6/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/17/25 | 12/7/25 |
Admissions
View the qualifications for our online autism education program
YSU's online master’s degree in special education – autism and related disabilities has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Online application
Bachelor's degree
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Online application
Bachelor's degree
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Note: A teaching certificate is not required for admission. (Prospective students who do not work at a public school requiring a teaching license can enter the program.) For those seeking a teaching license, this program neither prepares the student for nor fulfills the requirements necessary to receive a teaching license.
- Complete online application for admission
- Pay $45 application fee ($90 International). Waived for active/veteran military members or for applicants who have attended the College of Graduate Studies in the past.
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Names and contact information for 3 professional references (in online application)
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
- Submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (waived for applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher)
Transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution or sent electronically through a secured server vendor.
Mailing Address:
YSU College of Graduate Studies1 Tressel Way
Coffelt Hall
Youngstown, OH 44555
Email Address:
[email protected]
Courses
Review the classes for our online M.S.Ed. special education program
For the Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities online, you are required to take 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply different types of reflection throughout the action research process.
- Align action research studies with personal goals and values.
- Articulate research questions that are action-oriented and outcome-based and seek support for this using AI.
- Evaluate and synthesize published research to inform practice, with the support of an AI.
- Write an action research proposal that can provide a positive intervention in a school setting, including urban and/or rural settings.
- Follow ethical guidelines in action research studies.
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