Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities online

Be better prepared to meet the needs of all students.

Apply Now
Apply by 12/16/24
Start Class 1/6/25

Program Overview

What our online master’s in Special Education – Autism and Related Disabilities offers

$12,450* In-State Tuition
As few as 12 months Program Duration
30 Credit Hours
$12,450* In-State Tuition
As few as 12 months Program Duration
30 Credit Hours
$12,450* In-State Tuition
As few as 12 months Program Duration
30 Credit Hours

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.

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

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

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

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:

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$415* Per Credit Hour
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$12,450* Total Tuition

*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 Scholarships
1 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:

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12/16/24 Next Application Deadline
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1/6/25 Start Classes
First StartsProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineLast Class Day
Spring 11/6/2512/16/2412/23/241/1/251/3/252/16/25
Spring 23/10/252/17/252/24/253/5/253/7/254/20/25
Summer 15/12/254/21/254/28/255/7/255/9/256/22/25
Summer 26/30/256/9/256/16/256/25/256/27/258/9/25
Fall 18/25/258/4/258/11/258/20/258/22/2510/12/25
Fall 210/20/259/29/2510/6/2510/15/2510/17/2512/7/25

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from YSU?

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.

Application Icon Online application
Degree Icon Bachelor's degree
GPA Calculator Icon Minimum 2.5 GPA
Application Icon Online application
Degree Icon Bachelor's degree
GPA Calculator Icon 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 Studies
1 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.

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.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with an exploratory study of the issues, trends, as well as the ethical, legal and professional guidelines in special education. Candidates will become familiar with legal policies and procedures as well as practice ethical guidelines as related to students with exceptionalities. Candidates will understand how to advocate for improved outcomes for learners with exceptionalities and their families as well as design and implement professional learning activities to increase their own practices.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with the knowledge and understanding of how individuals with exceptionalities grow and develop in an inclusive learning environment. Candidates will understand how multiple influences, including diversity, families, communities and individual differences shape an individual with an exceptionality’s development and learning. The candidate will then use this knowledge to develop high-quality learning experiences based on strengths and needs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to address the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children with mild to intensive needs, including those needing intensive support due to disability or trauma. It provides education candidates with effective routines and procedures consistent with the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to create a safe, caring, respectful and productive learning environment as well as a range of preventive and responsive practices. Candidates will apply specific tools grounded in the principles of ABA with ethical strategies being of particular focus. Candidate skills will be grounded in the ability to plan, implement and evaluate behavioral interventions and social skills programs within any special educational service delivery model.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with knowledge of general and specialized curricula for students with exceptionalities. Based on each individual’s needs, the candidate will understand how to use rigorous content standards to plan, accommodate and assess the curricula across all content area. The candidate will grasp how to modify the general and specialized curricula to make them accessible and in alignment with the rigorous content standards for individuals with exceptionalities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide knowledge about development and assessment data for individuals with exceptionalities, to inform decisions about effective instruction. Candidates will understand how to use explicit and systematic instructional strategies including active student engagement and motivation, differentiated instruction, flexible and small groups, specialized individualized instruction, self-regulated learning and meta-cognition strategies. The candidate will then use this knowledge to plan and guide instruction to meet the rigorous content goals for each individual’s academic and social-behavioral needs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide candidates with best practices of the professional collaboration process to include specific culturally responsive models and strategies to improve the transition from school to adult life, including career readiness, community, and domestic skills for students with mild to intensive learning needs. Candidates will develop a team training model and evaluate culturally responsive evidence-based practices regarding the transition process for students. Individual strengths and characteristics will be considered to facilitate social, vocational, and daily living skills for all learners and their families.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the educational assessment process for exceptional learners. Topics include state and federal regulations, data collection techniques, formative and summative assessment, and test interpretation as well as the importance of instructional alignment between objectives, assessment and instructional strategies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on action research as it applies to urban and rural education. Topics include reflecting to identify a problem, reviewing literature, planning and implementing interventions, data collection and analysis strategies, and sharing outcomes with others. Course may be offered onsite, online, or as a combination of both. Field experience in an appropriate educational setting is required.

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.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades K-6, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades 7-12, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.

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