This program is no longer accepting applications.

Candidates in Loyola's graduate programs in special education are prepared to provide effective services to children with a wide variety of disabilities, and to take leadership roles in the field of special education. The programs emphasize proven strategies, specialized instructional methods, differentiated instruction, legal issues, comprehensive assessment, and advanced professional skills necessary to provide high-quality services to children and adolescents with special needs, particularly those with high-prevalence disabilities such as language or learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, and mild intellectual disabilities.

This program meets Maryland State Department of Education's requirements for initial certification in generic special education (grades 1-8), and it is also ideal for teachers seeking advanced professional development. The program attracts applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds and careers. Once accepted, students meet with an academic advisor to determine the need for prerequisite courses (if needed) or experiences and to determine a personalized program plan of prerequisites (if needed), courses, and experiences based upon prior academics, teaching, and volunteer history. Program graduates are prepared to support the comprehensive needs of students in a variety of educational settings across the elementary and middle grades and to take leadership roles in the field of special education.