Preparing Educators. Inspiring Futures.
Master of Arts in Special Education
Our redesigned graduate Special Education programs let you start with the credentials you need now and build toward the career you want next.
Start with the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsement and later continue into your master’s degree.
Already have the TOSD endorsement? Build toward the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDT-C) endorsement.
Interested in a master’s degree now but think a doctorate could be somewhere in your future? You can start taking doctoral-level coursework while completing your master’s degree.
Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD): 21 credits
Build the knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities in inclusive and specialized educational settings.
And if you decide you want your master’s later?
Those 21 graduate credits can become the foundation of your 30-credit M.A. + TOSD pathway.
M.A. in Special Education + Teacher of Students with Disabilities: 30 credits
Earn the master’s degree and complete the TOSD coursework through one streamlined graduate pathway.
21 credits → TOSD
30 total credits → M.A. + TOSD
M.A. in Special Education: 30 credits
Advance your knowledge of diverse learners, assessment, inclusion, collaboration, evidence-based instruction, special education law, autism and applied behavior analysis, and professional practice.
Instead of a traditional thesis, you’ll complete an Applied Practice & Professional Portfolio focused on connecting what you’ve learned to the work you do in the classroom every day.
Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDT-C): 27 credits
Already have the appropriate master’s degree and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsement?
Build advanced expertise in learning disabilities, assessment, intervention, consultation, and educational planning as you prepare for advanced Child Study Team practice.
M.A. in Special Education + Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDT-C): 36 credits
Earn your master’s degree while building toward Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant certification through one coordinated graduate pathway.
M.A. + Teacher of Students with Disabilities + Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant: 39 credits
Want to build from special education teacher preparation all the way to advanced Child Study Team practice?
TOSD → M.A. → LDT-C
Instead of writing a traditional thesis, students complete an Applied Practice & Professional Portfolio.
You’ll connect graduate learning to authentic educational challenges, demonstrate your professional growth, and develop a portfolio that showcases what you know and what you do.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership
Applicable master’s pathways include six doctoral-level credits:
- GED 790: Special Education Law
- GED 791: Autism & ABA Theory
That means part of your master’s experience can also introduce you to the level of study you’ll encounter if you later pursue Centenary’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with a Special Education specialization.
Applicability of these credits toward the Ed.D. is subject to doctoral admission and applicable program requirements.
We’ve designed these programs with the knowledge that our students have lives outside of graduate school.
Online Coursework
- Continue working while you advance your education.
Practice-Based Assignments
- Connect what you’re learning to the students, classrooms, and schools you already know.
No Traditional Thesis
- Finish with an applied professional capstone instead of writing a thesis.
Multiple Entry Points
- Come to us with the credentials you already have. We’ll help you determine what comes next.
A Program That Can Grow with You
- TOSD. Master’s. LDT-C. Doctoral study.
You decide how far you want to go.
Your Future
Academic Advancement:
Next steps include Additional NJ endorsements, MA/MEd, ESL/bilingual education, special education, literacy, supervisor certification, or educational leadership pathway.
Career Pathways:
Special Education Teacher, Resource Room Teacher, Inclusive Education Specialist
Industry Outlook:
Strong demand for special education teachers, particularly in districts focusing on inclusive education.
Regional employers include
New Jersey public school districts; Newark Public Schools; Jersey City Public Schools; Paterson Public Schools; Elizabeth Public Schools; KIPP/North Star; Uncommon Schools; private schools; county education offices.
Salary Outlook:
$60,000 – $90,000
Getting Started
For New Jersey entry-level roles aligned to Masters of Arts in Special Education, a reasonable starting range is approximately $55,000–$70,000, depending on role, licensure/certification, employer type, and prior experience.
Early Career and Progression
Approx. $78,000 midpoint at about five years, with higher earnings in specialized, licensed, technical, supervisory, or high-demand settings.
Approx. $90,000 average or attainable mid-career benchmark around ten years, especially for advanced credentials, management responsibility, or specialized practice.
*Salary and Outlook Data