Pursuing a Master’s in Special Education Degree Programs in South Carolina is the first step to being licensed and certified to work with children who have mild, moderate or profound special needs in South Carolina school districts. The state is home to several accredited and highly respected options for pursuing an advanced degree in special education. Many of these programs train future teachers to work with a variety of types of special needs in children from birth through high school, although those who would prefer to specialize in a particular diagnosis, such as autism spectrum disorders or hearing impairments, will find strong options as well.
Note: Those interested in distance learning programs should consult our recommendations for Online Master’s in Special Education.
Clemson University
Eugene T. Moore School of Education
The Eugene T. Moore School of Education at Clemson University offers both undergraduate and graduate options for students hoping to pursue teaching and education careers. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs offer opportunities for students to study abroad, including an immersion program in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Unique study abroad experiences, as well as dozens of specialized research centers, provide students with a hands-on and state-of-the-art education on the very latest in teaching practices.
Master of Education Degree in Special Education
The M.Ed. in Special Education program is a 36 semester hour program that prepares future teachers to work with parents, school psychologists, general education teachers and other professionals that serve children who have been diagnosed with disabilities. If students do not currently have a valid teaching license, they will have to take additional requirements to meet the South Carolina State Department of Education’s requirements for an initial teaching license.
Master of Education Degree in Special Education: Learning Disabilities (LD)
This program prepares future teachers to work with students who have learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. Program participants will be required to take courses on the characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities, child growth and development and a practicum in the area of learning disabilities.
Master of Education Degree in Special Education: Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (E/BD)
Individuals in this program will be qualified to work with children who have emotional and behavior disabilities, such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorders. Students in the program are required to take courses on the characteristics of behavioral disorders, educational procedures for individuals with emotional and behavior disorders and a practicum with children who experience these types of disorders.
Master of Education Degree in Special Education: Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
This program prepares teachers to work with children who have intellectual disabilities, such as mental retardation. Students in this program are required to take courses in child growth and development, remediation in reading problems and a practicum.
Accreditations
The special education program at Clemson University is accredited by the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education and is approved by the Council for Exceptional Children.
Contact
Eugene T. Moore School of Education
Clemson University
115 Tillman Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
(864) 656-0311
[email protected]
https://www.clemson.edu/education/academics/masters/teaching-and-learning.html
Francis Marion University
School of Education
At Francis Marion University, the School of Education offers teacher certification programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary math, secondary English, art and middle school, as well as special education. Many of the faculty at the school are involved in local, state or national research initiatives in the field of education. Partnerships with local schools, as well as a strong alumni network, help provide current students with the experience and knowledge needed to be successful in the classroom.
M.Ed. Instructional Accommodation
The M.Ed. in Instructional Accommodations is a program designed for both experienced teachers and non-educators who would like to work with students who require an alternative or non-traditional approach to learning. Non-traditional learners include those with specialized learning styles, those with disabilities or those who have been identified as gifted.
M.Ed. Learning Disabilities
The M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities program is a certification for educators who would like to work with children who have diagnosed learning disabilities. This program includes a practicum in order to allow students to gain hands-on experience in the field of special education.
Master of Arts in Teaching–Learning Disabilities (MAT-LD)
This program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in another field and would like to begin teaching. This program will help prepare students for their initial teaching license, as well as for an additional certification in learning disabilities. The MAT-LD program includes introductory teaching classes, specialized coursework and a practicum.
Accreditations
Francis Marion University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The special education department is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and has approval from the South Carolina Board of Education.
Contact
Francis Marion University
School of Education
PO Box 100547
Florence, SC 29502
(843) 661-1460
[email protected]
https://www.fmarion.edu/education/graduateprograms/
Furman University
Department of Graduate Studies
The Department of Graduate Studies at Furman University has several graduate-level degree programs in the field of education. Students can earn a Master of Arts in Education with concentrations in curriculum and instruction, early childhood education, literacy, school leadership, special education or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). There is also an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership. All of these programs are open to those who have valid teaching license.
Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Special Education: Learning Disabilities
This 33–36 credit hour program will prepare future teachers to work with students from preschool through high school with various types of learning disabilities. Program participants will take courses in teaching reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as in social and behavioral interventions and the nature of learning disabilities.
Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Special Education: Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
This program also requires 33–36 credit hours. Upon program completion, students will be eligible to sit for the Praxis II subject area test and will then be qualified to work in a preschool through high school setting with individuals who have emotional or behavioral disorders.
Accreditations
Furman University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Contact
Furman University
Department of Graduate Studies
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC, 29613
(864) 294-2000
[email protected]
http://www2.furman.edu/academics/gradstudies/Pages/default.aspx
The College of Charleston
The Graduate School
The Graduate School at the College of Charleston offers professional master’s degrees, research master’s degrees and specialist degrees. These programs all offer personalized courses of study, small class sizes and plentiful opportunities for internships and meaningful research.
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Learning Special Education
This comprehensive program offers students the opportunity to become certified in three areas simultaneously: learning disabilities, emotional disabilities and mental disabilities. This program trains future teachers to work with children ages 3 through 21 in school, hospital or juvenile centers with children with almost any special needs diagnosis.
Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Advocacy with a Concentration in Diverse Learners
This program is designed for licensed and experienced teachers seeking to add an additional license or certification to their existing credentials. The Diverse Learners concentration focuses on strategies for differentiation and creating a curriculum that is appropriate for a range of special educational needs, including disabilities, giftedness or English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.
Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education
The G&T graduate certificate is an 18 credit hour certificate program that can be taken by individuals who already possess a valid teaching license. Program completion qualifies the teacher to work in an elementary through secondary setting with children who have been identified as having cognitive giftedness.
Graduate Certificate in Special Education
This certificate program is a concentrated 18 hour program allowing the student to become certified in emotional disabilities, mental disabilities, learning disabilities or multi-categorical disabilities. Program applicants should already have a valid teaching certificate in order to be admitted to this program.
Accreditations
The College of Charleston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (CEC).
Contact
The College of Charleston
The Graduate School
66 George Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29424
(843) 805-5507
[email protected]
http://teachered.cofc.edu/grad-progs/index.php
University of South Carolina
Department of Educational Studies
The Department of Educational Studies at the University of South Carolina offers several undergraduate and graduate programs for new and experienced teachers. In the field of special education, there are five concentrations, as well as two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. program designed to train future teachers for careers in the field of special education. In all of the following programs, the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is for those seeking an initial teaching license and the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program is for those who already possess a current valid teaching license. The M.A.T. programs will have more credit hour requirements than the M.Ed. programs.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.): Learning Disabilities
The Learning Disabilities specialization focuses on educational strategies for those who have specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, language disorders or other non-cognitive and non-behavioral disorders. Program participants will learn strategies to help those with learning disabilities succeed in reading, mathematics and other core subjects.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.): Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
The Emotional/Behavioral Disorders specialization is perfect for those who would like to teach children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders or emotional disturbances. Program participants will learn classroom management and behavior modification techniques, as well as teaching strategies designed to differentiate the curriculum and help students be successful.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.): Intellectual Disabilities
The Intellectual Disabilities specialization focuses on the area of metal retardation or cognitive delays seen in traumatic brain injury, Down’s Syndrome or profound autism. This program trains learners to use specialized techniques in order to teach communication, academic and self-help skills to those with profound intellectual disabilities.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.): Severe and Multiple Disabilities
The Severe and Multiple Disabilities specialization focuses on individuals who have hearing or visual impairment, cerebral palsy, significant paralysis or other significant health or cognitive impairment. Learners in this program will be qualified to work with medically fragile children and those with profound or multiple disabilities.
Master of Education (M.Ed.): Early Childhood Special Education
The Early Childhood Special Education concentration is only available for those who currently hold a valid teaching license. This program allows teachers to work in a birth through kindergarten setting with children who have a wide range of special educational needs.
Accreditations
The University of South Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Other Related Educational Programs and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Contact
University of South Carolina
School of Education
902 Sumter St. Access/Lieber College
Columbia, SC 29208
(803) 777-5743
[email protected]
http://www.ed.sc.edu/edst/pse/programs.asp
University of South Carolina Upstate
School of Education
The School of Education offers several programs in education, including early childhood and elementary education. In addition, the department offers two unique programs: a Master of Education in Visual Impairment and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Master of Education in Visual Impairment
USC Upstate offers the only Master of Education in Visual Impairment program in the state of South Carolina. This program can be completed in under two years, with classes being taken online during the fall and spring, and then on campus during the summer. USC Upstate partners with the South Carolina Visual Education Partnership and the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind to help provide learners with a high quality and hands-on program.
Accreditations
The University of South Carolina Upstate is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Contact
University of South Carolina Upstate
Graduate Programs Office
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303
(864) 503-5573
[email protected]
https://www.uscupstate.edu/academics/college-of-education-human-performance-and-health/graduate-programs/
In South Carolina, the demand for qualified professionals in the field of special education is high, and the need is quickly increasing. Many of the state’s current special education teachers are set to retire within the next few years, especially in the field of visual impairment. Because of this, plus the increasing demand, pursuing a degree at one of the Master’s in Special Education Degree Programs in South Carolina is an important step towards filling the increasing need for highly qualified professionals in the field.
