Master’s Degree in Special Education

KATHLEEN MCNAMARA Director of Licensure, Placement & Supervision

Our program embodies a spirit of inclusivity – where teachers celebrate students’ varied abilities and create learning environments that enable all students to succeed.

Dean of the Thomas and Donna May School of Arts & Sciences Stonehill College

to contribute to society in an ethical, informed and thoughtful way.

It’s a big part of why Stonehill students and our alums report high levels of satisfaction with

the choices that they’ve made and how we’ve helped guide them to those choices. I hope you will give us the opportunity to help you realize that same sense of fulfillment through this master’s program.

PETER N. UBERTACCIO

Dear Prospective Applicant,

As you begin to explore opportunities to deepen your knowledge in the field of special education, I want to offer my perspective on the value of coming to Stonehill College.

One of the defining features of a Stonehill education is that we have an inclusive pedagogy centered on instruction and mentoring that is highly personalized to connect you with your specific goal.

That approach is at the heart of our Special Education Master’s Degree Program. Equally important, we give our students the space to explore, to find their passions and to learn how to think critically, not only about their studies but also about their own lives.

Finally, I want to note that it is in our DNA to cultivate the mind and the heart. We prepare our students not only to contribute to their profession but also

Master’s Degree in Special Education Program at Stonehill CollegeWe prepare teachers for success in the evolving special education landscape at public, private and parochial schools. Following a philosophy of inclusivity, the Education Studies Department and Stonehill College are committed to making the world a more just and equitable place. In this program, students will discover how to create learning environments that are inclusive and equitable for all students.

Why Stonehill?• Increased focus on academic instruction

• Faculty with expertise in a variety of areas

• Small class sizes

• Flexibility to tailor placements and assignments to meet your goals

• Experiences in urban and suburban classrooms

MARGARET E. PIERCE, Program Director

We give students opportunities from Day One to experience the full range of what they’ll be doing when they earn their license and are working in the role of a special education teacher.

Program Details

The Master’s in Special Education Program is designed to meet the needs of candidates seeking to earn an initial license in Moderate Disabilities PreK-8. It is ideal for those seeking a first license as well as those seeking to add the license to complement a current credential. 

*Stonehill College reserves the right to change or adjust course numbering and/or course descriptions.

Sample Courses*

PROFESSIONAL STRAND (21 CREDITS)

• Language and Literacy in Special Education

• Teaching Math to Students With Disabilities

• Professional Practice in Special Education• Behavior Management

PRACTICUM STRAND (15 CREDITS)

• Curriculum and Methods for Special Education

• Practicum: Special Education

• Practicum: Reflective Seminar

Students can select one of two schedules

for completing the program:

• A PA RT-T I M E O P T I O N

• A N ACC E L E R AT E D 1 2- M O N T H O P T I O N

Courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening (one night per week) during the fall and spring semesters and/or during two summer terms.

Master’s students are required to complete 33 to 36 credits in both our professional and practicum strands. 

The master’s program at Stonehill leads to an initial license in Moderate Disabilities Pre K-8 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Choose Your Format

Learning the Art of TeachingStonehill’s special education program is designed to ensure that all graduates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in the role of a moderate disabilities special education teacher. Accordingly, the coursework and practicum experiences that comprise our program have been approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and completion of the program will confer endorsement for the Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 teaching license (with SEI endorsement for those who require it).

D I V E R S E E X P E RT I S E

Capitalizing on the diverse expertise of its faculty, Stonehill’s special education program is unique in its focus on the application of special education pedagogies in a range of settings, providing a broad preparation for teachers entering the profession. In a single semester, Stonehill students might learn how to construct or modify learning experiences in a preschool classroom as children are working on motor skill development, in the resource room where children with dyslexia are learning to read, and in the inclusion science classroom where children with language impairments are learning from a teacher’s oral presentation. The program combines a focus on special education theory and methods as well as critical thinking skills. Teacher candidates will learn to evaluate instructional context and to make pedagogical choices that enhance learning for all.

E X P E R I E N T I A L L E A R N I N G

Opportunities to observe, to assist and to teach in a range of educational settings are essential in Stonehill’s education programs. Students in the special education programs will participate in prepracticum or field experiences as early as their first term. These experiences help them understand course concepts in actual practice in the PreK-8 classroom.

Practitioners in the Field

A Personalized Experience

At Stonehill, a low faculty-to-student ratio means that students receive individualized and personalized attention from their professors. This translates into intimate classes, strong advising and careful career mentoring, which graduates of our programs have identified as a formative influence on their development as teachers.

Stonehill faculty strive to model the spirit of inclusivity by coming to know their students as complex individuals and celebrating their unique strengths as assets to the learning process. We believe that the spirit of inclusivity is as foundational to the education of future teachers as it is to the education of children.

Meet the Director

Program Director Margaret Pierce is an associate professor in the Department of Education Studies. In addition to her work at Stonehill College, she is a clinical consultant in the Learning Disabilities Program at Boston Children’s Hospital where she works as part of a multidisciplinary team conducting evaluations of children with learning disabilities. Her research focuses on the children experiencing learning difficulties, including children with language-based learning disabilities, English learners and students in under-resourced schools. Professor Pierce earned her doctorate in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to becoming a professor, she taught first, second and third grades in public and private school settings.

Application Checklist

Apply online

Additional application requirements

• Written personal statement• Two letters of recommendation• Official transcripts• Current resume or CV• Pass both subtests in the Communication and Literary MTEL• Copy of current teaching credential (if applicable)

Note: Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Questions? Contact the Office of Graduate Admission 508-565-1600 | grad@stonehill.edu

For current application deadlines, tuition rates, and to apply online, please visit www.stonehill.edu/special-ed.

Apply now

DISTANCE FROM

Boston: 22 miles Providence: 35 miles

Stonehill at a glance

100% of classes taught by faculty

U N D E R G R A D AT S TO N E H I L L

47 majors and 51 minors in liberal arts, sciences, business, education and preprofessional programs

99% of students participate in community service

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169 full-time faculty, 92% with terminal degrees

2 G R A D UAT E P R O G R A M S

CONTACT

Stonehill College 320 Washington Street Easton, MA 02357 508-565-1600

www.stonehill.edu/special-ed