We strive to prepare educators to assist children, youth and adults with disabilities to be academically and socially successful life-long learners. Our faculty are consistently recognized — internationally and across the U.S. — for their individual and collaborative teaching and research excellence. The department’s unique mix of faculty expertise areas creates a wide range of opportunities for students and researchers. Special Education hosts or co-hosts several state and federally supported training, demonstration and research projects, including the following three centers that focus on facilitating positive developmental outcomes for children and youth with disabilities:
Center for School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports
Center for Adolescent Research in Schools
Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
On Campus
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
On Campus
The program offers Doctoral degrees in Special Education with emphasis areas in Behavior Disorders, Early Childhood Special Education, and Learning Disabilities.
Fall deadline: January 15
Spring deadline: August 15
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Test Type | Verbal+Quantitative |
GRE | 297 |
Faculty selection committees review applications for admission into the various graduate programs. Factors considered in the graduate student review process include previous academic course work and performance, GRE scores, letters of recommendation from professors or professional supervisors and relevant professional work experiences. The letter of intent is evaluated for advising purposes and is an indication of the applicant’s motivation, professionalism and writing competencies. Interviews with faculty are often arranged as part of the admissions review process.
On Campus
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 18
Certificate description: A Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program will train you to be an exceptional practitioner of ABA-based interventions to improve quality of life for people with behavioral challenges, including children and adults with developmental needs. MU graduate students can complete the certificate program while pursuing a degree, and the certificate also complements the skills of recent graduates and experienced professionals who want to specialize in ABA. The program is designed to meet eligibility requirements to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam. This course sequence is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
In our program, you’ll learn the conceptual foundations of ABA and how these behavioral principles are applied to improve behavior. Central to this program is a collaboration with the MU College of Education and the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Partnership with the College of Education allows for shared courses taught by professors from the School of Health Professions and the College of Education, and the MU Thompson Center serves as the primary practicum site to give you an exceptional experiential learning opportunity working with individuals with developmental needs.
Application Process
Required Application Materials
Program website, click here.
100% Online On Campus
The program offers Master’s degrees in Special Education with emphasis areas in Autism, Behavior Disorders, Cross-Categorical with Certification, Early Childhood & Autism, Early Childhood Special Education, Gifted Education, Learning Disabilities, and Mental Retardation.
Fall deadline: May 1
Spring deadline: October 1
Summer deadline: March 1
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Test Type | Verbal+Quantitative |
GRE | 291 |
Faculty selection committees review applications for admission into the various graduate programs. Factors considered in the graduate student review process include previous academic course work and performance, GRE scores, letters of recommendation from professors or professional supervisors and relevant professional work experiences. The letter of intent is evaluated for advising purposes and is an indication of the applicant’s motivation, professionalism and writing competencies. Interviews with faculty are often arranged as part of the admissions review process.