Special Education, MEd

Are you a new student? Begin by reviewing the New Student Checklist for your program pathway:

Academic Advising


Your academic advising team is Team Educator Prep! 

Meet the Team (click to learn more)

Your advising team works together in a system to keep you informed, on track, and supported throughout your program. Here is some information about the roles within the team.


Your Academic Advisors:


Aile, Amber, and Kayla are the core members of your advising team, who you will interact with most frequently. They are experts on your program and can assist with all things academic.


Other members of the advising system:

Program Description

Students are encouraged to read and understand the MLFTC Student Handbook for their respective programs: Program Handbook for MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) or  Program Handbook for MEd Special Education Master's Only (no certification) as well as familiarize themselves with the ASU Graduate College Policy Manual.  


For more information on this program please visit:

ASU students and faculty are expected to act with integrity in their educational pursuits - discover what academic integrity is and why it is important. See the Policy and Code of Conduct page for more detail on academic integrity and other university policies.


Important: If you were admitted to the Special Education (Teacher Certification) MEd Traditional pathway, you default into the Dual Certification Course Sequence plan. This means you will meet the requirements for Special Education (Mild/Moderate) K-12 certification and Elementary Education (K-8) certification in the state of Arizona. If you have questions or concerns about this please email GradEdPrep@asu.edu. 

Course Sequences


To determine the recommended course sequence to follow for your program use the drop down arrows below that correspond to the term you were admitted for, and the program modality (Sync or Online). If you are a Teach for America student or part of the Mesa Path 2 Teach Cohorts, please see those specific options below. It is important to follow the assigned course sequence and discuss any variation from the sequence with an academic advisor. 

If circumstances find you needing to veer from the recommended course sequence, we invite you to schedule an advising appointment to devise an altered course sequence together. Any changes to your course sequence will also need to be reflected on the Plan of Study (iPOS) and approved by advising.

The complete list of required coursework for the program, in no particular order, can be found on the ASU Degree Search website.

ASU Online 

courses meet asynchronously via Canvas

2024 Summer & Fall Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 


Summer 2024 Start:



Fall 2024 Start: 

2024 Spring Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 


Spring 2024 start

2023 Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 


Accelerated (3 semesters)


Decelerated (5 semesters)



MEd Special Education (Master's Only) 


Accelerated (3 semesters)


Decelerated (5 semesters)




2022 Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 




MEd Special Education (Master's Only) 


ASU Sync 

courses meet synchronously via Zoom unless noted as iCourse

2024 Fall Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 


Fall 2024 Start: 




2023 Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification) 


Accelerated (3 semesters)


Decelerated (5 semesters)


MEd Special Education (Master's Only) 


Accelerated (3 semesters)


Decelerated (5 semesters)

2022 Start Term

MEd Special Education (Teacher Certification)


MEd Special Education (Master's Only) 




Mesa Path2Teach & Paradise Valley Aspire

Start Terms 2022 & 2023

Teach For America

2024 Start Term

iPOS/Plan of Study


Every graduate student at ASU must complete an "iPOS", or Interactive Plan of Study. Click here for a video explanation of what the iPOS is. We ask that you complete your iPOS within your first semester. For a guide on how to complete your iPOS, click here.


Use your course sequence to determine when you are taking each class and in what section it should be listed on your iPOS.


When in your iPOS, under the Advisors section, select Dr. Elizabeth Frias for Faculty Committee, then designate her as "Chair" for the Committee Role. 


NOTE: Completing your iPOS indicates the courses you PLAN to take and when. Completing your iPOS is NOT the same thing as registering for classes. You still must register yourself in all your courses each semester via My ASU > My Classes box > Registration > Add. 

Culminating Experience


SPE 593 Applied Project is the culminating experience course for the program. The successfully completed Applied Project constitutes the culminating experience for the Master’s Degree. Passing the SPE 593 with a grade of B or higher in your last semester is required for graduation. 

Teacher Certification Requirements

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. If you are planning to apply for certification in other states, either via reciprocity or directly through another state, please take time to review the ASU professional licensure webpage. 

Additionally, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has more requirements for certification beyond going through our Teacher Preparation program. 

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) outlines certification requirements. However, we have condensed this information and tailored it to account for our teacher/administrator certification programs. We recommend that you prepare the above prior to or during the final semester of your program so there is no delay in receiving your teacher/administrator certificate.

Tests Required for Certification


Special Education and Elementary dual certification:

*The following Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA)/National Evaluation Series (NES) tests are needed for Special Education and Elementary dual certification


Special Education certification: 

*The following Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA)/National Evaluation Series (NES) test is needed for Special Education certification:


These tests must be passed in order to obtain teacher certification from the ADE upon program completion. Students typically complete these tests just prior to Student Teaching. Please visit the AEPA site to register for the tests and for additional information: http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/.

Additional Information