Online Master's in Special Education Programs with a Specialization in Intervention
Interventions are an inherent and vital part of the special education system. Functionally, they serve as a formal means of assessing student needs, identifying specific deficits, and putting supportive measures in place. There are range of intervention types, including social, behavioral, and instructional interventions, that may call for adjustments to curricula, learning environments, teaching strategies, and/or learning technologies. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), hearing impairments, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are three common examples of issues that require interventions.
Special education intervention specialists are trained to identify specific needs, recommend supportive measures, implement change, and provide ongoing assessments of learning outcomes. In addition to working directly with students, they often collaborate with other teachers and administrators and with a student’s family to address problems and improve learning outcomes. While behavioral intervention specialists commonly work in K-12 schools, they are also employed in specialty clinics and by academic service providers, in social work settings, and as consultants to families and school districts.
What is a Master’s in Special Education in Intervention Degree?
Master’s in Special Education programs with a concentration, specialization, or track in Intervention are focused graduate programs designed to prepare educators to become special education intervention specialists, program designers, and consultants. Students in these programs learn foundational theories and practices of special education as practiced in PK-12 schools and associated learning environments, but they also engage in narrower intervention-specific training. This involves learning to identify and assess children and adolescents diagnosed with special needs, recommending remediation strategies, and coordinating changes in curricula, classroom settings, and teaching approaches. Graduate training in behavioral, social, and instructional interventions is a career-oriented specialization within the broader field of special education.
Online Master’s in Special Education – Intervention Programs
Many schools now offer fully or primarily online Master’s in Special Education programs, some of which have a designated concentration or track for intervention specialists. These programs deliver all or most of their teaching and didactic instruction via learning management systems (LMSs), which is the generic term for internet-based distance-learning platforms. Additional practical training, such as the internships or student teaching positions that are typically part of master’s-level training in the field of education, are then completed at sites within commuting distance to an online student’s home or place of employment. While some programs match students to sites, other programs require students to find their own placements that must then be approved by the program.
Students in an online Master’s in Special Education program log on to their school’s LMS to view live and/or prerecorded lectures, participate in online discussion forums, and access other learning materials. Exams, assignments, and research projects are also completed online, and interactions between students and instructors are mediated through the LMS as well. Teachers, administrators, and other education professionals who want to train to become intervention specialists can thus do so without having to commute to a university campus or relocate to be near a school offering an intervention specialist program.
How OnlineEducation.com Identifies and Classifies Online Master’s in Special Education Intervention Programs
OnlineEducation.com researches Master’s in Special Education programs and identifies programs with an intervention focus that are offered fully or mostly online by accredited, non-profit colleges and universities. This includes Master of Arts (MA), Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Science (MS) programs in special education with a specialization, concentration, or designated track in intervention. Examples of actual program names include:
- Master’s in Early Intervention Special Education
- MA in Special Education – Intervention Specialist: Academic Coaching and Leadership
- MEd in Early and Special Education – Behavioral Interventions and Supports
- MS in Education in Special Education – Intervention Specialist – Mild and Moderate Disabilities
- MS in Special Education – Behavior Intervention Specialist
To be classified as an online program, Master’s in Special Education – Intervention programs must offer all of their didactic instruction online or require no more than two campus visits per year. Programs that require three or more campus visits per calendar year are classified as hybrid programs and not listed on the site. It is, however, important to note that online Master’s in Special Education programs commonly require site-based, in-person internships, practicums, and/or students teaching hours. These practical experiences are not considered campus visits for classification purposes.
What Students Learn in Online Master’s in Special Education – Intervention Programs
There are two or three components to a Master’s in Special Education curriculum with an Intervention Specialist concentration. The first consists of core special education courses that cover general special education teaching, instructional design, assessment, and classroom management proficiencies, as well as legal and ethical considerations. The second component encompasses intervention training, which covers strategies for addressing specific learning challenges, providing accommodations, assessing the effectiveness of accommodations, and working with teachers, administrators, and families to coordinate interventions. Intervention specialists may also take courses that focus on specific subject areas, such as literacy, math, art, or science. Finally, many programs require students to engage in practical experiences under the supervision of special education teachers and intervention specialists.
Most online Master’s in Special Education programs align their curriculum with the teacher and interventionist training framework outlined by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), a professional accreditation organization. In addition to the CEC, there are two other organizations that provide programmatic accreditation in this area: the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Common Courses in Online Master’s in Special Education – Intervention Programs
The table below provides a representative overview of typical coursework students complete as part of a master’s program in special education interventions. Course names and descriptions are drawn from online programs currently offered by accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities.
| Course Title | Course Description |
|---|---|
| Intensive Behavior Interventions | Explores individualized support and intensive behavior interventions for developmentally disabled students in K-12 settings, including how to complete functional behavior assessments, choose ethical intervention strategies, implement behavior intervention plans, and perform data collection to determine intervention efficacy. |
| Teacher as Action Researcher | A study of the key concepts of action research for special education professionals, with a focus on engaging in research studies relevant to behavioral interventions. |
| Issues, Trends, and Ethical, Legal, and Professional Guidelines in Special Education | Explores the issues, trends, and ethical, legal, and professional guidelines in special education; covers legal policies and procedures; teaches ethical guidelines concerning work with exceptional students; and covers advocacy for learners with developmental disabilities. |
| Interventions for Students with Cultural and Linguistic Differences | A critical analysis of equity issues for diverse learners in the context of assessments and interventions. |
| Educational Research | An exploration of the principles, methods, and procedures for proper educational research design and analysis. |
| Interventions in Literacy | Teaches students to properly select and implement research-based literacy interventions that are appropriate to student strengths and consider the needs at individual, classroom, and school-wide levels. |
| Positive Behavior Intervention and Support | Covers the design and implementation of positive behavioral interventions and support for children and adolescents with moderate to severe behavioral challenges using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). |
| Advanced Formative Assessment in School-Based Intervention | Explores the use of assessments to guide instruction and interventions, and the implementation of error-pattern-analysis procedures to monitor the exceptional student’s progress through the application of research-based interventions. |
| Advanced Academic Interventions | Explores applied behavior analysis (ABA), computer-assisted interventions, cognitive strategy training, and other evidence-based instructional intervention Strategies. |
| Literacy Assessment and Interventions for Students with Disabilities | Provides graduate students with the skills and strategies needed to instruct children and adolescents with high-incidence disabilities such as dyslexia; and focuses on the diagnosis and assessment of specific reading and writing difficulties to determine effective instructional strategies. |
Admissions to Online Master’s in Special Education – Intervention Programs
While admissions requirements vary by program and school, master’s programs in education require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree and submit official academic transcripts as part of the application process. Master’s in Special Education – Intervention programs may also have a minimum required or preferred undergraduate GPA for applicants, typically 2.75 or 3.0 on a four-point scale. Some programs are designed specifically for experienced teachers and require applicants to hold a teaching license or certification. Programs that do not require licensure may have prerequisites, such as undergraduate courses in developmental psychology or education.
While many programs no longer require GRE or MAT test scores, some programs do still require applicants to submit scores from a standardized graduate admissions exam. There are also programs that make the submission of test scores optional for students who have already taken the exam and who have scored well. Other application materials may include a resume or CV, an introductory letter or personal statement, answers to one or more essay question prompts, and/or two or more letters of recommendation.
Online Master’s in Special Education Format Options
There are several key differentiating factors that potential applicants should be aware of as they explore online programs. There are, for example, two modes of online instruction that can impact the overall student learning experience, as well as different types of enrollment options and campus visit requirements. Each of these factors, which may also impact the relative convenience and flexibility of an online program, are addressed in detail in the sections below.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction: The two primary modes of online instruction each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Synchronous online instruction takes place in real-time and is usually comprised of live virtual lectures and/or class meetings scheduled once or twice per week, commonly in the early mornings or evenings, or on the weekends so as not to conflict with traditional work hours. This mode of instruction is generally preferable for students who want a structured learning environment that more closely resembles in-person, campus-based classroom instruction. Synchronous instruction also allows students to interact with classmates and instructors in real-time, which can be advantageous for students who like to ask questions and who favor more personal dialogue. However, synchronous instruction offers less scheduling flexibility as students are typically required to attend as many live sessions as possible.
Asynchronous instruction encompasses a broad range of online learning modalities, including prerecorded lectures and instructional modules that can be viewed and completed at a student’s convenience, 24-7. Other examples of asynchronous instruction are readings, papers, exams, and online discussion boards. The advantage of asynchronous instruction is that students can complete course materials at times that are convenient for them without having to be online at specific times to attend lectures. This can be an important feature for working adults and/or adults with families who need the flexibility to complete course materials late at night or early in the morning. However, asynchronous instruction requires greater self-discipline and self-motivation to complete coursework by set due dates in the absence of routinely scheduled lectures. Prospective applicants should consider their personal preferences, favored learning style, and professional responsibilities when weighing the relative advantages of synchronous instruction versus asynchronous instruction.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Enrollment: Many online master’s programs in education have flexible enrollment policies that allow students to choose whether or not to carry a full course load each term. This can be helpful for students who intend to continue working as they earn their degree, as full-time enrollment generally requires a commitment of 40 hours per week when school is in session. Part-time enrollment, in contrast, can reduce the amount of time students spend per week on coursework to 15 or 20 hours. However, the number of courses completed per term correlates to the amount of time it takes to earn a master’s degree.
Full-time students can generally complete an online Master’s in Special Education program in one to two years. Part-time enrollment can extend the time to completion by 12 to 18 months, which means most part-time students earn their degree in two to three years. Students eager to complete their degree in less than two years should look for programs that have a full-time enrollment option and/or offer courses year-round. Students who would prefer to take fewer courses per term should explore programs with flexible or part-time enrollment tracks.
Campus Visits: While there are many Master’s in Special Education programs that are 100% online and do not require any campus visits, some online programs require students to attend a limited number of campus visits. These visits, often called intensives, residencies, or immersion sessions, generally last a few days to a week, and are often scheduled during the summer. Campus visits can enrich the online learning experience, providing students with opportunities for networking, hands-on training, and face-to-face interaction with instructors and classmates. However, these sessions can also add to the overall cost of a program as travel and lodging to attend these sessions are not typically included in a program’s tuition costs and fees. This may be more of an issue for students who do not live within driving distance to the program’s campus.
Programs that require two or fewer campus visits per year are classified as online programs on OnlineEducation.com. Programs that require three or more campus visits per year are classified as hybrid or campus-based programs and are not listed on the site. Internships and other site-based practical experiences, such as student teaching hours, are not considered campus visits and do not factor into the classification process. Online students typically complete these hours at a location within commuting distance to their place of residence at a site approved by their program.