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Ranked as one of the best in the nation, the Human Development, Master of Education program equips students with foundational knowledge and advanced research skills essential for admission to top-tier doctoral programs or employment in diverse academic and professional settings. The ideal student is passionate about advancing knowledge in human development and making meaningful contributions in academic, applied and professional settings, and to shaping effective educational policies, mental health services and positive developmental outcomes.

The material covered in the Quantitative Methodology: Measurement and Statistics, Master of Science (M.S.) program is crucial in today's data-driven world, where the ability to analyze and interpret data is in demand across many industries. Ideal for individuals with a passion for research and a strong aptitude for mathematics, this program attracts students who are analytical, detail-oriented, and critical thinkers. Students in this program learn to harness the power of quantitative methods to address pressing issues and challenges in fields such as education, healthcare, finance and public policy.

By equipping passionate educators and school counselors in training with the necessary skills to transform schools through their leadership, advocacy, equity, and data-driven interventions, the School Counseling, Master of Education (M.Ed.) program trains individuals to close opportunity gaps and promote inclusive educational opportunities. School counselors are unique professionals within the school building who collaborate with stakeholders to develop interventions that target academic, personal/social and college/career needs in schools. They play a vital role in shaping a future in which all students have equitable access to a quality education and the support they need to thrive. This is a cohort model program, meaning students are accepted into a cohort group and take all of their classes together in a sequence.

Note: This program is not currently accepting applications. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education, Specialty: Early Childhood Birth to Age 5, Shady Grove (MSPEC) is a 30-credit, 10-course curriculum that addresses the developmental and learning needs of our youngest ages birth-5. Graduate work addresses the developmental and learning needs of our youngest ages birth-5 including those with physical, sensory (e.g., deaf-blindness, cortical visual impairment, etc.), and multiple disabilities. The program focuses on providing the graduate student the knowledge, skills and abilities that support efforts to achieve equitable developmental and academic achievement for all. The program is designed for professionals who already hold an early childhood special education teacher license/certification, professionals interested in expanding their knowledge, skills, and abilities with those with special needs from Birth-Age 5, and for professionals interested in working in an early childhood special education context outside of the classroom.

This 30-credit hour Special Education, Master of Education (M.Ed.) Specialty Autism Spectrum Disorders (ONLINE) program is designed for professionals interested in increasing their skills and expanding their knowledge to better serve the increasing number of students with ASD with high intensity needs. This M.Ed program is interested in recruiting members from underrepresented groups, including applicants with disabilities, multilingual applicants and applicants from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The Special Education - with Certification, Master of Education (M.Ed.) program enables aspiring educators to be functional in classrooms where students have diverse needs. To ensure preparation for diverse classroom settings and needs, faculty embed self-reflection, advocacy, critical consciousness and cultural competence throughout the program of study. Teacher candidates will be prepared to teach students with support students at-risk, students in need of intervention, and students with mild to severe disabilities, across disability categories. M.Ed. programs are practitioner focused programs that focus on in-classroom experiences and prepare educators for working with students. A bachelor's degree in any field is required.

With increasing awareness of diverse learner needs, Special Education teachers are in demand, and the Special Education with Severe Disabilities Endorsement, Master of Education program caters to this demand through 30 credit hours of intensive coursework focused on birth through grade 12. This option is ONLY for teachers with a special education certificate. Coursework and field experiences are offered to obtain Maryland State Department of Education certification in severe disabilities. This MEd program is available only when the applicant has Maryland Special Education Certification in one or more age-based areas (i.e., Early Childhood; Elementary; or Secondary/Middle). Prior to admission to the program, a copy of a valid MSDE Generic Special Education Certificate must be provided in the application. M.Ed programs are practitioner focused programs that focus on in-classroom experiences and prepare educators for working with students.

The Special Education, Master of Arts program focuses on diverse learner needs. The program is designed for educators who wish to focus on special education. An M.A. in the special education field assists educators with research and will incorporate the thesis option. Three hours of written examinations are required.

This highly ranked Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Education Policy and Leadership Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) program is designed to address the intersection of education policy, practice and societal impact. As schools play a pivotal role in shaping communities and fostering social change, understanding and influencing education policy becomes increasingly essential. The curriculum provides in-depth knowledge, research skills, and professional competencies necessary to navigate and address the complex challenges facing education systems today.

Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Mathematics and Science Education Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) has been designed for a world that increasingly relies on STEM fields to drive innovation and solve global challenges. With the need for skilled math and science educators more pressing than ever, this highly ranked program is designed for educators aiming to deepen their expertise in math and science education. Students engage in rigorous research, coursework, and professional development, focusing on topics such as quantitative research methods, trends in education, and subject-specific content knowledge. To accommodate working students, our courses meet once per week, in the late afternoon/early evening.

The Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Teacher Education and Professional Development Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) has been designed for this era of rapid change, in which the need for skilled, innovative educators has never been greater. Students in today’s classrooms deserve an education that is not only fair and equitable but also empowering and transformative. This program focuses on cultivating educators who can meet the demands of today’s classrooms, schools, and communities. Students investigate various teacher preparation strategies, the relationship between teacher growth and student achievement, and the broader socio-political factors affecting education. The program also emphasizes culturally responsive teaching and equips educators to effectively support multilingual learners and students with special needs.

The Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Technology, Learning, and Leadership Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A) program equips students to integrate new and emerging technologies into their classrooms in effective, engaging and equitable ways. The specialization helps develop students' abilities to identify and evaluate technologies and communicate how, when, and where they can be integrated into educational contexts. The interdisciplinary program weaves together students' diverse interests like technology, learning theory, pedagogy and policy into one all encompassing degree.

The Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Urban Education Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) assembles a team of faculty, staff, and students focused on the shared mission of improving opportunities and equity for children whose lives are marginalized at the intersection of race, linguistic diversity, gender, ethnicity, and social class. Students are encouraged to examine education through an intersectional lens of these marginalized groups and enhance the gaps that perpetuate harmful practices.

The highly ranked Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) program addresses crucial issues in education by focusing on the interdisciplinary study of language, literacy and social contexts. With three possible focus areas, the program can be highly specialized. Students explore how language and literacy can empower individuals, promote social justice and improve educational outcomes. Through research and practical application, students develop a deep understanding of how to use literacy to transform lives and foster inclusion.