Dual-Degree BA or BS/MAT in Special Education (4+1)

Dual-Degree

BA or BS/MAT in Special Education (4+1)

On Campus

Our Dual-Degree Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education (4+1) prepares graduates for a wide range of roles throughout the field of special education. Graduates from the program will master the skills necessary to foster a learning environment that caters to students as they navigate learning disabilities and behavioral or emotional disorders. As a 4+1 MAT student, your internship experience in a school during your graduate year will provide significant savings on tuition through the tuition remission program.

Student kneels down to interact with two children on a colorful mat

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Your Experience

This dual-degree program allows you to complete your bachelor‘s degree in any major, along with a master‘s degree in teaching and your special education teaching certificate within 5 years. Completing your master‘s degree immediately after earning your bachelor‘s degree allows you to continue your teaching career uninterrupted, as maintaining your professional license to teach in most states requires the completion of a master‘s degree during the first 6-8 years of teaching.

With courses that explore the needs of students with autism and communication disorders, dyslexia and math disorders, reading disorders and more, graduates of this dual-degree program will have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by students with specific learning disabilities, behavioral disorders and emotional disorders. Throughout the program, future leaders in the field of special education will master how to develop and implement individualized education programs and 504 plans, conduct functional behavioral assessments and design behavioral intervention programs — all in an effort to prepare them for success in many roles within the field.

Teaching certification and licensure is regulated by each state. Connecticut participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Compact. States that participate in this compact agree to accept the planned program of study of graduates in any of the states that are part of that compact. Therefore, whether you are an in-state or out-of-state applicant, you can become a certified teacher wherever you want to teach.

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Tuition Remission

Earn your master’s degree without breaking the bank.

In the Dual-Degree MAT (4+1) program in Special Education, you will experience significant cost savings while pursuing your graduate degree. Your first graduate courses begin immediately after you complete your undergraduate degree during the summer semesters; these are the only semesters you will be responsible for paying the full tuition and fees. You will then begin interning in a school while attending evening courses throughout the fall and spring semesters. The work you complete during this internship will cover a significant portion of your tuition, so you will only pay for credits and fees associated with student teaching.

MAT by the Numbers

49 Internship Opportunities

We have placed student-teachers in 49 schools across 20 local school districts, allowing students to earn classroom experiences in a variety of school settings prior to graduation.

100% Pass Rate

100% of students from our program passed the Special Education: Core Knowledge Praxis Test during the 2021-2022 academic year.

38k New Jobs

Openings for special education teachers that are projected each year through 2030. Many of these openings result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

A School of Education alumna smiles at the camera, start of video — Meghan Banti ’11, MAT ’12, Sixth-Year Diploma ’18, is an instructional coach at City Hill Middle School in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Listen to her tips for what you should look for in a college or university education program.

Benefits of the Dual-Degree (4+1) Program

In today’s competitive market, a graduate degree is often expected and can be the key to your success. Our innovative dual-degree programs give you a clear path to achieving your goals.

As a dual-degree student, you’ll enjoy:

Seamless plan of study: Our dual-degree programs enable you to streamline the completion of both your undergraduate and graduate studies — building relationships with classmates and professors in the supportive and enriching environment that you have come to know.
Save time and money: Certain courses count toward both undergraduate and graduate requirements — allowing you to graduate earlier and spend less money.
Simplified application process: When you maintain good academic standing in the program, you are seamlessly enrolled into the graduate program of study — eliminating the need to find another graduate program, take additional tests for admission or complete a separate admission process.
Career development: Dual-degree students gain access to special career-focused programming — including global networking and internship opportunities, recruitment events, career fairs and other experiential opportunities.
Personalized advising: Students are assigned a dedicated adviser who will help with course selection, assist with internship placements and prepare you for interviews — strengthening your resume before graduation.
Career readiness: Dual-degree students enter the workforce with an advance degree in hand — increasing your potential starting salary and setting you apart from other recent graduates who did not earn a master’s.

The dual-degree program emphasizes the skills employers value — leadership, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. They also reflect our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning and career development.

Seamlessly transition to the School of Education

There are a number of programs within the College of Arts & Sciences that pair well with our Dual-Degree BA or BS/MAT programs in Elementary, Secondary and Special Education. These programs allow you to gain the hands-on skills needed to thrive in a classroom and enable you to seamlessly complete both your undergraduate and graduate studies in just five years.

Exceeding the Highest Standards in Public Education

The following programs in the School of Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) from 2021-2028:

MAT in Elementary Education
MAT in Secondary Education: Biology
MAT in Secondary Education: English
MAT in Secondary Education: Mathematics
MAT in Secondary Education: Social Studies / History
MAT in Secondary Education: Spanish
Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership

The following are new programs which were approved by the CSDE and will be submitted for accreditation in the next cycle as per the requirements of CAEP:

MAT in Secondary Education: Chemistry (approved in 2024)
MAT in Special Education - Initial Certification (approved in 2022)

School of Education graduates earn exceptionally high scores on licensure examinations required for certification both within and outside the state of Connecticut, including the Praxis II tests for special educators and elementary and secondary teacher candidates; the Foundations of Reading Test; Spanish ACTFL Test; and the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT), taken by the candidates in the Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership program.

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Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.

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Dual-Degree BA or BS/MAT in Special Education (4+1)

Your Experience

Tuition Remission