Master's in Early Childhood Special Education | GSEHD

Impact Lives, Starting With Yours

Early childhood educators are uniquely positioned to play a critical role in positively shifting the developmental and learning trajectories of young children. Not only do they nurture and teach young children and partner with their families to facilitate transformative developmental experiences, they also act as advocates and change agents, promoting inclusive communities and equitable opportunities for all children.

In this program, you'll gain hands-on experience while learning from nationally-recognized faculty to earn a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). Become a change agent and improve outcomes for all young children (ages 3-8), including those with or at-risk for disabilities.

As the only dual endorsement program in the area, successful completion of the program prepares you for initial licensure in early childhood education with an endorsement in early childhood special education (PreK through 3rd grade) in D.C.

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Nationally Recognized & Accredited
Nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children and accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Accommodating
Classes are offered in the evenings to accommodate working professionals and for internship experiences. Program can be completed as a part-time or full-time student.

Leading Faculty
Faculty are experts in developmental and educational psychology, behavioral interventions, and special education. They are nationally recognized educators with experience leading innovative work in research and practice across education and health sectors.

Unique to the the DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area, our location gives students access to urban or suburban public, charter, and private schools. This allows students to examine, compare, and contrast schools with widely different student populations, structures, and demographics.

The program requires two supervised field work experiences. Students have opportunities to train across an array of service delivery settings for children between 3 and 8-years-olds and receive mentorship and guidance from site and University supervisors.

Program at a Glance

Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Early Childhood Special Education

Special Education and Disability Studies

Hybrid
(Courses on Foggy Bottom
or Arlington Campuses and Online)

Spring, Summer, Fall

Our Mission & Vision

At GW, our Early Childhood Special Education masters program is grounded in an enhanced vision of special education, one that synthesizes 21^st century developmental science and critical disability justice frameworks with culturally responsive, evidence-based approaches to early childhood education for children (PreK – 3^rd grade) identified with and without disabilities. Our core values frame our approach to special educator preparation.

We believe all children are entitled to equal rights, opportunities, and access to healthy, responsive, strengths-focused, culturally mindful, and effective developmental and educational environments and opportunities.
We believe each child and family is unique and deserving of and entitled to early learning and developmental environments that are responsive to their hopes, needs, and dreams.
We believe every child’s development must be understood and honored within the context of family, culture, community, and society.
We believe in engaging families as partners; creating school cultures of inclusion, care, and trust; and preparing our students to be career teachers.

Curriculum

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 36 credits. Successful completion of the master of arts in education and human development comprehensive examination and completion of the relevant teacher licensure assessments (see below) are required.

Code	Title
Core
SPED 6201	Overview of Legal Issues in Educating Students with Disabilities
SPED 6202	Researching Current Trends in Special Education
SPED 6203	Research and Practice of Diagnostic Reading for Students with Disabilities
SPED 6233	Culturally Responsive Curriculum in Special Education
SPED 6240	Family Support and Guidance in Special Education
SPED 6260	Developmental Assessment in Special Education
SPED 6261*	Practicum in Methods and Materials for Early Childhood Special Education
SPED 6266	Development of Language and Literacy
SPED 6268	Development of Children and Youth with Disabilities
SPED 6269	Characteristics of and Instructional Methods for Young Students with Disabilities
SPED 6290	Affective Development and Behavior Management for Teaching Students with Disabilities
SPED 6993*	Internship: Teaching Young Children with Disabilities
Additional Requirements:
Successful completion of the master of arts in education and human development comprehensive examination.
Completion of the relevant teacher licensure assessments (i.e., PRAXIS) required by the District of Columbia Educator Licensure Services Office

*Students complete school-based fieldwork during their second year in the program. The practicum experience and course (SPED 6261) is completed in the fall and is a prerequisite for the spring Internship experience and course (SPED 6993). The practicum experience (SPED 6261) requires 20 hours of school-based fieldwork and the internship experience (SPED 6993) requires 35 hours of school-based fieldwork.

Program Outcomes

This degree leads to initial licensure in early childhood education with an endorsement in early childhood special education (PreK through 3rd grade) in the District of Columbia.

Students will:

Learn how to provide focused instruction and individualized interventions to support young children and their families across school, community, and clinical settings.
Use research-based strategies to meet the needs of developmentally diverse young children with and without disabilities and their families.
Be strong advocates for the children and families they serve.

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We invite you to join our diverse, dynamic community and develop the knowledge and skills to weave social justice ethics, culturally responsive practices, strength-based strategies, and disability rights lenses into a robust and equity-focused teaching practice. Please review the following admission and financial information.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >

To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfogwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.

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Schedule Consultation with Admissions Coach

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.

Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree
Resume
Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
Statement of Purpose
One Letter of Recommendation

*Due to the format of the program, international students are not eligible to attend this program on a student visa. Please consider the online Master's in Special Education. If you have questions, please contact educationgwu [dot] edu (education[at]gwu[dot]edu).

View more details about requirements

Applications are now being accepted for Summer and Fall 2025. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Application Timeline	Spring	Summer	Fall
Priority Deadline	Aug 1	Nov 1	Nov 1
Round 1 Deadline	Sept 15	Dec 15	Dec 15
Round 2 Deadline	Nov 1	Jan 15	Jan 15
Round 3 Deadline	Dec 15	March 1	March 1
Round 4 Deadline	N/A	May 1	May 1
Round 5 Deadline	N/A	N/A	Jun 15
Round 6 Deadline	N/A	N/A	Aug 1

For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfogwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.

We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.

Learn more about scholarships, grants & financial aid

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.

The tuition rate* for the on-campus (Foggy Bottom) Master's in ECSE program is $1,000 per credit hour.

The tuition rate* for the off-campus (Alexandria) Master's in ECSE program is $1,000 per credit hour.

This program requires 36 credits.

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

*Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

View the current fee chart

Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >

I can truly say that I left my masters program feeling like an expert in early childhood development. The broad range of courses led by so many thorough professors made me feel overly prepared to begin my teaching career.

DEVIN LAWLESS (MA '19)
Master's in Early Childhood Special Education

Career Outlook

With specialized expertise in inclusive teaching, assessment, and intervention, graduates are equipped to support diverse learners in a variety of settings. Whether you aspire to work in schools, early intervention programs, policy organizations, or advocacy roles, this degree opens doors to rewarding career opportunities dedicated to fostering the success of every child.

ECSE Career Opportunities