This master's program offers a unique opportunity for educators to become licensed special education teachers and certified behavior analysts. Students can choose whether to focus on PreK-8 or 5-12 grade levels as well as whether to pursue the licensure or non-licensure track.
Modality
Program Overview for MEd in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities & Applied Behavior Analysis
The Master of Education (MEd) in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) & Applied Behavior Analysis features field-based research and hands-on learning for highly innovative teachers.
The licensure track of this program prepares you to meet the regulations for licensure of Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 and 5-12) in Massachusetts as well as prepare you to take the exams required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
Based out of our Boston campus, courses in this MEd program are taught in a hybrid format through scheduled remote (Zoom) and self-paced online classes.
Learning Outcomes for the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities & Applied Behavior Analysis MEd program
Gain the specialized skills and training to be a teacher of special education. In addition to preparing to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), as a graduate of this program, you will learn:
- How moderate disabilities affect progress in learning academic content of the general curriculum
- Strategies for helping special education students to excel
- The knowledge, skills and values necessary to enable your students to excel academically and socially
- How to expertly use inclusive practices to create safe and collaborative learning environments
Why Choose Cambridge College for Your MEd
Cambridge College's MEd program offers a flexible, hands-on graduate experience designed for working professionals, at one of the most affordable private nonprofit colleges in the nation.
- Flexible, hybrid course options: Work at your own pace, and earn your master’s degree in as little as two years, in a flexible program with evening and weekend class options. Courses are taught in a mix of scheduled remote (Zoom) sessions and self-paced online sessions.
- Hands-on learning: Benefit from extensive field experiences and real-world classroom training using classroom and adaptive technologies that are used throughout the special education profession. Licensure students will be required to complete 300 hours of practicum field work prior to graduation, as well as a Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Content License Endorsement course.
- Licensure preparation: The licensure program satisfies Massachusetts licensure requirements, based on current regulations, and prepares you for BACB-required exams. If you have any questions about the requirements, please speak to the program chair.
- Knowledgeable faculty: Learn from caring and supportive faculty who bring years of special education teaching experience to the program.
- GRE and MTEL exams not required for admission: Apply without having to take the GRE or MTEL tests in advance. If you haven't already taken the MTEL, you can take the exam before starting the required degree practicum, allowing you to start the program sooner.
"I got my first degree here at Cambridge College in 2011. My Master's is in Education in Autism/Behavior Analysis. I had such a great experience that I came back and got my PhD in Applied Behavioral Analysis in June of 2023."
Special Education and ABA Tuition Information
*See curriculum sheet for a breakdown of credits and credit ranges.
Special Education and ABA Course Options
The Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) & Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s degree program features classes such as:
- Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
- Clinical Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis
- Laws and Regulations Pertaining to Behavioral Intervention and ABA
- Psycho-Educational Assessment for Teaching Exceptional Students
- Principles of Language Development Bridging Differences and Disorders
- Ethics and Professionalism in Applied Behavior Analysis
Prospective graduate degree students for programs in the School of Education & Counseling must satisfy the following requirements plus any program-specific requirements your program may have.
- Complete and sign the online application.
- Pay the application fee. Pay your $50 ($100 for international students) application fee by the term start date.
- Send official transcripts. Maildirectly to Cambridge College in a sealed, unopened envelope. Learn How to Send Transcripts. Required degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities.
- Master's and most graduate certificate programs require an earned bachelor's degree.
- Post-master's certificates and CAGS require an earned master's degree.
- International transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an approved agency. See all international student requirements
- Send your résumé and work experience. Send your resume that details your education and work experience, including how they pertain to your career goals. If your SEC program has a work experience requirement, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Submit your personal statement. Write a 500-word, typed, double-spaced essay describing your professional experience, goals and objectives for graduate study. How do you expect your graduate studies to enhance your future career?
- Include two professional recommendations (not required for fully online programs). These should address your professional character and ability to perform graduate work. Download Applicant Recommendation Form
- Interview (required for some programs). If your program requires an interview, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Satisfy Health Insurance & Immunization requirements. (Massachusetts only). These are required only for graduate students taking six or more credits per term in Massachusetts through on-campus or hybrid classes. Health insurance may be waived.
Teacher Licensure Program Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, our Teacher Licensure Programs have these additional requirements:
- Earned bachelor's degree with 3.0 or higher GPA.
- MA Educator Documentation from the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website. Keep copies of all documents submitted and, upon admission, post in your electronic portfolio:
- Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID number)
- MTEL Communication & Literacy Test, successfully completed.
Required if completed:
- Massachusetts preliminary license, if held
- Sheltered English Instruction requirement
- Fingerprinting and Criminal Offender Record Information
Applicants who do not initially meet all requirements (e.g. GPA of 3.0 or MTEL) for admission into their chosen licensure program must enroll in the corresponding non-licensure degree option. Students who achieve a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first three SEC courses, pass the MTELs, and now meet all requirements, may request a change of program.
Disclosures: For all Licensure Programs
- Licensure requirements are subject to change per Massachusetts regulations. All Cambridge College licensure programs are based on current regulations.
- All candidates admitted for licensure programs must successfully complete the program in its entirety.
- All requirements at the time of program completion must be finalized prior to seeking Massachusetts endorsement for licensure purposes.
- If you have any licensure questions, please speak to your program chair.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
An interview is required for admission.
Before beginning the ABA coursework, you must:
- Hold a master's degree or higher in education, special education or psychology in an area that meets the current BACBTM standards at time of enrollment. Please consult the ABA program chair prior to enrollment.
- Have active employment in a relevant, related field with at least one year of experience in an ABA-based treatment setting.
- Be working with or supervised by a certified BCBA personnel. (Supervisor name and contact information must be submitted and verified upon program entry.)
- A high level of professional acument and decorum is required. Students are expected to be fluent in the BACB ethics standard from the start and throughout the program. Students must have basic competence with
You must be prepared to pursue timely completion of the ABA course sequence, given that the sequence aligns with a particular edition of the exam approved by the national Behavior Analyst Certifying Board.
Careers in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis
Earning your master’s degree in special education can increase your annual salary, and special education teachers typically make more money than general education teachers at the same school. For example, in 2022, the average salary for special education elementary teachers in the U.S. was $68,580,1 while non-special education elementary teachers earned an average of $68,000 per year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the greater Boston metropolitan area is one of the top 10 cities with the highest employment levels for special education teachers at the kindergarten and elementary school, middle school and secondary school levels. Average salaries for special education teachers in Massachusetts are:
- Kindergarten and elementary school: $82,2302
- Middle school: $80,5003
- Secondary school: $83,9904
$82,230
Median annual salary for special education kindergarten and elementary school teachers in Massachusetts2
$83,990
Median annual salary for special education secondary school teachers in Massachusetts4
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 25-2052 Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252052.htm (visited December 26, 2023).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 25-2021 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm (visited December 26, 2023).
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 25-2057 Special Education Teachers, Middle School, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252057.htm (visited December 26, 2023).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 25-2058 Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252058.htm (visited December 26, 2023).
Jobs in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis
Earning your master’s degree in special education and then becoming licensed as a Teacher of Students With Moderate Disabilities prepares you for rewarding and high-demand careers—whether you want to make a career change or you’re already a teacher and want to move into special education.
Students who complete this program will be eligible for licensure to teach in grades PreK-8 or 5-12 as a:
- Co-teacher
- Consulting teacher
- Teacher of record in resource room settings
Graduates will also be eligible to become certified behavior analysts with a teaching license, creating multiple opportunities for employment in fields that are in high demand.
Faculty Spotlight
Joseph Vedora
EdD, BCBA-D, LABA
Assistant Program Director and Program Chair, Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis Program
Joseph Vedora, Ed.D., BCBA-D, LABA is the Assistant Program Director and Program Chair for the Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis Program. Dr. Vedora also holds a clinical position at the Evergreen Center, where he is the Vice President of Behavioral Services and Professional Development. Dr. Vedora began teaching at Cambridge College in 2011 and currently teaches in the master's and Ph.D. programs. Dr. Vedora has served as the dissertation advisor for five students. He also served as a...