Overview
Azusa Pacific University recognizes the need to provide quality academic programs for graduate students with divergent professional goals and differing educational needs. The Master of Arts in Education: Special Education (non-credential) is designed for individuals eager to pursue a Master of Arts with emphases in classroom interventions, bilingual special education, or behavior interventions. This program does not lead to a California teaching credential.
The program suits the working professional seeking job opportunities in the areas of disabilities advocacy, private school administration, community college instruction, or as a prerequisite for admission to a doctoral program in special education.
Furthermore, attorneys who wish to specialize in special education law or desire to become a due process hearing officer may enroll in this program. Federal, state, and local government SELPAs employ professionals with this degree to monitor and enforce special education procedures and programs.
Benefits and Distinctives
- Flexible program schedules allow students to take classes just one night a week while earning their degree.
- Expert faculty offer quality instruction grounded in a Christian worldview, creating a relevant program that enables students to make a difference in their classrooms.
- Small class sizes create a rich learning community as students progress through the program with a cohort of peers.
Learn more about the program and our faculty.
School of Education Accreditation
Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In addition, the School of Education receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), making APU one of only three private schools in California with this distinction. Further, our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). These notable accreditations set APU graduates apart from other candidates and ensure your degree will be recognized throughout the United States and internationally.
University Reputation
Azusa Pacific University held its place for the second year in the most prestigious category of the U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009, ranking in the third tier of the national category. Additionally, for the first time, APU ranked ninth among the best up-and-coming national universities. Previously, APU was ranked in the top 25 schools within the Western Universities-Master’s category, enjoying prominent placement and recognition for outstanding first-year and service-learning programs.
According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, APU ranked number 6 in the nation in awarding the most master’s degrees to Hispanics. In addition, The Princeton Review included APU as 1 of 120 colleges in the 2009 Best in the West category.
