Re-entry & Resiliency Plan (updated 7/22/22)
Carlow’s Master of Education in Special Education will give you a more thorough understanding of how students with special needs learn and what you can do to make sure each child reaches his or her potential. You’ll be an advocate for students and their families and assist parents finding their way around educational and health care systems.
Special Education Certification for Pre-K-12 is available as a stand-alone initial teaching certification or as an add-on to an existing teaching certificate. The program prepares you to meet the needs of children with a wide variety of mental, physical, social, emotional and behavioral disabilities in diverse settings.
30-51 credits
$600/credit
As few as 18 months
On campus or online
Special Education degree courses focus on positive behavior support, disciplinary and digital literacy, and early intervention. The program culminates in student teaching. Study abroad options are available in Ireland and Nicaragua.
Students who have an existing teaching certification can complete this program with 30 credits. Students who also need initial teaching certification can complete this program with 51 credits.
If you already have a teaching license, you can earn this MEd under our add-on certificate option. When applying, indicate your interest in the add-on certificate option.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 3% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for special education services and teachers should rise as disabilities are being identified earlier and as children with disabilities are enrolled into special education programs.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No prerequisites or teacher licensure required for this degree and certification
MEd Special Education graduate Jordan Coccaro ’20 didn’t hesitate in choosing Carlow for grad school. “Carlow has given me amazing opportunities to have real experiences in the classroom through field placements. My extensive field placement allowed me to learn about interventions, data collection and how the flow of a special education classroom should be designed. In my five years at Carlow in the Education Department, I will always remember how supportive all of the faculty and staff are of their students.”
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
You can be a leader in the field of educational literacy with Carlow’s Master of Education Reading Specialist degree. The reading specialist certification and MEd programs lead to Pre-K-12 Pennsylvania Department of Education Reading Specialist Certification with a special Carlow dyslexia certificate.
As a reading specialist or literacy coordinator, you’ll learn to provide whole class, small group and tiered intervention support to students in all aspects of literacy instruction.
25-31 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
You’ll study how children learn to read with courses centered on the science of reading and examine different approaches to effective literacy assessment and instruction.
Coursework includes an examination of phonological awareness, the structure of language, teaching writing and digital literacy. The curriculum meets guidelines for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s framework for the reading specialist, the International Literacy Association (ILA) and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Students will benefit from on-site practicums at Carlow’s Campus Laboratory School or regional schools and districts.
Special workshops and guest speakers are a hallmark of the program through partnerships with Trying Together, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Fred Rogers Institute, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Provident Charter School, PBIDA, Warhol Museum and A+ Schools.
If you already have a teaching license, you can earn this MEd under our add-on certificate option. When applying, indicate your interest in the add-on certificate option.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
School districts hire reading specialists to coordinate reading programs, support students and teachers, and work with intervention services.
Employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 6% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As states and school districts put greater emphasis on student achievement data, schools may increasingly turn to instructional coordinators to develop better curriculums and improve teachers’ effectiveness.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No prerequisites or teacher licensure are required for this degree and certification.
MEd Reading Specialist graduate Alyson Woodall ’21 said Carlow’s Education Program has taught her how to make a difference. “Carlow has always been at the forefront of education by teaching education students the latest strategies and approaches for delivering effective classroom instruction. Carlow is challenging me to be a better teacher by showing me how to use research-based techniques that focus on how the brain learns to read.”
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
With a master’s in Art Education from Carlow, you will be prepared to teach art in pre-K through grade 12, or to work with children and adolescents in nonprofit or community organizations.
Workshops led by distinguished authors, activists, artists and educators add to the course curriculum. You can take advantage of Carlow’s educational partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum or collaborate with Carlow’s art department and art gallery.
The MEd in Art Education compliments other graduate departmental offerings in Early Childhood and Special Education and utilizes a core of courses shared across these programs.
36 credits
$600/credit
As few as 18 months
On campus or online
You will learn to use robot and other instructional technology to increase student achievement and engagement. You’ll design activities and projects based on individual student needs and analyze policy, funding and community-based services for children and adolescents. You will create assessments aligned to student outcomes and analyze assessment results.
A master’s in Art Education prepares you to teach art in Pre-K through 12th grade classrooms. You can also work within community settings, museums, nongovernmental organizations, and broader public and civic contexts, or open your own studio or business. Specialties including painting, drawing, ceramics and photography.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Upon completion of the course requirements in the program, you must successfully pass:
Once you have met these requirements, you may apply for certification with the state.
MEd graduate Sarah Zeffiro ’19 recommends Carlow’s program to anyone who is ready to step into a meaningful career. “The Education Department is collaborative by offering opportunities to gain hands-on experience in classrooms at The Campus Laboratory School, The Early Learning Center, Montessori and Reggio. The coursework is dynamic and designed to develop the educator as learner in an environment that is supportive, fun, rigorous and professional. I am so proud to be an alumna and part of the Carlow community.”
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Teaching will prepare you to help children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Emphasizing curriculum design, the program focuses on advanced teaching or instructional support positions with public, private or nonprofit organizations.
The four autism courses are offered as a special graduate certificate program. They can also be taken as a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction track. The program offers advanced study of pedagogy for working educators or other interested individuals. Teaching certification is not required for enrollment and completion of the program. It does not lead to initial teaching certification, nor does it lead to an autism endorsement unless you are a licensed teacher.
30 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
Carlow’s four-course graduate certificate program in autism spectrum teaching provides the competencies set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Courses are offered in a hybrid or online format with January, March, August or October start dates. Upon completion, Level I or II certificate holders are eligible for the PDE autism endorsement.
Community partnerships in the Pittsburgh area offer workshops and activities with guest speakers.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
It’s estimated that more than 1% of U.S. children are diagnosed with autism, which has contributed to a high demand for qualified professionals to work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Carlow’s graduate certificate program will prepare you to be a special education teacher, behavior analyst, autism spectrum disorder specialist, behavioral interventionist or child advocate.
If you work with children or young adults with an autism spectrum disorder, the autism teaching track will prepare you to design effective programs for your students.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Certification information: Any teacher or other education professional who holds a current Level I or Level II certification and who successfully completes the four-course certificate sequence, is eligible for the Autism Endorsement from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Students who successfully complete the four-course sequence, but do not hold a current Level I or Level II certification are eligible for the Carlow issued certificate of completion but not the PDE Endorsement.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Carlow’s MEd in Curriculum and Instruction: Dyslexia Teaching certificate program utilizes systematic and explicit multisensory-based structured literacy in early childhood reading instruction. You’ll get a strong foundation in those elements as well as a comprehensive look at current brain research in the field of dyslexia.
The four courses in the program can also be taken as a track in the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction program and are aligned with the International Dyslexia Association standards for educators and teachers of reading. Parents, community members or nonformal educators interested in more academic and practical information about dyslexia teaching are welcome in the program.
30 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction program with a dyslexia track features courses in curriculum theory, motivation and creativity, improvement science, and multisensory teaching methods. Community partnerships in the Pittsburgh area offer workshops and activities with guest speakers..
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
With the Dyslexia Teaching certificate, you’ll be better prepared for advanced positions in education in public, private or nonprofit organizations.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
In Carlow’s master’s in Early Childhood Leadership program, you will focus on evaluating early learning programs, coaching in an educational setting and developing curriculum. You will have a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Head Start supervisor, center director, classroom coach and mentor.
The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction: Early Childhood Leadership degree offers advanced study of pedagogy for working educators or other interested individuals. Teaching certification is not required for enrollment in this program, and it does not lead to initial teaching certification.
30 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
The curriculum in the Early Childhood Leadership program includes an examination of developmentally appropriate practices for each age group, along with models for parent involvement. The care and education of young children is studied from a historical perspective that includes current challenges and trends in child care, Head Start, preschool and early intervention programs.
You’ll learn about delivery of service and governmental licensing standards, leading to a case study of an operational program. Community partnerships in the Pittsburgh area offer workshops and activities with guest speakers.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
You’ll be prepared to work in community-based children’s programs, classrooms or child care settings. You will be qualified for advanced positions in education, whether public, private or with a nonprofit organization.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall & Spring
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
You can make a difference in the lives of those who speak limited English. Carlow University’s Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on curriculum design, will prepare you for leadership positions in education with public, private or nonprofit organizations.
More than half of the coursework for the English as a Second Language program is completed at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in nearby Homestead, where students receive specific professional development skills related to current research and best instructional practices.
33 total credits
$600/Carlow credit
$499/AIU course
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
You will study inquiry models of instruction, training for technology fluency, interdisciplinary models, advanced exploration of cognition, motivation research and studies of creativity in education.
The English as a Second Language program features courses in cultural sensitivity, language development, and ESL assessment and support.
Six ESL classes are taken at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. The courses transfer to Carlow and are applied toward the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. This certificate program leads to an ESL endorsement through the AIU for individuals with a Pennsylvania teaching license. Students should register on the AIU website.
With English as the world’s dominant language, institutions providing ESL instruction have increased worldwide. In addition to teaching in person and online, graduates may become ESL textbook editors, curriculum and instruction designers, or researchers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow by almost 17% from 2016 to 2026, the fastest of any education level. Employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 6% from 2019 to 2029 as states and school districts put greater emphasis on student achievement data.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
An Online Teaching degree will prepare you to design instruction and lead classrooms using best practices and innovative technology.
Educational and corporate leaders seek instructional designers who manage content and improve learning across virtual environments. This graduate program will provide you with the hands-on experience you’ll need to succeed, equipping you to design, develop and implement instructional material in any medium.
30 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
In the four-course Online Teaching curriculum, you will get real-world training as you learn how to develop and design online content, examine curricular options, structure an online experience that meets the needs of the learner and develop appropriate assessment techniques for online learning. The capstone course focuses on implementation of technology and application of instructional design.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
With the MEd in Online Teaching, you’ll be prepared for a career in education or industry. Job titles include business development manager, instructional consultant, IT and computer training manager, learning coordinator, learning services manager, learning systems analyst, and learning technologist.
A teaching degree can also prepare you for roles in educational administration, curriculum development, and school policy and advocacy.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Computational thinking is vital in today’s world. Carlow University provides teachers the skills they need to integrate science, technology, engineering and math into their curriculums.
In the Master’s in STEM Teaching program, you will examine ethical issues, curricular models, robotic technology and current research in effective design and instruction, and will engage in inquiry projects and STEM-based field experiences.
30 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
In this program, you will collaboratively apply, demonstrate and assess your own STEM curriculum. You’ll learn coding using Scratch, Snap and Python and will be introduced to the Flutter, Finch, Hummingbird, EarthTime, Circuit Blocks, Speck and Vex Robotics technologies.
Carlow University is a CREATE Lab satellite, which gives faculty access to emerging technologies. You will complete an Interdisciplinary Models course highlighting technology fluency and emerging technologies. You’ll have access to robotic technology and advanced professional development.
Community partnerships in the Pittsburgh area offer workshops and activities with guest speakers.
This program is available as a graduate certificate which leads to an endorsement from PDE for already licensed teachers.
You’ll return to your classroom or other educational setting prepared to take on leadership roles and contribute in STEM education research and teaching, whether it be with a public, private or nonprofit organization.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
In the graduate Early Childhood Education program at Carlow University, you will examine the philosophical, developmental, racial and ethical factors that influence a young child’s growth and development. Courses focus on nurturing the dignity, worth and uniqueness of young children from birth to fourth grade. You’ll learn how to create healthy and nurturing environments and relationships where children can thrive and develop a love of learning.
The program, rooted in constructivism and guided by child development pedagogy and early learning standards, will prepare you for initial teaching certification.
36 credits
$600/credit
As few as 12 months
On campus or online
You will learn inclusive practices, differentiated instruction, instructional and assistive technologies, birth-fourth grade curriculum strategies, universal design theory, the science of reading, best practices in dyslexia and culturally responsive education practices.
You will take part in a variety of practicum experiences in your own classrooms and The Campus Laboratory School of Carlow University. Community partnerships in the Pittsburgh area offer workshops and activities with guest speakers.
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
With a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, you can become a preschool or elementary teacher, lead teacher in a child care center, early childhood consultant, lecturer or preschool administrator.
Employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to grow 6% from 2014 to 2024, according to career planning site Myplan.com.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Students must complete Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements to gain initial teaching certification.
MEd graduate Heidi Lemon ’21 recommends Carlow for anyone looking for a unique educational experience. “Going through the education program at Carlow was an incredible experience. Each staff member taught me proficiency in their content area. The staff are the most caring individuals that I have ever encountered. I made lifelong friendships through this program.”
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
