Total Cost * Next Start Date Completion Time † Semester Credits Total Cost * The Transition to Teaching in Special Education program offers a unique and accelerated pathway to certification for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Through a blend of rigorous coursework, hands-on field experiences, and mentorship from experienced educators, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills necessary to create inclusive and supportive learning environments for students with diverse needs. Our program is designed to equip you with the latest research-based practices, effective instructional strategies, and a deep understanding of the legal and ethical considerations in special education. By joining our program, you will become a qualified special education teacher and a compassionate advocate for students who deserve the best opportunities to succeed.
We offer a special Educator Grant for new students who enroll in this program. Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to learn how you can reduce your tuition.
State-Approved:
This program has been approved as an alternative pathway to obtaining an initial teaching license in P-12 Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention in the state of Indiana.
Empower your students and community, and take the next step toward a future full of possibility.
The Transition to Teaching in Special Education certificate is an alternative certification program for individuals seeking licensure in this field. The program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree but have not completed a licensure program. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible for an initial level teaching license in P-12 Special Education in Indiana.
Here are the courses you’ll take when working towards this program. If no focus of study option is selected, you can choose any 3 courses from the study options below.
Visit the College Catalog to see all courses.
Benchmark on Lesson Planning
Benchmark on Professionalism
This introduction to the teaching field provides students a rich perspective on child development knowledge, observational strategies and skills, and ethics in special education. Students increase their understanding and awareness of teacher roles and responsibilities in relation to the school climate and educational policy. The course also introduces students to the tools and technologies that they will need to successfully complete field experiences that are integrated throughout their coursework and the student teaching experience. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
Students are introduced to developmental issues experienced by individuals across transitional stages throughout the life span. Characteristics of individuals demonstrating patterns of thought or behavior potentially contributing to the identification of learning disabilities are examined. Neurological impairments, which change the functionality of the brain, are surveyed for factors creating unique risks across cognitive and sensory, social and emotional, and behavioral areas and conditions which impact academic learning. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
Data-driven instructional decision-making is critical to improve student outcomes for learners across the continuum of disability in special and general education settings. This course focuses on conducting and analyzing ongoing student assessment and utilizing current research and theory as the foundation for driving instructional decisions and professional practices. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
This course focuses on how to teach content effectively in today's special education settings. Emphasis is on an understanding of content specific methodologies, various learning theories, learning styles, multiple intelligences, and other research-based content delivery strategies to engage students and be effective in teaching children with special needs. In addition, this course demonstrates how to use effective unit and lesson plan design that incorporates state standards, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, assessment techniques, and data-based decision making to improve teaching and learning in special education settings. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
This course provides students an opportunity to study, reflect on, and develop their skills in instructional methods while applying and practicing these methods in special education classrooms. Major topics include characteristics of effective, intentional teaching; student diversity and the ways in which teacher understanding of students impacts learning; instructional planning; the creation of effective lessons using a variety of approaches and technologies; classroom management; Response to Instruction (RTI); multiple forms of assessment, and the use of data-based decision making to improve instruction. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theory, pedagogy, and best practices in education to understanding the role of the special education teacher. In this course, students participate in a 15-week 400-600 hour (full time) practicum designed to provide the knowledge and experience necessary for teaching in the special education classroom. Through an application based learning environment students will apply the skills they have learned throughout their previous coursework and experience firsthand the issues facing schools and classrooms. Topics include educational foundations, philosophy of education, diversity, exceptional needs, classroom management, cultural competencies, as well as lesson planning, implementation and assessment.
This course addresses key concepts and principles related to phonemic awareness and phonics and explores the connection between language and reading fluency and writing development. Essential components of effective reading instruction and assessment will be explored using a Response to Intervention (RTl) model and relevant research-based methods in literacy development. Learners will examine critical elements of reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and writing and spelling. Emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate strategies across developmental stages, content areas, technology, and differentiated instruction and assessment to support diverse learning needs including those of special education students and students who are learning English as a Second Language. The course contains 5-10 hours of embedded field experiences.
This course introduces assessment approaches for diagnosing reading needs and methods for identifying, prescribing, and evaluating intervention plans based upon specific data. Students will complete 5-10 hours of field experience targeting developmental and age-appropriate instructional strategies to support struggling readers across diverse populations. This course has 5-10 hours of field experience.
We believe in full transparency with our total cost of attendance. No hidden fees. No surprises along the way.
Continuing your education is a big decision that involves an investment of your time and money. We recognize that, which is why we're committed to ensuring you experience a positive return on that investment.
You only pay the cost it takes for us to deliver your education, nothing more. By keeping our tuition low, we’ve helped our students see a $19.20 return in future higher earnings for every $1 they invested in their ACE education.1
Because of our low tuition and total program cost, 87% of our students graduate debt-free.2 Popular payment options include paying by course, paying by month or paying in full. Visit our payment options page to learn more.
You deserve a great return on your educational investment, and we deliver master's degrees at a total average cost of $10,000*. We also award over $1.2M in scholarships and grants each year.
Tuition & ROIWe are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our faculty work in the industries where you work and are committed to your success, contributing to our 84% graduation rate.3 Our curriculum equips you with practical strategies you can apply right away, as well as skills to help you advance your career.
Success StoriesOur virtual campus and convenient start dates provide you the flexibility you need to achieve your goals at a time and place that works with your busy schedule. Our student support services are available 24/7 and tutoring is included at no additional cost.
Support Services
Because we don’t have a physical campus, our students don’t need to pay infrastructure or facility fees. We also keep our operational costs low by not participating in Title IV federal funding. We pass all these savings along to our students.
Due to our engaging online format, you’ll connect and learn from industry peers worldwide. And even though you’re learning online, you won’t feel alone thanks to student discussion boards and online forums.
Learn strategies and skills you can apply immediately and leverage for future career advancement. Employers of ACE graduates report a 96% satisfaction rate,3 while 98% of our students felt their professional skills were stronger after graduation.3
Every course is created by our in-house curriculum and production team working in tandem with our academic leaders. Plus, all courses follow a consistent structure. No outdated coursework, no surprises.
*The application fee is valid for one year from date of submission.
**Additional evidence may be required to fulfill state requirements, including but not limited to verification of professional experience, test scores, or an interview.
Cumulative 3.00 in bachelor’s degree
or
2.50 in bachelor’s degree and at least five (5) years of documented professional experience in education
or
Hold both a baccalaureate degree and proof of passing Indiana state-approved content area examination in Mild Intervention.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
All applicants must submit, to the Admissions Office, an official evaluation from a NACES-approved organization.
All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English language as demonstrated in one of three ways:
2Internal research conducted November 2025
3Across all ACE Programs. See Student Right to Know. Accessed May 28, 2026
4Education Data Initiative. Accessed January 28, 2026
Our Enrollment Counselors are here to answer your questions and walk you through the enrollment process.
