Millersville University offers the Masters of Education degree in Special Education with a major in mental and physical disabilities. Certification in mental and physical handicaps includes the areas of brain injuries, autism/PPD, specific learning disabilities, all levels of mental retardation, physical disabilities and serious emotional disturbances. The certification is a comprehensive program (K - 12). A clinical practicum experience is required for all students not certified in special education but holding a certification in another area of education. The practicum is selected in various public and private schools and institutions located in central Pennsylvania. Those students who hold no teacher certification will be required to complete a semester of student teaching.

Students who meet admission standards will be admitted provisionally. Full admission to the Special Education degree program is based on the successful completion of the departmental qualifying examination. This examination is offered periodically and should be taken when the student has completed no more than 15 graduate credits.

The number of credits required for a master's degree is determined on an individual basis dependent upon the student's background and acquired competencies, whether or not the candidate is certified in special education, and how current the background is in special education. Students who are not certified will obtain certification before or by the time of graduation with a master's degree.

The minimum number of credits needed for graduation for highly qualified individuals already certified in special education is 36 s.h. Persons not previously certified in special education must complete from 36 to 75 s.h. for certification and the M.Ed. A post-master's Supervision of Special Education program is also offered. This program consists of three core courses plus a practicum experience in special education supervision.