Education

Masters of Education in Special needs Educational

The Masters of Education in Special Needs Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in special needs education, inclusive education, and disability support. The programme provides specialised training in special needs pedagogy, assessment, intervention, and inclusive education practices.

Core areas include special needs education theory, inclusive education, assessment and intervention, visual impairment education, hearing impairment education, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, gifted and talented education, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, teaching practice, and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University as a public institution through the School of Education. Pwani University offers MEd in Special Needs Education as a public institution. Maseno University also offers the programme. Programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in special needs pedagogy, assessment, inclusive education, intervention design, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, teaching practice in special schools, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for special needs education and leadership roles.

KU charges approximately KES 142,700 per year while Pwani University charges approximately KES 137,700 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme at verified rates. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Education (Special Needs), Special Needs Education, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as special needs lecturers, special education officers, inclusive education consultants, assessment specialists, special school administrators, and teacher trainers across universities, special schools, education ministries, and NGOs.

Skills Required

Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
Visual Impairment Education Strategies
Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
Learning Disabilities Intervention
Gifted and Talented Education
Research Methods in Special Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
Visual Impairment Education Strategies
Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
Learning Disabilities Intervention
Gifted and Talented Education
Research Methods in Special Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

KISE Special Education Certification
KICD Curriculum Developer Certification

Specializations

Visual Impairment Education

Focuses on visual impairment education, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.

Hearing Impairment Education

Examines hearing impairment education, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.

Learning Disabilities

Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Focuses on autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.

Inclusive Education

Examines inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.

Gifted and Talented Education

Covers gifted and talented education, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
Visual Impairment Education Strategies
Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
Learning Disabilities Intervention
Gifted and Talented Education
Research Methods in Special Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines special needs theory, covering special, needs, education, theory, and managing special needs education theory and practice.
Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.
Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines assessment, covering assessment, identification, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification of learning needs.
Visual Impairment Education Strategies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers visual impairment, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.
Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines hearing impairment, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.
Learning Disabilities Intervention
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.
Research Methods in Special Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, special, education, and conducting research in special education, preparing students for their thesis.
Gifted and Talented Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines gifted and talented, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.
Physical and Health Impairments
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers physical impairments, covering physical, health, impairments, education, and managing physical and health impairments education.
Special Education Policy and Legislation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines special education policy, covering special, education, policy, legislation, and managing special education policy and legislation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and special education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Visual Impairment Education
Focuses on visual impairment education, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.
Hearing Impairment Education
Examines hearing impairment education, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.
Learning Disabilities
Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Focuses on autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.
Inclusive Education
Examines inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.
Gifted and Talented Education
Covers gifted and talented education, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, teaching practice in special schools, and independent study. Sessions cover special needs theory, inclusive education, assessment, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and learning disabilities. Special needs theory sessions examine special, needs, education, theory, and managing special needs education theory. Inclusive education sessions cover inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design. Assessment sessions cover assessment, identification, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification. Visual impairment sessions cover visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education. Hearing impairment sessions cover hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education. Learning disabilities sessions cover learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses high demand for special needs professionals as Kenya implements inclusive education.
Two public universities confirmed offering the programme, providing options for students.
Programme covers diverse areas from visual impairment to autism to gifted and talented education.
Graduates are eligible for KISE special education certification and KICD curriculum developer certification.

Against it

Small fee difference between Pwani (KES 137,700/year) and KU (KES 142,700/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme at verified rates.
Teaching practice may require placement in special schools which may be limited.
Programme may require emotional resilience for working with vulnerable learners.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public145k to 296k

145k at Pwani University296k at Kenyatta University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 295.8K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Pwani 145K/yr (tuko.co.ke). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. UNESCO may offer inclusive education funding for research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
UNESCO Inclusive Education Fund

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 142,700Kenyan
KU and Pwani University may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate special needs students.
UNESCO Inclusive Education Fund
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
UNESCO may offer inclusive education funding for research and education.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KU and Pwani University require at least Upper Second Class Honours in Education or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant teaching experience in special needs settings. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering special needs theory, inclusive education, assessment, and intervention strategies.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through teaching practice in special schools, demonstrating special needs pedagogy and intervention skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and special education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). KU (public) offers MEd in Special Education through the School of Education. Pwani University (public) offers MEd in Special Needs Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in special needs education. Graduates may interact with KISE for special education certification and KICD for curriculum development. The programme aligns with CUE, KISE, KICD, and UNESCO inclusive education frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. KU (public) offers MEd in Special Education through the School of Education. Pwani University (public) offers MEd in Special Needs Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in special needs education. Graduates may interact with KISE for special education certification and KICD for curriculum development. The programme aligns with CUE, KISE, KICD, and UNESCO inclusive education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Special Needs Lecturer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches special needs education at university or college level, covering special, needs, lecturer, teaching, and managing special needs instruction.
Special Education Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages special education, covering special, education, officer, programmes, and managing special education programmes.
Inclusive Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides inclusive education consulting, covering inclusive, education, consultant, advisory, and managing inclusive education consulting.
Assessment Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Conducts learning needs assessment, covering assessment, specialist, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification.
Special School Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages special school operations, covering special, school, administrator, operations, and managing special school administration.
Teacher Trainer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Trains special needs teachers, covering teacher, trainer, special, needs, and managing teacher training in special needs education.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for special education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, special, and managing special education research data analysis.
NVivo
Software
NVivo for qualitative data analysis in special education research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.
Individualised Education Program (IEP) Software
Software
IEP software for individualised education planning, covering IEP, individualised, education, planning, and managing individualised education programs.
Excel
Software
Excel for special education data management and reporting, covering Excel, data, special, education, and managing special education data management.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Special needs education is just about teaching disabled children.
Special needs education covers inclusive education, gifted and talented, learning disabilities, autism, and systemic policy beyond just disability.
This programme is only for special education graduates.
The programme is for professionals from education, psychology, and related fields, not just special education graduates.
Special needs education has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Special needs professionals are in high demand as Kenya implements inclusive education policies.
This programme is the same as educational psychology.
Special needs education focuses on pedagogy and intervention, while educational psychology covers broader psychological assessment and support.
Inclusive education means putting all children in the same classroom without support.
Inclusive education involves systematic design, accommodation, and specialist support to ensure all learners can participate.
You need special education experience to study this programme.
The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking special needs education specialisation, not just experienced special educators.