Project Match Made in Schools - Grant Funded Master's Degree

GRANT OVERVIEW

UTA's special education faculty and social work faculty have partnered to cross-train future special educators and social workers through Project Match Made in Schools (Project MMS).

This unique, U.S. Department of Education grant pays full tuition and and partial fees for one academic year for scholars pursuing an M.Ed. in Special Education with initial teacher certification or a Master of Social Work.

Project MMS scholars will be eligible for the appropriate state certification/licensure for teaching or social work practice and be prepared to serve children and youth with disabilities with high-intensity needs.

Scholars admitted to the program will:

• Learn to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to tackle outside factors that impact classroom success, such as homelessness, poverty, and socioeconomic status.
• Become equipped with hands-on research experiences in one of the only interdisciplinary programs in the U.S. that cross trains students for careers in education or social work.

Degree Options

Funded scholars in Project MMS will be enrolled in one of the following programs at UTA:

• Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education with initial teacher certification which leads to licensure in Early Childhood – Grade 12 Special Education.
• Master of Social Work (MSW), with a concentration in Direct Practice, Specialty in Children and Families, which leads to licensure by the Association of Social Work Boards.

Starting in the fall semester, scholars selected from among the two programs will complete their respective programs while sharing courses, coursework, and aligned practice-based field experiences with other scholars. The two programs have separate application processes and requirements.

Benefits

• Generous grant funding of nearly $15,000 towards tuition and fees for up to one year of enrollment (Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall) is available for M.Ed. in Special Education with certification candidates. Up to $17,000 is available for Master of Social Work candidates. 
• 100% accelerated online classes with meaningful, in-person experiences (including one, in-person meeting at the beginning of each semester and in-person field placement in the classroom)
• Strong mentoring program embedded
• Small cohort with one-on-one support from faculty advisors
• Gain real-world research expertise
• 280 hours of direct and diverse field experiences working with children with special needs 
• 200 hours of an apprenticeship experience with Project Directors 

As part of the funding, scholars admitted to the program agree to work with students with disabilities for two years after graduation. Also, the recipient must begin their two-year commitment within five years of graduating.

Eligibility

M.Ed. in Special Education with initial teacher certification

• Hold a bachelor's degree 
• Do not hold a teacher certification 
• No previous teaching/education experience required
• Meet general admissions requirements (e.g. minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework) 
• Agree to work with students with disabilities in schools for two years for every one year that they accept funding

Master of Social Work with a concentration in Direct Practice with Specialization in Children and Families 

• Completed M.S.W. Foundation Year Curriculum by the end fo the Fall term 
• Accepted for the Spring term to the M.S.W. Program with Advanced Standing Status 
• Meet general admissions requirements (e.g. minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework) 
• Agree to work with students with disabilities in schools for two years for every one year that they accept funding

Note: Preference will be given to students in the geographical region due to research and field hour requirements. If you will not be living in the geographical area and are accepted into the program, you must commit to completing research and field hour requirements in the geographical area.