The W introduces advanced degree in Multiple Exceptionalities
The School of Education at Mississippi University for Women will offer a Masters of Education in Multiple Exceptionalities for fall 2025. The advanced degree was approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Thursday, Jan. 16.
“High-achieving gifted learners may have a disorder or disability that is overshadowed by their giftedness, and similarly, a learner initially found to have a learning disorder or disability may have some degree of giftedness that has not been recognized,” said Dr. Martin Hatton, dean of the School of Education.
The Masters of Education in Multiple Exceptionalities combines a 12-credit hour specialty license endorsement in gifted studies with a 12-credit hour specialty license endorsement in special education, combined with two three-credit hour courses in research, to form a 30-credit hour program to address educational practices appropriate for the multivariate nature of giftedness and special education.
Hatton said, “It is estimated that, minimally, 2-5% of children are dealing with multiple exceptionalities and are often overlooked. Unfortunately, there are not enough practicing professional educators with an understanding of how best to work with gifted learners or special needs learners. Those with an understanding of how each dynamic impacts individual learners are critically scarce.”
The Masters of Education in Multiple Exceptionalities is designed to offer licensed classroom teachers three distinct benefits. The program allows licensed teachers to upgrade from a “Single-A” (A) teaching license to a “Double-A” (AA) teaching license, resulting in salary increases and expanded career opportunities. Second, the program combines two embedded licensure add-on endorsements—one in Gifted Studies and one in Special Education—providing licensure-based evidence of specialization required for teaching in these areas. Finally, the program emphasizes the overlapping nature of giftedness and special needs through a required research project in multiple exceptionalities, addressing the dynamic that may manifest as opposite extremes of skill and competency development.
“There are only a handful of programs like this in the country, and yet there is such a huge need for qualified educators who understand the overlapping nature of giftedness and special needs. This program is designed specifically to help educators understand how to help students apply their unique strengths to become stronger learners,” said Hatton.
Educators interested in pursuing the Masters of Education in Multiple Exceptionalities should email education@muw.edu.
The W’s School of Education (SOE) has been a leader in lifelong learning for over 140 years. Dedicated to education from early childhood through post-graduation, the SOE inspires excellence through teacher preparation, professional development and community enrichment. SOE programs empower educators and learners to grow, lead and make a lasting impact across the region.