Moderate Disabilities Scholarships

Overview

The US Department of Education has awarded a grant to both Lasell University and UMass Lowell's faculty to develop an interdisciplinary graduate-level programs to prepare professionals to meet the special education needs school-aged (K-8) students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities. There are 32 full scholarships available where 16 students from each school would be awarded full tuition. The availability of these generous scholarships will allow scholars to earn master’s degree programs with licensure and credits toward graduate certificates.

Scholarship Highlights

32 students will be awarded a full-tuition scholarship (16 from Lasell University and 16 from UMass Lowell) equivalent to the tuition for 45 credit masters along with paid travel for conferences and books
Scholarships from both institutions will be awarded to students starting January 2026 and will continue for the next 5 years
Adds a unique focus on special education and applied behavior analysis and autism, addressing the needs of students with intensive support needs grades K-8.
Courses will be taken at both Lasell and UMass Lowell
Interdisciplinary seminars and workshops where both Lasell and UMass Lowell students will learn and collaborate on projects together
Students eligible for the scholarship should interested in supporting students with high intensity needs and collaborating on professional teams

Students who apply can pick a specialized path:

Lasell Path: Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities with licensure in PreK - 8th grade - and 9 credits towards a UMass Lowell graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
UMass Lowell Path: Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism and 6 credits toward licensure in Moderate Disabilities at Lasell University

These master’s programs will encourage the next generation of educators to work in concert to support students in grades K-8 by introducing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to special education and applied behavior analysis while integrating culturally responsive methodologies to address the needs of a diverse student population receiving additional experiences in supporting learners with Autism and high-intensity needs. Together, Lasell and UMass Lowell graduate students scholars will attend coordinated seminars and workshops that promote best practices, reinforce collaboration and problem-solving, and explore Applied Behavioral Analysis evidence-based practices to benefit students with disabilities.

“There is a critical shortage of highly trained personnel to meet the intense educational needs of students with disabilities Schools here and across the country have grown increasingly more diverse, yet the educator workforce does not reflect this evolution within our communities,” said Dr. Hartmann, Chair of the Lasell Graduate Education Program. “Each child with a disability, regardless of the intensity or severity of their disability, will present with unique learning and developmental characteristics that differ widely, and special educators and related personnel need to be trained to work on teams that serve all students.”

Though the demand for qualified special educators and related service providers is high, numerous factors have resulted in a shortage of teachers, including a sharp decline in the number of high school graduates enrolling in college-level teacher preparation programs.

How do I apply?

Students only need to fill out the application for the Master of Education: Moderate Disabilities and let your enrollment counselor know you are interested in the COAST scholarship that is being offered and your application will be considered.

Learn more about the Master of Education: Moderate Disabilities program.

Fill out an application >>

Faculty

The team behind this new alliance includes faculty from both Lasell University and UMass Lowell who are experts in special education, applied behavior analysis, key public schools and nonprofit autism service organizations. UMass Lowell School of Education, assistant professor, Robai Wernuga, whose work focuses on special education and early intervention, and Psychology Associate Professor, Rocio Rosales, program coordinator, Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies, are partnering with Professor Liz Hartmann, graduate program chair of Education, in leading this endeavor.