The graduate program in Special Education is focused on the principles of transformative pedagogy so that graduates obtain the skills to increase access, support, and more equitable outcomes for diverse students. Instructional practice in real world settings is supported by program faculty in order for program participants to apply equity-focused methods working with diverse students within a wide array of school and community contexts. The State accredited program offers two Master’s degree tracks. The first option allows participants to earn initial certification in Exceptional Student Education along with ESOL and Reading endorsement. The second option allows participants to focus on special education with a focus in either equity-focused education policy or transformative instructional methods. The learning objectives of the program are to increase pre-service and practicing teachers’ knowledge of: 1) foundations of special education, 2) culturally responsive assessment and evaluation, and 3) culturally responsive instructional practices in special education.Our program includes a research to practice focus in diverse, urban settings. The program faculty are actively engaged in school based research. This allows program participants to engage in meaningful and reflective application of research based pedagogical methods as well as to critically examine practices.