special education teacher in classroom

Accelerated Online Early Childhood & SPED Degree

B.S.Ed. and M.Ed.

Graduate with a B.S. in early childhood education and M.Ed. in special education in 5 years.

Special education teachers are in very high demand. UND graduates from the early childhood education program enjoy a 100% employment rate. Get ready to address the educational needs of children under the age of eight, in a variety of settings.

Program type:
Accelerated (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
5 years
Credit hours:
120 (bachelor's) 30+ (master's)

Why combine degrees in early childhood and special education?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

Students seeking the accelerated degree may apply to the School of Graduate Studies after completing 60 credits.

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
July 15
Spring:
Nov. 15
Summer:
March 15

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

With the accelerated online program, you'll gain a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, Special Education minor, and master’s in Special Education with specialization in Early Childhood Special Education. Upon degree completion, you will have completed an important step towards licensure in North Dakota in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. 

As you earn your early childhood education/Early childhood special education degree online, you'll:

  • Focus on children in the context of family, culture and community.
  • Explore developmentally appropriate practices, emergent curriculum, descriptive assessment, and problem-solving approaches to resolving conflict and choices for children.
  • Learn how to screen and assess young children with disabilities and program plan using research supported interventions.
  • Develop interdisciplinary collaborative skills when working with families and colleagues in early intervention and early childhood special education programs.
  • Learn online from an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as practitioners, professors and researchers.

How does an accelerated online education program work?

Early Childhood Education B.S. + Special Education Minor + Special Education M.Ed. with a specialization in Early Childhood Education

The online degree programs M.Ed. in Special Education or M.S. in Early Childhood Education allows those with an associate’s degree in education or currently enrolled undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. Undergraduates with 60 credits or those currently in an Education degree program are eligible for consideration for the accelerated degree program.

All requirements for the undergraduate and graduate degrees must be met. You may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits towards the requirements for your undergraduate degree and your M.Ed. degree. You must obtain your M.Ed. degree within 12 months of completing your undergraduate degree, provided that the degree requirements can be completed in that time frame.

Accredited Online Early Childhood Special Education Degree

Teacher education programs at UND are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The online program follows the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Online Early Childhood Special Education Program

  • Enjoy affordable online tuition rates regardless of where you live.

  • Be part of the ND Essential Skills Network. You’ll share experiences, celebrate successes, and problem-solve perceived barriers related to social emotional learning.

  • Join the Early Childhood Education Student Organization (ECESOO).

  • Students have direct involvement with children in more than 60% of the courses.

  • The degree emphasizes scholarly application for practitioners, and students may continue their education and pursue a Doctor of Education.

  • Be more competitive and get a higher paying job with the accelerated program. Learn more about the program benefits.

Careers in Early Childhood Special Education

100%

Graduates employed in positions related to their UND early childhood education degree

UND

66k

Median annual salary for special education teachers, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

It's essential to research the specific licensure requirements in the state or country where you intend to teach, as each region may have its own set of criteria, examinations and application procedures for teacher licensure.

You'll be eligible for licensure to teach in North Dakota after:

  1. Successfully completing a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with an overall grade point average of at least 2.75
  2. Passing state licensure exams
  3. Meeting the state's legal requirements with a satisfactory background check
If seeking a license in North Dakota, you should apply to the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board prior to graduation.

If you're interested in a teacher license from states other than North Dakota, contact the Advising Office for the College of Education & Human Development to determine if this degree meets the criteria for licensure in your state.

Early Childhood Education Careers

An Early Childhood Education degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Curriculum Development
  • Lesson Planning
  • Strategic Planning
  • Child Development

You'll graduate with limitless career opportunities and a solid foundation for working with children ranging in age from 0-8 years old. Students with a special education degree can teach and be a leader in:

  • Public schools PreK and kindergarten through third grade
  • Early Head Start
  • Child care and education centers
  • Administration/Director

Online Early Childhood Special Education Courses

T&L 313. Language Development and Emerging Literacy. 3 Credits.

This course examines both typical and atypical development of language and thought in children ages birth-8. Children's emergent literacy is studied within the context of language development.There will be a minimum of eight hours of field experience. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. F.

SPED 512. Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs. 3 Credits.

A comprehensive study of curricula, program development and evidence-based intervention strategies for including young children (ages three to six) with special needs in early childhood settings. Prerequisite: Admission to one of the master's programs in special education. S.

SPED 510. Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the field of Early Childhood Special Education, primarily for students interested in entering the field. Issues such as program design, parent involvement, identification, infant education, and effects of disabilities will be covered. F,S,SS.

SPED 514. Intervention Strategies with Infants and Toddlers. 3 Credits.

This course provides for study into the unique needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities as well as the delivery of intervention services to the very young child with disabilities and his/her family. SS.

SPED 511. Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs. 3 Credits.

A study of the principles and procedures for screening, identifying and evaluating young children with special needs. Emphasis will be placed on exposing students to available assessment instruments and providing opportunities for actual testing of preschoolers. Prerequisite: Admission to one of the master's programs in special education.

SPED 578. Behavior Management. 3 Credits.

The study of a variety of effective behavior management and assessment techniques appropriate to the needs of children and youth with special needs. Topics include procedures to increase self-awareness, self-management, self-control, self-reliance, self-esteem, and assessment procedures and techniques for determining behavioral needs. Prerequisite: Admission to one of the master's programs in special education. F,S,SS.

Teacher helping young student write

Best Online Education Program

UND has one of the best online education programs in the Upper Midwest.

15 best affordable schools in north dakota for bachelor’s degree 2020

Online Accelerated Early Childhood SPED Degree

2#

best online graduate programs

EDsmart

1#

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

The entire degree program is fully online. You are never required to come to campus.

Flexible Online Early Childhood SPED Degree

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family, and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls, and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Field-Based Practicum

You'll be required to complete a 3-credit practicum in an early childhood education classroom setting for a total of 60 hours.

You'll be responsible for finding an approved practicum site and the individual who will supervise you. If you're currently teaching, you may complete the practicum in your own pre-school, Kindergarten or grade 1-3 classroom if it meets UND's accreditation requirements. Standard 4 - Diversity of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education states:

Field experiences or clinical practice for both conventional and online learning programs provide experiences with male and female P-12 students from different socioeconomic groups and at least two ethnic/racial groups. Candidates also work with English language learners and students with disabilities during some of their field experiences and/or clinical practice to develop and practice their knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions for working with all students. Feedback from peers and supervisors helps candidates reflect on their ability to help all students learn.

Your supervisor may be an administrator, education coordinator or another individual physically located at your practicum site. Your supervisor does not need to be in your classroom on a regular basis if you have previously taught in an early childhood classroom.

If you are not currently teaching, UND faculty may be able to assist you in locating a qualifying practicum site.

Leaders in Online Education

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Learning to Lead

After earning his master's degree in Special Education, Dennis Bolda is now a Special Education Strategist.

Read Dennis' Story

 

Explore More Options

Connect with the education faculty you'll work with at UND or explore other education opportunities.

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