Special Education Graduate Certificate Requirements

Admissions Requirements

The following criteria will be used to assess a student’s application for admission into the Graduate Certificate in Special Education. No single criterion can adequately predict a student’s probable success in graduate work. Applicants should anticipate that the materials they submit will be held to high standards with submission of the following:

1. Online application and fee of $35
2. GPA/Transcripts:  A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 for all graduate work (must have minimum of 9 credits) or for junior and senior years of undergraduate work (based on A = 4.00).  Submit transcripts from undergraduate and/or graduate level coursework.
3. Provide two letters of recommendation from professionals in the field of special education. These letters need to specifically address employment, coursework, and/or interest in relation to individuals with disabilities.

Descriptions of the Specialization Areas

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): The ECSE specialization area focuses on children from birth to age nine and addresses various disabilities, primarily developmental in nature, and addresses several aspects of ECSE including characteristics, assessment, methods/strategies, all forms of development, (e.g., language, physical), and application in a field setting.

Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD): The ED specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with both emotional and behavior disorders and addresses several aspects of EBD including characteristics, assessment, behavior and academic methods/strategies, and application in a field setting.

Intellectual Disabilities (ID): The ID specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and addresses several aspects of ID including characteristics, assessment, methods/strategies, and application in a field setting.

Learning Disabilities (LD): The LD specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with learning problems that are not due to developmental, emotional, or cognitive disabilities and addresses several aspects of LD including characteristics, assessment, methods/strategies, and application in a field setting.

Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS): The BIS specialization prepares educators to support children and adolescents who use behaviors that interfere with instruction and social-emotional development. This specialization provides training and experience in (a) the assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors and (b) the facilitation of interdisciplinary and stakeholder teaming to support individual children and their caregivers.

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Graduate Certificate in Special Education at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Special Education Program.

1. A minimum of 15 credits is required for the certificate.
2. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours may be transferred from another institution.
3. ECSE, EBD, ID, and/or LD Requirements: Six credits of Special Education Core Coursework and an additional nine credits focusing on the specific disability area (i.e. ECSE, EBD, ID, and/or LD). 
4. BIS Requirements: 15 credits focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Behavior Intervention.  Students pursuing the BIS will not be required to complete the Core Courses.   

Core Courses (6 cr.)

Specialization Areas (9 cr. each)

Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS)

Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

Intellectual Disabilities (ID)

Learning Disabilities (LD)

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)