special education students sitting on wall

Master's Degree in Special Education

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Specialize your training to support all individuals with diverse learning abilities and behavioral needs.

Earn your master's degree in special education from the largest Special Education teacher graduate program in the upper midwest. This program is specifically tailored to individuals without an undergraduate degree in education. Take classes all online - you never have to come to campus.

Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
1.5+ years
Credit hours:
30+

Why earn a master's degree in special education?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
July 15
Spring:
Nov. 1
Summer:
April 1

Q&A with Special Education Faculty

Watch our Facebook Q&A with UND Special Education faculty.

This program is designed for professionals interested in the study of individuals with diverse learning and emotional or behavioral needs. This fully-online graduate special education degree is appropriate for candidates who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than education. The emphasis of this program will focus on pedagogy to build a foundation for the art and science of teaching. 

Program benefits include:

  • No entry exams.
  • Consistent course offerings for timely graduation.
  • Flexible completion of structured lessons.
  • Coursework tied to practical experiences
  • Option of on-the-job fieldwork.
  • Master's project applicable to field.
  • Entirely online graduate program with no on-campus travel requirement.

For current teachers, candidates with a bachelor's degree in education or or for those seeking ABA specialization, earn your M.S. in Special Education.

Special Education Master's Programs Online

You can choose from the following specializations:

  1. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  2. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  3. Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
  4. General Special Education
  5. Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
  6. Learning Disabilities (LD)
  7. Special Education Strategist (SES)
  8. Visual Impairment (VI)

See our Special Education Graduate Certificates in ASD, BIS, EBD, ECSE, ID and LD. 

UND's Master's Degree in Special Education

  • The Special Education Program is in the Department of Teaching, Learning & Professional Practice. It is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

  • We are globally renowned for our expertise, leadership, diversity, and high quality teacher and professional preparation in the field of special education.

  • You will learn from an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as practitioners, professors, and researchers. We offer one-on-one advising and customized program of study.

  • UND's Special Education program is approved by Educational Standards and Practices Board (ESPB). 

  • Our unique program allows Resident Teachers (RTs) to earn a master's degree in special education through online coursework and on-the-job experience in a school district/special education unit.

  • Be part of the NDMTSS Social Emotional Learning Network. You’ll share experiences, celebrate successes, and problem-solve perceived barriers related to social emotional learning.

What can you do with a special education masters degree?

61K

Median annual wage for special education teachers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

8%

Projected job growth for special education teachers through 2030

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job prospects for special education teachers are excellent due to the rising enrollments of students receiving special education and shortages of qualified teachers. Job openings are expected as a result or teacher retirements or career changes. Additionally, teachers with master's degrees fall on the high end of the scale or earn a premium income.

UND's program is an approved teacher certification program for North Dakota that is transferable to most states.

Special Education Master's Skills

A Special Education master's degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Assessment
  • IEP Development
  • Curriculum Development
  • Lesson Planning
  • Strategic Planning
  • Leadership In Educational Teams
  • Develop and Implement Evidence-Based Interventions
  • Behavior Management

Jobs with Master's Degree in Special Education

Our graduates work in schools, hospitals, human services agencies, state and private institutions and in private practice. Special Education alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Most school districts in the state of North Dakota as well as schools in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, California, Oregon, and many more 
  • Schools in Canada, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Columbia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Caymen Islands 
  • Anne Carlsen Center
  • Family Support Services of North Idaho, LLC
  • Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) International Schools

Master's in Special Education Online Courses

SPED 552. Inclusive Methods. 3 Credits.

The study of a variety of methods and materials for teaching and assessing children and youth with learning and behavior problems in the general education classroom.

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.

SPED 542. Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysts. 3 Credits.

This course introduces ethical and professional considerations relevant in the professional practice of applied behavior analysis as well as the ethical and disciplinary standards of the profession. Students will become familiar with the ethical and professional conduct and legal issues relevant to Board Certified Behavior Analyst-level practitioners, as well as the professional conduct consistent with the practice of applied behavior analysis. F,S,SS.

SPED 561. Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorder. 3 Credits.

This is a required course in a sequence of interdisciplinary courses focusing on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Its central purpose is to address commonly implemented intervention strategies, particularly those considered to be evidence based or research supported in the field of ASD. This course examines the current literature base supporting various interventions and strategies with a focus on matching the needs and strengths of individuals with ASD to the most appropriate intervention method based on data driven practice and research support for a particular intervention. F,S,SS.

SPED 502. Braille Reading and Writing. 2 Credits.

In this course students learn: 1) to read and write the literary code of grade 2 braille and 2) to teach the literary code of grade 2 braille to students of all ages. Prerequisites: Must demonstrate proficiency in Braille Code I and Braille Code II, or, must enroll in Braille Code II and Braille Reading and Writing concurrently. S.

Best M.Ed. in Special Education Online

#1 Childhood Education Degrees
#2 Accredited Schools Online
#12 Intelligent
#12 Master’s in Special Education
#12 Top Education Degrees
#13 Grad School Hub
#13 Special Education Degree
#15 College Consensus

UND is consistently recognized as Top 15 online master's in special education for affordability, flexibility and career outcomes. U.S. News & World Report also recognizes the program for having strong traditional academic foundations based on student-instructor access, graduation rates and instructor credentials. We excel at educating online veteran learners by reducing the cost of school.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

Leaders in Special Education

Den Bolda, special education teacher at Fargo North High School, is a graduate of UND's online special education program.

Read Den's Story

Explore More Options

Connect with the Special Education faculty you'll work with at UND or explore other education majors:

Department Contact
Karen Harrie
Administrative Secretary
P 701.777.2346
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