special education students sitting on wall

Special Education (M.Ed.)

Specialize your training to support all individuals with diverse learning abilities and behavioral needs through professional excellence and advocacy.

For individuals without an undergraduate degree in education, earn a Master's of Education from a Special Education Program that aspires to be globally renowned for its expertise, leadership, diversity, and high quality teacher and professional preparation in the field of special education.

Program Snapshot
Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
1.5+ years
Credit hours:
32+

Why Study Special Education at UND?

The program is designed for educators and other professionals interested in the study of children, adolescents and/or adults with diverse learning abilities. This master's degree is appropriate for candidates with a bachelor's degree in a field other than education. The degree emphasizes scholarly application for practitioners, and students may continue their education and pursue a Doctor of Education.

You can choose from eight specializations:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
    • Also offered as a Autism Spectrum Disorder certificate
  • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  • General Special Education
  • Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
  • Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
  • Learning Disabilities (LD)
  • Special Education Strategist (SES)
  • Visual Impairment (VI)

Online students have an affordable tuition rate. You will pay the in-state tuition as a North Dakota resident.

You will learn from an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as practitioners, professors, and researchers. We offer an approved teacher certification program for North Dakota that is transferable to most states.

For current teachers or for those seeking ABA specialization, earn your M.S. in Special Education. 

Watch a Q&A with UND Special Education faculty.

Top Online Special Education Degree in the Nation

Every special education program offers education, but not every program prepares students to make a real impact the way UND does. UND is increasingly regarded as the best public research school for an online master's in special education.

Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top online Education program

#2 - Best Applied Behavior Master's Degree

#21 - Best online graduate education program for veterans

Accredited Special Education Program

The Special Education Program within the Department of Teaching, Learning & Professional Practice is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by Educational Standards and Practices Board (ESPB).

teaching group of people
Special Education Resident Teacher Program

This 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.

RT Program

Leaders in Action

Den Bolda, special education teacher at Fargo North High School, is a 2015 graduate of the online special education program.

Special Education M.Ed. Overview

  • Borderless: Program is entirely online with no on-campus travel requirement

  • Barrier-Free: 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, and master's project applicable to field

  • Individualized: Responsive faculty, one-on-one advising, and customized program of study

  • Ranked by thebestschools.org as a top online program.

Special Education M.Ed. Careers

57K
Median annual wage for special education teachers*
8%
Projected job growth for special education teachers through 2026* Teachers with master's degrees fall on the high end of the scale or earn a premium income.

 

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Careers in Special Education

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.

Our graduates work in schools, hospitals, human services agencies, state and private institutions and in private practice.

When You Earn a Master's degree in Special Education

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

  • Curriculum Development
  • Lesson Planning
  • Event Planning
  • Autism Therapies
  • Strategic Planning

UND Special Education Alumni

Special Education alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • West Fargo District
  • Anne Carlsen Center
  • Grand Forks Public Schools
  • Blake High School
  • Family Support Servicces of North Idaho, LLC

Special Education M.Ed. Courses You Could Take

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 found in the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts and Disciplinary and Ethical Standards and Disciplinary Procedures (2012), 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. Prerequisite or corequisite: SPED 560. 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.

Learn More Now

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

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