Master's in Special Education Requirements

Upon offer of admission, the following will be required: Successful passage of FBI criminal background check

Admission Requirements 

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is designed for those who do not have a previous degree in education.  This degree will have a pedagogical focus to build a foundation for the art and science of teaching. 

1. A bachelor’s degree.
2. A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.75 for all undergraduate work (based on A = 4.00).
3. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Admission Process

1. Complete the School of Graduate Studies' online application.
2. Submit the application fee of $35.
3. Three Letters of Recommendation are required: one from an employment supervisor or administrator, one from a professional colleague or university professor, and one from a professional of your choosing.  
4. Request one official copy of all academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attempted credit at, including undergraduate and graduate course work. 
5. One Personal Statement, which will include the questions listed below specific to special education, will be required on the master's application.  

Personal Statement

The length of each response should be 1-2 pages double-spaced.  The personal statement is scored for depth of discussion, authenticity, organization, and mechanics.

Respond to the four questions below:

1. Explain how your experiences/interests reflect your capacity for the specialization area you are applying for specifically (i.e., ASD, EBD, EI/ECSE, General, ID, LD, SES, and BVI).
2. Identify a behavioral or learning need with an individual with whom you know professionally or personally and describe your approach to managing the individual's specific need.
3. Graduate school may be challenging due to competing demands for your time.  Please address how you will navigate these challenges by utilizing your strengths.
4. In this master’s program, you will receive constructive feedback to develop and/or enhance your skills.  Explain how you have perceived and managed this type of feedback in your past experiences.

Accelerated Bachelors/Master's (ABM) Admission

The Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) 4+1 program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. All requirements for both degrees must be met, and students may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits toward the requirements for both their bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements.  ABM students must obtain their master’s degree within 12 months of completing the bachelor’s degree.

The M.Ed. in Special Education offers two options for the ABM program:

1. B.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education/M.Ed. in Special Education with Specialization in Early Childhood Education.
2. B.G.S. with a major in General Studies/M.Ed. in Special Education with a Specialization in Special Education Strategist. (No previously earned credits are required for the M.Ed. in SPED 4+1 option.)

ABM Admission Requirements

1. Students interested in the accelerated program will follow the admission process listed above for the M.Ed.
2. In addition to these requirements, students will need to submit an Accelerated/Combined Program of Study as part of the admission process.

Specialization Areas

The M.Ed. in Special Education program offers eight specialization options:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Blind/Visual Impairment (BVI)
• Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
• Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
• Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
• Learning Disabilities (LD)
• Special Education Strategist (SES)
• General Special Education

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Master of Education degree 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 31 to 41 credits at or above the 500 level is required for the degree. Additional credits may be needed for teacher licensure.
2. A maximum of nine graduate special education or related one-fourth of the credit hours may be transferred from another institution.
3. Two credits of SPED 995 Scholarly Project or four credits of T&L 998 Thesis.
4. Two credits of Internship; either general special education or aligned to Special Education Core Coursework (excluding students in the area of ABA specialization).
5. A minimum of 21 to 25 credits of special education coursework (depending on optional specialization area).

6. Choose six credits of pedagogical coursework.

7. Elective courses available for additional credits that may be required for your state's teacher licensure requirements. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The ASD specialization area focuses on children, adolescents, and adults with ASD and addresses several aspects of ASD including characteristics, assessment, methods/strategies, inter-agency collaboration/support, and application in a field setting. This specialization requires 31 credits.

Blind/Visual Impairment (B/VI)

The BVI specialization area focuses on children and adolescents who are visually impaired or blind and addresses several aspects of BVI including characteristics, assessment, braille code, methods/strategies, orientation/mobility, and application in a field setting. This specialization requires 38 credits.

Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSI)

The EI/ECSE specialization area focuses on children from birth to age eight and addresses various disabilities, primarily developmental in nature, and addresses several aspects of EI/ECSE including characteristics, assessment, methods/strategies, all forms of development, (e.g., language, physical), and application in a field setting. This specialization requires 34 credits.

Emotional Behavior Disorders (EBD)

The EBD 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. This specialization requires 31 credits.

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. This specialization requires 31 credits.

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. This specialization requires 31 credits.

Special Education Strategist (SES)

The SES specialization area is a cross-categorical area that encompasses all of the courses in the specialization areas of ID, EBD, and LD. This specialization requires 41 credits. 

General Special Education

The general specialization area is a “design your own program” option. Students can choose courses from all of the courses offered by the special education program.