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

Admission Requirements for the M.Ed.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is designed for those who do not have a previous degree in education.  This degree will have a pedagogy 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.

Admissions Process

1. Complete the School of Graduate Studies online application.
2. Submit the application fee of $35.
3. Recommend three people who will complete the recommendation form:
   1. one from an employment supervisor or administrator;
   2. one from a professional colleague or university professor; and
   3. one from a professional of your choosing.
4. Send official transcripts from each institution attended to the School of Graduate Studies.
5. Complete the personal statement and attach it in the “essay” section of the application. The personal statement should address four questions:
   1. Explain how your experiences/interests reflect your capacity for the specialization area you are apply for specifically (i.e., LD, EBD, ID, VI, ECSE, ASD, SES, General).
   2. Identify a behavioral or learning need with an individual whom you know professionally or personally, then describe how you approached managing it.
   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.

Descriptions of the Specialization Areas

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, interagency collaboration/support, and application in a field setting.

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 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.

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.

Intellectual Disabilities (ID): The ID specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with DCD (the federal law refers to this population as those with mental retardation) 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.

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, ED, and LD. Since it addresses three disability areas, it is the largest specialization area in number of credits required.

Visual Impairment (VI): The VI specialization area focuses on children and adolescents who are visually impaired or blind and addresses several aspects of VI including characteristics, assessment, braille code, methods/strategies, orientation/mobility, and application in a field setting.

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 30 credits is required for the degree. Additional credits may be needed for teacher licensure.
2. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500 level.
3. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours may be transferred from another institution.
4. Preparation of a written independent study or scholarly project approved by the faculty advisor:  Two credits of SPED 995 Scholarly Project or four credits of T&L 998 Thesis.
5. Passing of a written final comprehensive examination.
6. Nine credits of Special Education Core Coursework (excluding students in the ABA specialization).

   1. Course List

      Code	Title	Credits
      SPED 525	Legal/Ethical Aspects in Special Education	3
      SPED 578	Behavior Management	3
      Select 1 of the Following:
      SPED 500	Introduction to Visual Impairment	3
      SPED 510	Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education	3
      SPED 552	Inclusive Methods	3

   2. Six credits of pedagogical coursework. 

      Course List

      Code	Title	Credits
      T&L 542	Models of Teaching	3
      SPED 525	Legal/Ethical Aspects in Special Education	3
      SPED 552	Inclusive Methods	3
      SPED 504	Communication Media and Methods/Visual Impairment	3
      T&L 530	Foundations of Reading Instruction	3
      T&L 522	Mathematics in the Elementary School	3
      T&L 533	Secondary English Language Arts Literacy Instruction	3

In addition to #4 and #5 above, choose one or more specialization areas and complete the required courses and elective courses for a minimum total of 30 credits for the M.Ed. degree*:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in BIS in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

*

If seeking special education endorsement in ECSE in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in EBD in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

General Special Education

Note that there are no additional required courses. A minimum of 19 credits can be selected from the following courses:

Intellectual (ID)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in ID in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Learning Disabilities (LD)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in LD in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Special Education Strategist (SES)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in SES in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Visual Impairment (VI)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in VI in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS)

*

If seeking special education endorsement in BIS in North Dakota, confer with your advisor regarding these requirements. If seeking teacher certification in a state other than North Dakota, refer to that state’s requirements.

Accelerated 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 these 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.

Admission Requirements

• Students may apply to this program upon completion of 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree or with an Associate’s degree. Students interested in the accelerated program will follow the admission process listed above.
  • In addition to these requirements, students will need to submit an Accelerated/Combined Program of Study as part of the admission process.
• Students must have an overall G.P.A. of 3.00 at the time of admission.

Degree Requirements:

Early Childhood Education ABM

• Admission to Teacher Education Requires: Praxis Core Pass score; Live Text purchase; Introductory Letter; Level One Disposition Degree Requirements. 

Transferred credits or credits fulfilled with Associates Degree in Early Childhood or Education include:

Courses:

Special Education Strategist ABM

The Bachelor of General Studies and a minor in Special Education

B.S. General Studies requirements can be located in the academic catalog.  The following undergraduate courses must be included as part of the degree. 

Bachelor of General Studies/Special Education Minor