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Master's Degree in Special Education

Master of Science (M.S.)

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

UND's master's in special education (M.S.) is for current teachers or those seeking the ABA specialization. We provide professional preparation in the field of special education and behavioral analysis. Earn your master's at the only graduate special education program in North Dakota.

Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
1.5+ years
Credit hours:
30+
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid
  • Why UND Online?
  • How to Apply

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Why earn a master's degree in special education?

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

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

The Master of Science in Special Education (M.S.) is designed for educators and other professionals interested in the study of individuals with diverse learning needs. The emphasis of this program will have a research to practice focus. This fully online graduate special education degree is appropriate for certified teachers or those seeking a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. Our approved teacher certification program is transferable to most states.

For candidates without a bachelor's degree in education and who are seeking an initial teaching license, apply for the Master's of Education in Special Education.

Master's Degree in Special Education Specializations

Customize your master's degree in special education with specializations:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

The ABA specialization area includes coursework and an intensive practicum that focuses on concepts and principles, assessment and behavior change systems, methods and applications, ethics and research methods. This specialization is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

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.

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 assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors and facilitation of interdisciplinary and stakeholder teaming to support individual children and their caregivers.

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.

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.

Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

The ED specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with both emotional and behavior disorders and addresses several aspects of ED 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 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 Specialist (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.

See our Special Education graduate certificates in ABA, ASD, BIS, EBD, ECSE, ID and LD.

M.S. in Special Education Online

  • UND's special education graduate program is 100% online. There is no on-campus travel requirement.

  • You will learn from an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as teachers, professors and researchers. Plus, get one-on-one advising to keep you on track.

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • Your special education master's project will be directly applicable to field.

  • The Special Education Resident Teacher 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.

What can you with your master's degree in special education?

61K

Median annual salary for special education teachers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

4%

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. Increased job openings are expected as a result of teacher retirements or career changes. Additionally, the demand for behavior analyst positions has more than doubled with the national trend increasing in almost every state.

A special education master's degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

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

Jobs with a Master's Degree in Special Education

Teachers with master's degrees fall on the high end of the scale or earn a premium income.

Our graduates work in:

  • Public and private schools
  • Hospitals
  • Human services agencies
  • State and private institutions
  • Private practice

Watch a Q&A with UND Special Education

M.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 512. Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs. 3 Credits.

A comprehensive study of curricula, program development and evidence-based intervention strategies for including young children (ages three to six) with special needs in early childhood settings. Prerequisite: Admission to one of the master's programs in special education. S.

SPED 566. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Intensive Early Intervention. 3 Credits.

This is an elective course in the sequence of interdisciplinary courses focusing on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) birth to age six. Topics addressed will include basic characteristics of young children with ASD, the developmental implications for the children and their families, and research-supported early interventions utilizing a family-centered approach with an emphasis on natural learning opportunities. Prerequisite: A completed degree from a related field of study. F,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. Prerequisite: 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.

SPED 567. Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder. 3 Credits.

This course is a required course in a sequence of interdisciplinary courses focusing on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This course will address the entire process of program planning for students with ASD including screening, evaluative assessment, ongoing assessment, using assessment to guide intervention planning, and monitoring progress. Students will explore a variety of methods and tools commonly used with individuals with ASD; specifically, standardized assessments, checklists, rating scales, structured observation tools, and curricular based assessments. Its central focus is on assessing the ongoing needs and strengths of individuals with ASD in order to plan successful interventions in further differentiating instruction. S,SS.

Best Master's Degree in Special Education

#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 earned his online master's in special education from UND. Now he is a successful special education teacher.

Read Den's Story

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Explore More Options

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional graduate education opportunities.

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Department Contact
Dr. Patti Mahar
P 701.777.6054
patricia.mahar@UND.edu
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