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Online Master's in Special Education Degree

M.S. or M.Ed.

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

Achieve your online Special Education master's degree through the largest graduate program for Special Education teachers in the Midwest. In fact, UND has the only Special Education master’s degree in North Dakota and it’s 100% online. You’ll graduate prepared to lead in the field of special education and behavioral analysis.

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

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Why earn an online Special Education master's degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
July 15
Spring:
Nov. 15
Summer:
March 15

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


UND offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education. Both Special Education master’s degrees are 100% online and you never have to come to campus.

Our online Special Education master's program is an approved teacher certification program for North Dakota that is transferable to most states.

Whether you're a current certified teacher or aiming for the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) specialization, UND's Special Education M.S. is tailor-made for you.

This M.S. in Special Education is designed for educators and professionals who want to understand diverse learning needs. The M.S. program emphasizes putting research into practical teaching methods. This graduate degree suits certified teachers and those interested in Applied Behavior Analysis.

UND’s Special Education M.Ed. is perfect for those who don't have a bachelor's degree in education or are seeking an initial teaching license.

This M.Ed. in Special Education is made for professionals who want to learn about teaching individuals with different learning, emotional, or behavioral needs. It's all about gaining the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective special education teacher.

Specializations with a Special Education Online Master’s Degree

Customize your online master's degree in Special Education with ten specializations. We also offer online Special Education graduate certificates in ABA, ASD, BIS, EBD, ECSE, ID and LD.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

The ABA specialization has a comprehensive curriculum and intensive practicum. From mastering principles of assessment and behavior change systems to exploring diverse methods and their applications, you'll build a strong ABA foundation. Our focus on ethics and research methods will further enrich your understanding. The ABA specialization is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is exclusive to the M.S. in Special Education.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The ASD specialization caters to individuals across the lifespan – from children and adolescents to adults – who are affected by ASD. Gain an understanding of various facets of ASD, including its characteristics, assessment techniques, and effective methods and strategies. You’ll learn to collaboration across agencies for support and gain hands-on experience in field settings.

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 offers training and hands-on experience in assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors. Additionally, it focuses on fostering collaboration among interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders to provide targeted support to each child and their caregivers.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

The ECSE specialization area focuses on children from birth to age nine. It specifically targets developmental disabilities and addresses several aspects of ECSE. These include understanding the unique characteristics of disabilities, conducting assessments, implementing effective methods and strategies, and supporting all forms of development like language and physical growth.

Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

The EBD specialization area focuses on children and adolescents with both emotional and behavior disorders. This specialization covers a wide spectrum of ED-related aspects, such as understanding the unique characteristics of EBD’s, conducting assessments, and implementing effective behavior and academic strategies.

General Special Education

The flexible General Specialization is a “design your own program” option. You have the freedom to select courses from the entire range offered within the special education program, tailoring your education to your specific interests and goals.

Intellectual Disabilities (ID)

The ID specialization provides expertise in working with children and adolescents who have Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD). This specialization encompasses various crucial aspects of ID, including understanding the unique characteristics of DCD, conducting assessments, and implementing methods and strategies.

Learning Disabilities (LD)

The LD specialization focuses on helping children and adolescents facing learning challenges that aren't due to developmental, emotional, or cognitive disabilities. This specialization covers various important aspects of learning disabilities, including understanding their unique characteristics, conducting assessments, implementing effective methods and strategies, and applying these techniques in practical field settings.

Special Education Specialist (SES)

The SES specialization is a cross-category program that combines courses from the Intellectual ID, ED, and LD specialization areas. By covering three distinct disability areas, it's the most extensive specialization in terms of the number of credits required.

Visual Impairment (VI)

The VI specialization is dedicated to supporting children and teenagers who are blind or visually impaired. This specialization covers several facets of visual impairment, including understanding the characteristics of those with VI, conducting assessments, Braille code, implementing methods and strategies, and enhancing orientation and mobility skills.

Benefits of UND’s Special Education Online Master’s Degree

  • No entry exams.
  • Affordable tuition.
  • Consistent course offerings for timely graduation.
  • Take classes on your own time.
  • No on-campus travel requirement.
  • One-on-one advising.
  • Option of on-the-job fieldwork.
  • Master's project applicable to field.
  • Coursework tied to practical experiences.

UND's Online Special Education Master’s Degree

  • Obtain an online Special Education master’s degree accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Educational Standards and Practices Board (ESPB).

  • Learn through our distinctive Resident Teachers program, which combines online coursework and on-the-job experience in a school district/special education unit.

  • Pay the same online tuition rates regardless of your legal residency. Compare and you’ll see UND is lower cost than public four-year doctoral universities.

  • Excel at our globally renowned online special education graduate program. We’re known for our expertise, leadership, diversity, and high-quality teacher preparation.

  • Study with an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as teachers, professors, and researchers.

  • Be part of the North Dakota Essential Skills Network. You’ll share experiences, celebrate successes, and problem-solve perceived barriers related to social emotional learning with peers.

-

Behavior Certification Board Exam

M.S. Deadlines

  • Fall: June 15
  • Spring: Nov. 1

BCBA Examination Pass Rate

BCBA Contacts

Joanna Ryan, Ph.D., BCBA-D
ABA Program Coordinator
joanna.ryan@UND.edu

Anna Young, Ph.D.
Clinical Asst. Professor
anna.young.1@UND.edu

BCBA Exam Requirements

UND's Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) specialization prepare students to take the Behavior Certification Board exam and to become a behavior analyst (BCBA).

The Board requires that exam applicants have completed:

  1. A graduate degree (master's or higher)
  2. Verified course sequence (VCS) of ABA courses
  3. 1,500-2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork

UND's programs can support each or a combination of these requirements.

M.S. in Special Education

This option is for students who would like to complete all three of the Board requirements to be eligible to take the Board exam. Students are not required to complete supervised fieldwork hours with UND faculty support, but are highly encouraged to do so.

Special Education Master's 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 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.

What can you with an online Special Education master's degree?

64k

Median annual salary for special education teachers, 2024

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Watch a Q&A with UND Special Education

Discover exciting job opportunities as a special education teacher or behavior analyst. The ever-increasing enrollment of students in need of special education, combined with a scarcity of qualified educators, paints a bright future for special education professionals. The demand for special education teachers is set to surge due to teacher retirements and career shifts. Moreover, the demand for behavior analysts has experienced unprecedented growth, with numbers more than doubling nationwide.

An online Special Education master's degree gives you the skills special education teachers need, including:

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

What careers can I pursue with a master's degree in Special Education?

Our special education graduates work in:

  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Human services agencies
  • State and private institutions
  • Private practice

UND 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

Best Special Education Online Master's Degree

#1 Early Childhood Education Degrees
#10 Accredited Schools Online
#12 Masters in Special Education Program Guide
#12 Top Education Degrees
#13 Special Education Degrees
#15 College Consensus
#16 BestColleges
#32 College Factual

Several college ranking sites put UND’s Special Education master’s in the Top 15 best online programs in nation. We’re well regarded for our educational quality, affordability and career outcomes.

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 Online Special Education Master's

+160

online graduate programs

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

Flexible Online Special Education Master's Courses

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Top-Tier Online Special Education Master's

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

 

FAQs

Yes, despite limited employment growth, about 33,500 openings for special education teachers are projected each year over the decade.

Our master's in Special Education degree usually spans a minimum of 1.5 years, although the exact time may vary depending on the pace and schedule of the student.

Yes, earning a master's degree in Special Education is an important step and can fulfill a portion of the criteria that leads to licensure as a special education teacher. Check the licensure requirements for the state you plan to work in to ensure you meet the specific requirements in that state.

To enroll in UND's M.S. in Special Education program, candidates must have a bachelor's degree in education, a minimum GPA of 2.75 and demonstrate English language proficiency. The M.Ed. program has similar requirements but is tailored for individuals who hold bachelor's degrees in fields other than education.

Certainly! UND's Special Education master's program is 100% online.

There are a variety of field experiences available in our master’s program. If already working in the field of special education, students can complete their fieldwork on-the-job with UND faculty support.

With asynchronous classes, you have the flexibility to learn anywhere at any time, allowing you to balance work, family and other commitments.

Compare our online and on campus costs. You'll find we are one of the most affordable chemical engineering schools in the Midwest. Our online students pay the same affordable tuition rate regardless of their legal residency.

UND is committed to assisting students in funding their education, providing over $105 million in financial aid annually. A range of financial aid options offered by UND, including scholarships (merit-based), grants (need-based), and loans, help students alleviate college costs.

Special Education Teacher in Action

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
Karen Harrie
Online Admissions Secretary
P 701.777.2346
karen.harrie@UND.edu

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