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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
  • ABA/BCBA Specialization

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Why earn a master's degree in special education?

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

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 and emotional/behavioral needs. 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.

The emphasis of this program will have a research to practice focus. Students may continue their education and pursue a Doctor of Education.

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 by choosing from ten specializations:

  1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), verified by the Association of Behavior Analysis International
  2. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  3. Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS)
  4. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  5. General Special Education
  6. Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
  7. Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
  8. Learning Disabilities (LD)
  9. Special Education Strategist (SES)
  10. Visual Impairment (VI) - Only 100% online VI program in the nation

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 do you 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 545. Assessment and Behavior Change Systems. 4 Credits.

This course will address the process of identifying behaviors targeted for change and the use of behavioral assessment techniques to identify and analyze behavior-environment relations for the purpose of developing successful, functionally-based intervention strategies. Students will learn a variety of methods for behavior assessment, interventions, analysis of interventions, experimental analysis, and interpreting outcomes including the use of practical behaviorally-based assessment tools such as checklists, rating scales, structured observation tools, and curricular assessments. 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, as well as the professional conduct consistent with the practice of applied behavior analysis. 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. Prerequisites: 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.

  • Department of Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice
  • Find Similar Programs
Department Contact
Dr. Patti Mahar
P 701.777.6054
patricia.mahar@UND.edu
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