Master of Education in Special Education

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. 
Pedagogical Coursework
SPED 590Special Topics in Special Education (Science of Literacy)3
T&L 522Mathematics in the Elementary School3
or SPED 514 Intervention Strategies with Infants and Toddlers
Core Coursework
SPED 521IEP and the Transition Process3
SPED 525Legal/Ethical Aspects in Special Education3
SPED 578Behavior Management3
SPED 995Scholarly Project2
Specialization Specific Coures:
Foundational Course
Methods Course
Assessment Course
Universal Supports for Learning Course
Internship
Electives/Specialization Courses

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 560ASD: Foundations and Brain Based Differences3
Methods Course:
SPED 561Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorder3
Assessment Course:
SPED 567Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship:
SPED 583Internship: Autism Spectrum Disorder2

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Courses:
SPED 500Introduction to Visual Impairment3
SPED 501Diseases and Function of the Eye2
Methods Course:
SPED 504Communication Media and Methods/Visual Impairment3
Assessment Course:
SPED 505Low Vision Assessment and Remediation3
Universal Supports for Learning Courses:
SPED 502Braille Reading and Writing2
SPED 503Orientation and Mobility/Visual Impairment2
Internship:
SPED 585Internship: Visual Impairment2
Additional Required Courses:
SPED 530Braille Code 12
SPED 531Braille Code 22

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 510Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education3
Methods Course:
SPED 512Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs3
Assessment Course:
SPED 511Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 516Collaborative Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention3
Partnering with Families
SPED 514Intervention Strategies with Infants and Toddlers3
Internship:
SPED 589Internship: Early Childhood Special Education2

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 550Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD3
Methods Course:
SPED 555Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders3
Assessment Course:
SPED 551Advanced Assessment in Special Education3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship:
SPED 586Internship: Emotional Behavioral Disorders2

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 550Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD3
Methods Course:
SPED 556Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities3
Assessment Course:
SPED 551Advanced Assessment in Special Education3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship:
SPED 587Internship: Intellectual Disabilities2

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 Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 550Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD3
Methods Course:
SPED 554Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities3
Assessment Course:
SPED 551Advanced Assessment in Special Education3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship:
SPED 588Internship: Learning Disabilities2

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. 

Special Education Core17
Foundational Course:
SPED 550Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD3
Methods Courses:
SPED 554Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities3
SPED 555Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders3
SPED 556Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities3
Assessment Course:
SPED 551Advanced Assessment in Special Education3
Universal Supports for Learning Course:
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship:
SPED 586Internship: Emotional Behavioral Disorders2
SPED 587Internship: Intellectual Disabilities2
SPED 588Internship: Learning Disabilities2

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.

Special Education Core17
Foundational Coursework (select one of the following):
SPED 500Introduction to Visual Impairment3
SPED 501Diseases and Function of the Eye2
SPED 510Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education3
SPED 550Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD3
SPED 560ASD: Foundations and Brain Based Differences3
Methods Coursework (select one of the following):
SPED 504Communication Media and Methods/Visual Impairment3
SPED 512Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs3
SPED 554Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities3
SPED 555Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders3
SPED 556Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities3
SPED 561Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorder3
SPED 566Autism Spectrum Disorder: Intensive Early Intervention3
Assessment Coursework (select one of the following):
SPED 505Low Vision Assessment and Remediation3
SPED 511Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs3
SPED 551Advanced Assessment in Special Education3
SPED 567Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder3
Universal Supports for Learning Coursework (select one of the following):
SPED 502Braille Reading and Writing2
SPED 503Orientation and Mobility/Visual Impairment2
SPED 516Collaborative Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention3
SPED 552Inclusive Methods3
Internship2
Electives