Master of Science in Special Education
Upon offer of admission, the following will be required: Successful passage of FBI criminal background check
Admission Requirements for the M.S.
The Master of Science (M.S.) is for those who already have a degree in education. The M.S. will have a research to practice focus.
- A bachelor’s degree.
-
A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.75 for all undergraduate work (based on A = 4.00).
-
Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.
Admission Process
- Complete the School of Graduate Studies' online application.
- Submit the application fee of $35.
- 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.
- Request one official copy of all academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attempted credit at, including undergraduate and graduate course work.
- 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:
- Explain how your experiences/interests reflect your capacity for the specialization area you are applying for specifically (i.e., ASD, BIS, EBD, EI/ECSE, General, ID, LD, SES, and BVI).
- 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.
- Graduate school may be challenging due to competing demands for your time. Please address how you will navigate these challenges by utilizing your strengths.
- 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.
Specialization Areas
The MS Special Education program offers nine specialization options:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- 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 Science 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.
- A minimum of 30 credits at or above the 500 level is required for the degree. Additional credits may be needed for professional licensure.
- A maximum of nine graduate special education or related credit hours may be transferred from another institution.
- Two credits of SPED 995 Scholarly Project or four credits of T&L 998 Thesis.
- Two credits of Internship; either general special education or aligned to the area(s) of specialization.
- All specializations excluding ABA require: a minimum of 11 to 13 credits of Special Education core coursework listed below in the Course List; foundational, methods, assessment, and universal supports for learning coursework, an internship, and electives or specialization specific courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MS Requirements: Core Coursework | ||
| SPED 525 | Legal/Ethical Aspects in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 557 | Progress Monitoring (Practice-Based Research Course) | 3 |
| SPED 578 | Behavior Management | 3 |
| SPED 995 | Scholarly Project | 2-4 |
| or T&L 998 | Thesis | |
| Specialization Specific Courses: | ||
Foundational Course | ||
Methods Course | ||
Assessment Course | ||
Universal Supports for Learning Course | ||
Internship | ||
Electives/Specialization Courses | ||
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ABA 540 | Concepts and Principles in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 541 | Methods and Applications in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 542 | Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysts | 3 |
| ABA 543 | Behavior Analytic Supervision and OBM | 3 |
| ABA 544 | Research Methods in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 545 | Assessment and Behavior Change Systems | 4 |
| ABA 546 | Philosophical Underpinnings of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPED 995 | Scholarly Project | 2 |
| Electives | 6 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 560 | ASD: Foundations and Brain Based Differences | 3 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 561 | Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 567 | Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 583 | Internship: Autism Spectrum Disorder | 2 |
| Electives/Specialization Courses | 3-5 | |
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 32-34 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Courses: | ||
| SPED 500 | Introduction to Visual Impairment | 3 |
| SPED 501 | Diseases and Function of the Eye | 2 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 504 | Communication Media and Methods/Visual Impairment | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Courses: | ||
| SPED 505 | Low Vision Assessment and Remediation | 3 |
| SPED 502 | Braille Reading and Writing | 2 |
| SPED 503 | Orientation and Mobility/Visual Impairment | 2 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 585 | Internship: Visual Impairment | 2 |
| Additional Required Courses: | ||
| SPED 530 | Braille Code 1 | 2 |
| SPED 531 | Braille Code 2 | 2 |
Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 510 | Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 512 | Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 511 | Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 516 | Collaborative Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention | 3 |
| Partnering with Families | ||
| SPED 514 | Intervention Strategies with Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 589 | Internship: Early Childhood Special Education | 2 |
| Electives/Specialization Courses | 0-2 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 550 | Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD (Foundational Course) | 3 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 555 | Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders (Methods Course) | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 551 | Advanced Assessment in Special Education (Assessment Course) | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods (University Supports for Learning) | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 586 | Internship: Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 2 |
| Additional Required Courses: | ||
| SPED 521 | IEP and the Transition Process | 3 |
| Electives/Specialization Courses | 0-2 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 550 | Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD | 3 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 556 | Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 551 | Advanced Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 587 | Internship: Intellectual Disabilities | 2 |
| Additional Required Course: | ||
| SPED 521 | IEP and the Transition Process | 3 |
| Electives/Specialization Courses | 0-2 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 550 | Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD | 3 |
| Methods Course: | ||
| SPED 554 | Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 551 | Advanced Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 588 | Internship: Learning Disabilities | 2 |
| Additional Required Course: | ||
| SPED 521 | IEP and the Transition Process | 3 |
| Electives/Specialization Courses | 0-2 | |
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 35-37 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Course: | ||
| SPED 550 | Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD | 3 |
| Methods Courses: | ||
| SPED 554 | Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 555 | Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPED 556 | Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| Assessment Course: | ||
| SPED 551 | Advanced Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning Course: | ||
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods | 3 |
| Internship: | ||
| SPED 586 | Internship: Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 2 |
| SPED 587 | Internship: Intellectual Disabilities | 2 |
| SPED 588 | Internship: Learning Disabilities | 2 |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Core | 11-13 | |
| Foundational Coursework (select one of the following) | ||
| SPED 500 | Introduction to Visual Impairment | 3 |
| SPED 501 | Diseases and Function of the Eye | 2 |
| SPED 510 | Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 550 | Foundations of Special Education with Emphasis in ASD, EBD, ID, and LD | 3 |
| SPED 560 | ASD: Foundations and Brain Based Differences | 3 |
| Methods Coursework (select one of the following) | ||
| SPED 504 | Communication Media and Methods/Visual Impairment | 3 |
| SPED 512 | Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| SPED 554 | Advanced Methods: Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 555 | Advanced Methods: Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPED 556 | Advanced Methods: Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 561 | Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| SPED 566 | Autism Spectrum Disorder: Intensive Early Intervention | 3 |
| Assessment Coursework (select one of the following) | ||
| SPED 505 | Low Vision Assessment and Remediation | 3 |
| SPED 511 | Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| SPED 551 | Advanced Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 567 | Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| Universal Supports for Learning (select one of the following) | ||
| SPED 502 | Braille Reading and Writing | 2 |
| SPED 503 | Orientation and Mobility/Visual Impairment | 2 |
| SPED 516 | Collaborative Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention | 3 |
| SPED 552 | Inclusive Methods | 3 |
| Internship | 2 | |
| Electives | ||