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Special Education
This Special Education specialization is designed to provide you with a current understanding of the characteristics and needs of individuals qualifying for services under the major areas of exceptionality of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA/IDEIA). You will focus on research results, new assessment models and current perspectives on today’s children, families, schools and communities. You will study a range of topics, including the history of the special education movement, the provisions of IDEA/IDEIA, inclusion, transition, classroom modifications and instructional strategies. You will also explore how various disabilities may affect individuals and their families, factors that place students at risk, cultural and linguistic diversity and giftedness. As a graduate, you will be prepared to pursue roles as lead teachers or department heads of special education within PK-12 educational settings, with the ability to assess and implement specifically designed curriculum for students with disabilities and gifted abilities.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The MEd program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country. Certification requirements vary by state. Students are advised to contact their state department of education or local school district for guidance in obtaining certification or licensure, or for approval in fulfilling district level incentive programs.
There are several reasons why an educator would want to pursue a graduate degree in education that does not lead to state licensing or certification.
Reasons may include:
- "Move up" steps on the salary schedule.
- Improve skills and professionalism in general or to pursue a ”leadership” position outside the classroom (school-based or district level).
- Advance as a ”teacher leader” through a graduate degree (already has a bachelor's degree and certification).
- Meet the needs of increasingly diverse students.
- Work in a traditional K-12 classroom environment (trainer, educational consultant, etc).
Completion Period for Master's Degrees
Northcentral University allows 5 years to complete all 30 credit hour master's programs. Normal time to complete varies depending upon the rate courses are taken and credits transferred.
Course Length
Existing MEd students may opt to switch to eight-week courses by contacting their Academic Advisor. Once existing MEd students have opted for eight-week courses, they must receive approval from the Office of the Dean to switch back to a program of 12-week courses. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
ED5022/ED5022-8 | Educational Policy and Practice | This Master’s level course focuses on research and theory in developing effective schools. Topics include: aligning contemporary educational practice with Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards, collaboration, communication, decision-making, and conflict management. Current educational trends will be addressed to promote the establishment of effective educational climates for teaching and learning. |
Specialization Course 1 | ||
ED5001/ED5001-8 | Contemporary Issues in Education | This course examines the major contemporary issues impacting education. Students evaluate the issues, attempt solutions, and develop personal professional positions. In a broader context, the education profession is affected by numerous and diverse issues that are highly political, emotional, and complex. It is imperative that students understand the issues; the effects the issues have on the profession, as well as formulating a personal response to the issues. |
ED5034/ED5034-8 | School and Community Relations | This course introduces educators to essential competencies and considerations needed to build and sustain positive, productive relationships with members of school communities and the external communities in which schools reside. Emphasis is placed on the development of effective communication policies and practices to instill public confidence in community schools, improve school quality, and improve student learning. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
ED5023/ED5023-8 | Multicultural Relationships in Educational Organizations | The effects of cultural diversity on organizational behavior are complex and powerful. What is diversity and what are the goals in achieving a more diverse society? This course examines the educational community's thinking on race, language, culture, gender and disability in the educational setting. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
ED6002/ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
SE5000-8 | Introduction to Special Education | This Masters level course presents basic knowledge and experiences related to special education and teaching students with disabilities. Specifically, this course is an overview and identification of special needs students, legal issues, assessment, service delivery models, programming, and history of special education services. Students pursuing a specialization in SE are advised to take this as their first specialization course. |
SE5001-8 | Exceptional Student Assessment | This Masters level course introduces students to the proper evaluation of educational and psychological tests and the correct interpretation and use of test results. It also prepares all those concerned with the teaching-learning process to be sensitive to the social and ethical implications of test use and be familiar with the types of available instruments in order to help them make the soundest educational decisions possible. |
SE5002-8 | Characteristics of Learning Disabled Students | This Masters level course is an introduction to non-categorical and mainstream programming and to the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Emphasis is on legislation and litigation related to mildly handicapped students, on assessment and placement of these students, on the role of the special education teacher, and on meeting the educational and socio-emotional needs of these students. |
SE5003-8 | Characteristics of Emotionally Disabled Students | This course provides an overview of emotionally disabled students and their individual characteristics. Emphasis is placed on serving these students in the regular school setting, common misconceptions, and techniques for identification. |
SE5004-8 | Teaching Methods for the Mentally Disabled | This course focuses on the various strategies and techniques used to educate mentally disabled students. Emphasis is on normalization and on the array of services available from infancy to adulthood. Special attention is to strategies to develop individualized programs for classroom organization and management, behavior change strategies, and enhancing learning through microcomputer technology. |
SE5005-8 | Special Education Law | This Masters level course focuses on the various legal issues of special education. Included in this study are investigations of specific case studies and application for special education teachers concerning federal mandates. Student placement, discipline, appropriate educational decisions and privacy issues are explored. |
SE5006-8 | Teaching Strategies for Learning Disabled and Behavioral Disorders | This Masters level course introduces students to the various educational programs and teaching strategies that have been used successfully in remediation. Methods of managing and teaching children with learning and emotional disabilities utilizing visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile concepts in skills remediation and behavior plans are explored. |
SE5007-8 | Exceptional Student Management | This Master's level course provides students with a comprehensive view of educational management of exceptional students and with the techniques available to manage classroom behavior, promote social adjustment, and coordinate the classroom-learning environment to foster learning and enhance students' personal growth. |
SE5008-8 | Language Disabilities | This course provides students with a basic understanding of the nature of speech and language, developmental progression in language acquisition, and techniques for evaluating language development and remediation of language and communication disorders within a classroom setting. |
SE5009-8 | Transition Programs for Exceptional Students | This Master's level course introduces students to a variety of educational choices available to exceptional students and their families. These choices include academic skills, personal skills, social skills, employability skills, and daily living skills, which exceptional students need if they are to actualize their potentials and become contributing members of society. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
ED6002 / ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Master of Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your MEd program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s MEd costs below:
- Per credit cost: $544
- Per 3 credit course cost: $1,631
- Program cost: $16,310
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
