Special Education Director
- Graduate Educator Licensure or Endorsement
- Online
- Online
1-2 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$722/Credit
An Online Special Education Director Licensure Program
Ready to become a Special Education Director? Our online licensure / endorsement program is for you. This program is for educators who have a master’s degree and want to lead special education. It will give you the skills to help students with exceptionalities succeed.
This program is completely online so you can easily fit it into your life. Best of all, at UNC you will learn from national and world leaders in the field of Special Education.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn from leaders in the field and focus on five key areas:
- Effective Leadership: How to lead and manage.
- Strategic Thinking: How to plan for change and solve problems.
- Teamwork: How to build meaningful partnerships.
- Leading change: How to improve your organization.
- Accountability: How to create systems and evaluate.
You’ll also complete an externship so that you can apply the skills you learn.
Your Career in Special Education Leadership
Become a Special Education Director
When you finish this program, you will be highly qualified for a job as a Special Education Director or Administrator. You’ll be ready to:
- Lead programs in school districts, cooperatives and other facilities.
- Thrive in a variety of organizational and cultural contexts.
- Transform programs from separate entities to being more inclusive with the entire student population.
Temporary Educator Authorization
Are you already needed in a Special Education Director or Assistant Director role in your district? Colorado school districts can apply for you to have Temporary Educator Eligibility (TEE) so that you can fulfill the position while you complete this licensure program.
Course of Study
Delivered Fully Online
Online courses: All program courses are delivered online. One or two courses in the program will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time. Students will have input on session scheduling.
Externship experience: You will design and complete an externship in special education administration so that you can apply the skills you learn. A licensed Special Education Director will oversee your your externship.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 21 credit licensure program. You will take fewer credit hours if you have an active principal license and the equivalent coursework listed on your transcript.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Also Available as a Dual Licensure Degree
Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration MA
Master of Arts degree with dual licensure.
Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration EdS
Educational Specialist degree with 2+ licensures. For those who have a master’s degree.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Holly Porter
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Financial Aid and Support
- The federal government only awards financial aid for courses that count toward completion of a UNC degree, so federal aid is not available for this stand-alone licensure.
- If you will need financial aid, please work with UNC Office of Financial Aid for information about non-federal loans.
- UNC also offers a monthly payment option.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a master’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Possess at least a master’s degree in Special Education from an Institutionally Accredited college or university.
- Have a valid Special Education license or a school psychologist license; or be a qualified special school service provider (speech language pathologist or school psychologist license).
- Have completed three years of successful experience as a licensed Special Education teacher or school psychologist/special service provider.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
Licensure Eligibility by State
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.
It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Licensure: Special Education Director Endorsement
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status