Special Education MA

This concentration prepares you to become an expert in working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. You can help children and young adults (ages birth to 21) reach their full potential.

Students who are deaf or hard of hearing have diverse needs. This program will teach you how to support their:

• Communication: Learn to support all methods of communicating.
• Academic success: Help students succeed in all school subjects.
• Social and emotional needs: Give them the support and tools they need.

You will also learn how to work closely with school staff, families and community groups. A major part of the program is hands-on experience where you’ll work directly with students, families and teachers in real-world settings.

Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

There is an urgent need, in Colorado and nationally, for teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. When you graduate from our program, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to teach children from birth through high school and higher education. Career options include:

• Classroom teacher in a residential school or general education setting
• Team-teaching with a general education teacher
• Itinerant teacher who travels to several different schools
• Parent-infant facilitator or home interventionist working in the family’s home

Teaching Endorsement (Can Earn Licensure)

If you are a licensed teacher in Colorado, this program is approved for the education portion of the Special Education Specialist — Deaf/Hard of Hearing (ages 0-21) endorsement. You will also be well-prepared for the Praxis assessment(s).

If you are not a licensed teacher, please contact the Program Coordinator for more details related to earning licensure as part of this program.

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 36-43 credit concentration of this master’s degree.

All courses are delivered online and you can finish in two years. To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the DHH concentration.

The total number of courses you need to take in this degree will depend on your previous coursework and whether you have your initial teacher licensure. We will do a transcript review when you apply and provide you with a plan of study. You can review the catalog requirements and the note below for a general idea of which courses you might need.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Prerequisite / Co-Requisite Courses: The Required Prerequisite courses will be waived if you took them previously. They are listed as prerequisites, but they are not required for initial program admission. If you have not taken these courses yet, you will need to take them (at UNC or elsewhere) prior to graduation.

Additional Requirements Prior to Your Student Practicum

• Sign language proficiency: You will need to pass a sign language proficiency test. If you are not proficient, you can take sign classes while enrolled in the program.
• Praxis exam or equivalent: You will also need to pass an approved Special Education: Deaf/Hard of Hearing exam.

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.

Become a Special Education Generalist teacher for K-12 students and others aged 5-21. You’ll gain the skills to work with students who have a wide range of disabilities, from moderate to severe. With this concentration you’ll be ready to help about 85% of all students who need special education services.

You’ll work closely with expert teachers and classmates from around the world. You’ll learn:

• Teaching methods that work: Apply differentiated teaching to meet student needs.
• Content teaching: Teach reading and math to students with disabilities.
• Student assessment: Use assessments and develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Behavior support: Provide appropriate supports in and out of the classroom.
• Special education standards and assessment: Align your teaching and student support to proven outcomes.

If you do not need a master’s degree, we also offer a stand-alone Special Education Generalist Endorsement (Ages 5-21) program.

Working with Special Education Students

You’ll gain skills to work with K-12 students across a wide range of needs and abilities. Graduates of the Special Education Generalist master’s program also pursue a variety of careers outside the traditional classroom, including:

• Instructional coordinator
• College accessibility coordinator
• Pediatric hospital educator
• Nonprofit leader
• Education policy analyst

Teaching Endorsement (Can Earn Licensure)

If you are a licensed teacher in Colorado, this program is approved for the education portion of the Special Education Generalist (ages 5-21) endorsement. You will also be well-prepared for the Praxis assessment(s).

If you are not a licensed teacher, please contact the Program Coordinator for more details related to earning licensure as part of this program.

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 30-36 credit concentration of this master’s degree.

All courses are delivered online and you can finish in two years. To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the Generalist concentration.

Generalist Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Our goal is to make it easy for you to start this continuous enrollment program. Because this program features some coursework that begins in the middle of the traditional semesters, there are multiple options for starting the program.

While we recommend that you apply at least 60 days before your first course starts in order to receive full admission (if approved) and advisement, we can accommodate applicants up through the following timing:

Beginning of a Semester (Fall, Spring or Summer)
The Thursday before classes start. To see when classes begin for upcoming terms, view the UNC Academic Calendar.

Mid-Semester

• Fall: First Thursday in Oct.
• Spring: Third Thursday in Feb.
• Summer: Third Thursday in May

If you are planning to apply just before the start date of your first course, please contact the Program Coordinator for support and information.

This concentration prepares you to become an expert in Gifted Education. It is designed for elementary and secondary teachers who want to learn how to help gifted, talented and creative students reach their full potential.

You’ll gain the skills to create effective educational programs that benefit these students. You’ll study with teachers from all grade levels and subjects, which creates a dynamic learning environment.

• Expert teaching: Learn from experienced instructors who have done extensive work and research in the field.
• Hands-on practice: Get practical experience through supervised teaching.

Working with Gifted and Talented Students

Graduates of this program teach students in:

• Public and private schools
• Education companies
• Community organizations

This program is not exclusive to classroom teachers. It also great for counselors, parents and anyone who works with gifted learners.

Teaching Endorsement

If you are a licensed teacher in Colorado, this program is approved for the education portion of the Gifted Education Specialist (ages 4-21) endorsement. 98% of UNC’s Gifted Education program graduates pass the PLACE exam on their first attempt. You will also complete your Gifted Education Core (Ages 4-21) Endorsement part way through the program

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 33-credit concentration of this master’s degree.

All courses are delivered online and you can finish in two years. To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for the Gifted Education concentration.

Gifted Education Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

The application deadline is July 15 for each fall start. Additional students can be admitted after that date if space is available, but applying by the deadline increases the chance that there is a space available for you. Please contact the Program Coordinator if you are applying after the deadline.

Intervention Specialist: Academic Coaching and Leadership Concentration

This concentration is for experienced special education teachers who want to become a leader in their school. It is designed to give you the advanced training you need to take on diverse leadership roles in special education.

You will gain the skills to help students achieve academic, behavioral and social success. You’ll learn:

• Advanced skills in teaching reading and math to special education students.
• Research-based teaching methods to meet student needs.
• Coaching skills to mentor and guide other teachers.
• Culturally responsive ways to work with diverse students and their families.

Your assignments will focus on real-world uses that directly relate to your job. You’ll work with experienced special education instructors. You’ll also learn math and reading intervention from professors in those academic departments.

Working as an Intervention Specialist

Intervention Specialists make a real difference in the lives of students and their communities. You will work with schools and communities to ensure that students with disabilities are given the same learning opportunities as all students.

Work as a teacher or administrator in:

• Public and private schools
• Colleges and universities
• Hospitals
• Community centers
• Education companies

Courses and Requirements

This is a 34-42 credit concentration of this master’s degree.

Courses are delivered entirely online with one 8-week course at a time. This means you can take two courses each semester and finish in two years (six terms).

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the Intervention Specialist ACL concentration.

Intervention Specialist Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Because this program features some coursework that begins in the middle of the traditional semesters, there are multiple options for starting the program.

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 30 days before the start of each term:

• Summer term: April 15
• Fall term: July 15
• Spring term: Dec. 15
• Middle of a term: contact the Admission Coach to discuss options and deadlines!

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.

This concentration is for people who want to help students with visual impairments reach their full potential in school and beyond. It’s a great fit for current teachers, teacher aides (paraeducators) or anyone looking for a career change. You will learn:

• Teaching methods specific to visually impaired learners
• Braille for literacy, math, science, music and technology
• Principles of orientation and mobility
• Assessment and IEP development
• Skills to help students succeed in their academic, social and emotional lives.

You will also complete valuable hands-on teaching experiences with visually impaired students.

Working with Visually Impaired Students

This program gives you the skills to work with students from birth up to age 21, with a special focus on young children and elementary students.

As a special education teacher of students with visual impairments, you can work in public or private schools. You might work individually with a child, or in classes alongside other students and teachers. You can also work with the child and parents in their home.

Teaching Endorsement (Can Earn Licensure)

If you are a licensed teacher in Colorado, this program is approved for the education portion of the Special Education Specialist – Visual Impairment (ages 0-21) endorsement. You will also be well-prepared for the Praxis assessment(s).

If you are not a licensed teacher, please contact the Program Coordinator for more details related to earning licensure as part of this program.

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 42 credit concentration of this master’s degree.

All courses are delivered online and you can finish in two years. If you add the School O&M Endorsement noted in the section below, there will be some on-campus requirements.

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the Visual Impairment concentration.

Visual Impairment Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Note: if you are already licensed as a special education teacher, you will likely be able to complete this master’s degree with 33 credits because you may be able to waive three courses.

The program has rolling admission and students can start the program any Fall, Spring or Summer term. Early application is recommended, but you can apply up until the first week of class for each term. If you do apply close to the term start, we encourage you to be in contact with the Program Coordinator so that they can help you get started while your application is still processing.

School Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Endorsement (Ages 0-21yrs)

The orientation and mobility endorsement is designed to provide additional competencies for students completing their graduate licensure program in Special Education: Visual Impairment. Students must obtain faculty consent before enrolling in any mobility coursework or applying to the stand-alone endorsement.

Eligibility for the School O&M Endorsement

• If you are applying to the Special Education MA – Visual Impairment Concentration, you will have the option to add the O&M Endorsement.
• If you would like to take the O&M Endorsement only, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements noted for the MA program, and will need to have completed (or be in the process of completing) a Visual Impairment master’s degree program.

Delivery Details

Location: Hybrid (Greeley + Online)

• Spring term: online courses
• Summer term: four weeks in-person on campus in Greeley, Colorado.
• Practicum experiences: can be done near where you reside.

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the School O&M Endorsement.

Start terms: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)

Credits: 15

Estimated Completion Time: Based on when you start the program and how many practicum credits you take each term. Contact the Visual Impairment / O&M Program Coordinator for additional information.

School Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Endorsement (Ages 0-21yrs) – Courses and Requirement Details

International Student Eligibility

This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have an existing U.S. visa status, you would be seeking F-1 or J-1 visa status to be able to come to the U.S. to complete this program. You will need to submit financial documentation to prove that you can pay for tuition and living expenses while you will be in the U.S.

If you have a sponsor for your U.S. education, please check with them about any restrictions for your program choice, location, or ability to take online or hybrid courses.

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
• Financial documentation
• Applying as an international student