Special Education MA
- Master's
- MA
- In-Person
- Online
- Greeley
- Online
- Generalist
- Gifted Education Specialist Endorsement
- Intervention Specialist: Academic Coaching and Leadership
- Visual Impairment
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Program Overview
More than 7.5 million students in the United States have special educational needs. However, many areas have a shortage of teachers who are qualified to meet this growing demand.
The Master’s in Special Education at UNC will prepare you for a meaningful career helping exceptional students. With five endorsement areas to choose from, you can align your graduate studies with your professional interests.
Learn from active teachers, researchers and leaders. Our talented, passionate faculty members have expertise in areas as diverse as early communication skills, literacy, second language learners, mobility, creativity, family-school partnerships, special educational law, culturally responsive teaching and inclusive practices in rural settings.
Participate in Enriching Field Experience
Boost your skills with extensive field-based experiences and supervised teaching opportunities. Our master’s programs typically include 800+ hours of real-world learning. And, if you’re an online student, you can complete your practicum or student-teaching requirement in your home community.
Whether you’re attending on campus or online, you’ll have close interaction with your classmates and faculty members — and access to the same high-quality, high-touch support services. Choose the format that works best for your situation and goals.
Concentrations
Our faculty bring deep expertise across five distinct areas, each designed to meet the evolving needs of diverse communities throughout Colorado and beyond. Whether you’re drawn to a specific population or practice area, you’ll find a path that aligns with your passion and career aspirations.
Choose the specialization that matches your goals.
Program at a Glance
- 30-36 credits
- 1.5-2 years to complete
- 100% online
Advance your career without pressing pause.
This flexible online program lets you earn your master’s degree while continuing to teach. You’ll develop the expertise to support K-12 students across the full spectrum of learning needs and abilities — building skills that open doors far beyond the traditional classroom.
Our graduates work as instructional coordinators, college accessibility coordinators, pediatric hospital educators, nonprofit leaders and education policy analysts — applying their specialized knowledge in diverse settings where they can make a real difference.
What you’ll study:
- Foundations of Special Education
- Learning Environments and Cultural Considerations
- Applied Assessment
- Behavioral Interventions
- Mathematics and Content Area Learning for Students with Disabilities
- Educating Students with Significant Support Needs
Program at a Glance
- 33 credits
- 2 years to complete
- On campus or 100% online
Unlock potential in learners who need more.
Gifted and talented students deserve educators who understand their unique needs — and know how to challenge them. In this program, you’ll master strategies and methods for designing effective gifted programs across all grade levels, while building the skills to collaborate meaningfully with diverse students, families, teachers and administrators.
Where will this degree take you?
Our graduates teach in public and private schools, work for education companies and lead programs in community organizations — anywhere exceptional learners need advocates and experts.
What you’ll study:
- The Gifted Learner: Nature and Needs
- Emotional and Social Development of the Gifted and Talented
- Program Strategies and Services for the Gifted and Talented
- Creativity in Gifted Education
- Assessment and Identification in Gifted Education
- Highest Levels of Learning for the Gifted and Talented
Program at a Glance
- 34-42 credits
- 2 years to complete
- 100% online
Lead the change students with disabilities deserve.
Intervention specialists ensure every student — regardless of ability — has equal access to meaningful learning opportunities. This fast-track program prepares you for leadership roles in special education, with specialized training in Applied Behavior Analysis and Academic Coaching and Leadership.
You’ll develop the expertise to coach teachers, design effective interventions and advocate for systemic change in schools and communities. Whether you’re passionate about classroom innovation or district-level leadership, you’ll graduate ready to drive real impact.
Where will this degree take you?
Our graduates lead as teachers, administrators and specialists in public and private schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, community centers and education companies — shaping policy and practice wherever students need champions.
What you’ll study:
- Legal and Policy Foundations of Special Education
- Leadership in the School Community
- Research and Reflective Practice
- Introduction to Graduate Research
- Assessment and Intervention for Students with Challenging Behaviors
- Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Program at a Glance
- 36-43 credits
- 2 years to complete
- 100% online
Fill a critical need. Transform young lives.
Schools across Colorado and the nation are searching for qualified teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. This program prepares you to work with children from birth through high school, giving you the specialized knowledge and skills to make communication, learning, and connection possible.
You’ll graduate ready to step into diverse roles where your expertise is urgently needed — and where you can shape a child’s entire educational journey.
Where will this degree take you?
- Classroom teacher in residential schools or inclusive settings
- Collaborative team teacher partnering with general education colleagues
- Itinerant teacher serving students across multiple schools
- Parent-infant facilitator or home interventionist supporting families from the start
What you’ll study:
- Foundations of Deaf Education
- Collaboration: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Auditory Skill Development: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Speech: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Language: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Literacy: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Curriculum and Instruction: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Program at a Glance
- 42 credits
- 2 years to complete
- 100% online
Meet a growing need with specialized expertise.
Every year, more children with visual impairments are identified—yet qualified teachers remain in short supply. This program prepares you to bridge that gap, working with learners from birth to age 21. You’ll gain deep expertise in early intervention and elementary education, along with the skills to support students at every developmental stage.
Your work will go beyond academics. You’ll teach independence, mobility and the tools — like Braille — that open doors to full participation in school and life.
Where will this degree take you?
You’ll work in public or private schools, supporting students one-on-one in classrooms, collaborating with teachers in inclusive settings or providing home-based instruction with children and their families. Every role centers on creating access and possibility.
What you’ll study:
- Introduction to Visual Impairment and Deaf-Blindness
- Braille Codes and Formats
- Principles of Orientation and Mobility
- Medical and Educational Implications of Visual Impairments
- Assessment of Students with Visual Impairments
- Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairment
Why Choose UNC for Your Special Ed Master’s?
Flexible Online Options
Advance your career on your own terms with convenient online classes and 24/7 access to course materials.
Increased Earning Potential
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, educators with a master’s degree will typically earn $8,000 to $10,000 more per year than those with only a bachelor’s.
Graduate Employment Rate
Special Education master’s students succeed after graduation. Our alumni have advanced their careers in a variety of school, community and home-based settings.
Organizations, Centers & Institutes
Student Involvement
Get involved with the longest-running Student Council for Exceptional Children Club in Colorado. This international professional development organization is dedicated to improving the success of exceptional students.
UNC is home to several renowned research centers devoted to advancing education. They include the Center for Gifted and Talented, the Center for Urban Education, the Colorado Center for Rural Education and the Tointon Institute for Education Change.
Hear from Our Alumni
Deaf Education
I had a fantastic educational experience at UNC. The Deaf Education program prepared me to work with students from birth to 21. I secured jobs in both the early intervention and school settings prior to even receiving my degree. My professors got to know me as a learner and provided me opportunities to grow.
Heather Abraham
Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Gifted Education
The Gifted Education master’s program at UNC was exactly what I needed. I felt like I was a good teacher, but I lacked the skills and knowledge to support and challenge high-ability students. This program prepared me to work with them on a deeper level. I was also able to continue my full-time position as an elementary scho
Gloria Valenciano-Salazar
Special Education: Gifted Education
Visual Impairment
I want to tell you how much I've appreciated working with UNC and their Visual Impairment program. I’m grateful that I’m able to work at my convenience since this program is online. Another advantage is being able to work in the field of visual impairment while completing my graduate degree in order to get real hands-on exp
Yvonne Roll
Special Education: Visual Impairment
Special Education
We prepare the next generation of confident, skilled, and compassionate special education professionals through outstanding teaching, dedicated mentorship, and pioneering research guided by national leaders in the field.
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