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 from the University of Northern Colorado 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.
Study With Expert Faculty
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.
Attend Online or On Campus
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.
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.
Special Education Degree Options: Concentrations
With the depth and breadth of our faculty expertise — and in alignment with the growing needs of diverse communities across Colorado and beyond — we’re proud to offer five specializations:
Credits Required: 30-36
Typical Completion Time: 1.5-2 years
Delivery Options: Online
This flexible online program is ideal for teachers looking to earn their master’s degree without putting their career on hold. 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
Sample Courses
- 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
View full degree requirements in our course catalog.
Credits Required: 36
Typical Completion Time: 2 Years
Delivery Options: On Campus, Online
Develop specialized skills to work with diverse children from birth to age 8 and their families. The program includes extensive field experiences with three age groups: birth to 2 years, 3 to 5 years and 5 to 8 years.
After graduation, students with the early childhood special education endorsement go on to work in childcare centers, early intervention programs and in public school settings up to third grade.
Sample Courses
- Family/Professional Partnerships
- Typical and Atypical Early Child Development: Application to Early Childhood Special Education
- Scientifically Based Literacy Interventions
- Research, Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood Special Education
- Learning Environments and Cultural Considerations
- Assessment, IEP Development and Instructional Planning
Credits Required: 33
Typical Completion Time:
Delivery Options: On Campus, Online
Help gifted and talented learners attain their full potential. In this program, you’ll explore strategies and methodologies for implementing gifted programs for all grade levels. You’ll also gain the skills and knowledge to effectively interact with diverse students, teachers, administrators and parents.
Graduates of this program teach diverse students in public and private schools, as well as for education companies and community organizations.
Sample Courses
- 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
Credits Required: 34-42
Typical Completion Time: 2 Years
Delivery Options: Online
Intervention specialists make a real difference in the lives of students and their communities. These professionals work with schools and communities to ensure that students with disabilities are given the same learning opportunities as non-disabled students.
Designed to prepare teachers for leadership roles in special education, this fast-track program offers two areas of emphasis: Applied Behavior Analysis and Academic Coaching & Leadership. Our graduates work as teachers and administrators in public and private schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, community centers and education companies.
Sample Courses
- 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
Credits Required: 36-43
Typical Completion Time: 2 Years
Delivery Options: Online
There is an urgent need, nationally and regionally, for teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. When you graduate from our program, you’ll have the knowledge, skills and preparation to teach children from birth through high school. Professional 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
Sample Courses
- 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
Credits Required: 42
Typical Completion Time: 2 Years
Delivery Options: Online
More children with visual impairments are being identified each year, yet fewer educators are qualified to teach them. This program prepares you to work with learners ages birth to 21, with a special emphasis on the needs of early childhood 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 in a classroom, or in classes alongside other students and teachers. You can also work with the child and parents in their home.
Sample Courses
- 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
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, and I secured jobs in both the early intervention and school settings prior to even receiving my degree. The professors got to know me as a learner and provided me with opportunities to grow as an
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
