SPED Program Welcome

Welcome to the Special Education Master's program.

Read on for important information and next steps to take in preparing for your new academic journey.

Welcome Message from the SPED Program Faculty

Welcome to the University of North Dakota’s Online Master of Education, Master of Science, and Graduate Certificate Programs! The faculty members of the Special Education Program are so happy to have you joining us and want to congratulate you on your acceptance and to be the first to welcome you to our community.

Our coursework is grounded in the seven standards and High Leverage Practices set forth by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) to guide our work in preparing Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education and K-12 special educators to support individuals with disabilities and their families. We frequently welcome allied professionals in related fields as well as those seeking content in special education for personal reasons to take our classes and complete our certificates and master’s degrees.

Our online program is designed to be primarily asynchronous. While there are specific deadlines and due dates for assignment completion, you will have flexibility in the timing of the review of course materials such as recorded lectures, readings, and other resources. Most assignments are grounded in principles of practice-based learning so you can be applying what you are learning right away. You will also find that your advisor and instructors are here to support your learning through their online office hours or through links to schedule directly with them into their e-calendar. 

As you near the end of your program, you will complete an internship where you will put everything you have learned into practice. It is permissible to complete your internship on-the-job; be sure to visit with your advisor about your professional aspirations and your state licensure requirements to develop a plan that will meet your needs. During the internship, online, synchronous meetings with the internship instructor are required. 

You should have access to a site specifically for current students in our program. You will find it on Blackboard under Organizations. In that site, you will find much more detailed information about key points in your program as well as guidance to inform your academic planning. In addition to the Blackboard Organization site, you have the support of your advisor, Success Coach, and instructors. 

We welcome you and are so happy that you chose to join us at UND! 

Warmly, 

The Special Education Faculty

Resources and New Student Checklist

As a new student, it can be overwhelming to figure out everything that needs to be taken care of in the short time between being admitted and starting classes. UND's Admitted Graduate Student Checklist will help you navigate processes like claiming your student accounts, enrolling in classes, figuring out how to pay your bill, finding campus resources, and so much more. 

ADMITTED GRADUATE STUDENT CHECKLIST

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