Enhance your educator preparation to support people with diverse learning abilities and behavioral needs with Northern's master’s degree in special education.  This program is designed for:

• Current special education teachers who wish to advance their knowledge in their field as generalist special education teachers or teachers of students with visual impairments
• Current K-12 general classroom teachers who'd like to pivot to special education and diversify their skills
• Teachers responding to the market demand for special education teachers and teachers of students with visual impairments

Visual Impairment Specialization

Educators - including special educators - who already have state licensure can select the master’s degree program or the master’s degree with specialization in visual impairments to expand their ability to serve students with disabilities. Northern has a longtime partnership with the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which is located in a brand-new building right next to campus in Aberdeen. Northern is one of only three universities in the nation to include a practicum in a school for the blind and visually impaired – and the only university with a school of the blind and visually impaired within the bounds of its campus. The visual impairment specialization will prepare you to become a teacher of the visually impaired. 

ACCELERATED OPTION 

Start your master's degree early! Northern's undergraduate special education majors can start the master’s during their senior or final year through an accelerated program, taking up to 12 credits in the master’s at the 500 level instead of the 400 level. 

ADMISSION

Applicants must have undergraduate preparation or certification in the one of the following areas:  early childhood, elementary education, secondary education, career technical education, K-12 education, early childhood special education or K-12 special education.

Other admission requirements include:

• Undergraduate GPA of 2.75
• Completed graduate application
• Two letters of recommendation
• $35 application fee
• An official transcript