College of Education & Human Services
Special Education Program


Master of Science—Special Education
The Master’s of Science in Special Education includes six areas of emphasis (Autism, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Developmental Disabilities(DD), Physical/Health Disabilities(P/HD), Specific Learning Disabilities(SLD), Emotional/Behavior Disorders(E/BD). The following table depicts a two OR three year schedule for degree completion for our online program. To receive financial aid, you must enroll in six credits per semester. Please contact the Graduate Office (graduate@mnstate.edu) for information about enrolling in the graduate degree program.

Program Overview

Core coursework defines educational programming for all enrolled in the SpEd Masters program. These courses include: SpEd 620, SpEd 664, SpEd 613, ED 603, ED 609, ED 632, and SpEd 695. While we present the following schedule for completion of the program, an individualized schedule may be developed.  Please keep in mind-there are prerequisites and coursework is not offered each semester.  You can find our course schedule under the program info tab.  

Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Minimum of one year documented, successful PreK-Grade 12 experience as a licensed teacher OR an undergraduate degree in education. Applicants with a comparable work experience and/or a related degree will be considered on an individual basis as determined by the department's graduate faculty. Information on specific requirements for individuals with a related degree or comparable work experience is available through the Special Education Graduate Coordinator.
3. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.25 in the last 30 semester credits of course work.
4. Completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study form.
5. Undergraduate and other transcripts sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Studies Office.
6. Non-refundable $20.00 fee for first-time applicants to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
7. Score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of 380 or above or combined score of 800 or above on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Only official scores are accepted; no more than five years old.

Degree Requirements

The degree is offered with an action research project.  You will be guided through this process in your ED 603 and ED 609 coursework.  Successful completion of written comprehesive exams are is required as is a leadership/emphais implimentation project as part of your SPED 695 coursework.

Additional Requirements:

1. 3.0 grade point average required for courses submitted for the degree.
2. Written comprehensive examination.
3. Oral examination of thesis or project by committee.

Detailed information on these requirements and department policies and procedures may be obtained from the Special Education Graduate Program Coordinator. Further information on degree requirements may be found in:

General Degree Requirements

For specific information about areas of emphasis please contact: Ann Goldade (goldade@mnstate.edu) SLD, E/BD; Deanne Borgeson (borgeson@mnstate.edu) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Physical/Health Disabilities (P/HD); Camille Brandt (brandtca@mnstate.edu) Developmental Disabilities (DD), Autism Spectrum Disorders or 
Sue Severson (
severson@mnstate.edu) Chair, School of Teaching and Learning.

SpEd Master’s with Autism Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
      SpEd 531 (2)
1st Year
SpEd 532 (3)       SpEd 535 (2)

SpEd 536 (2)

      SpEd 613 (3)

 SpEd 620 (3)

2nd Year
SpEd 534 (3)      SpEd 606 (3)      Ed 632 (4)

SpEd 664 (3)

3rd Year
ED 603

Written Comprehensive Examination

      Ed 609 (2)      SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Autism Emphasis (2 year plan)
     SpEd 531 (3)
1st Year
      SpEd 532 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

     SpEd 535 (2)

SpEd 536 (2)

SpEd 664(3)

    SpEd 613 (3)
2nd Year
     SpEd 534 (3)

ED 603 (2)

ED 632 (4)

Written Comprehensive Examination

     ED 609 (2)

SpEd 606 (3)

SpEd 590 (1) not required

     SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Early Childhood Special Education Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
     SpEd 519 (3)
1st Year
SpEd 517 (3) SpEd 559 (3)      SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

2nd Year
SpEd 526 (3) SpEd 664 (3)      Ed 632 (4)

SpEd 527

3rd Year
ED 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Examination

ED 609 (2)      SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Early Childhood Special Education Emphasis (2 year plan)
      SpEd 519 (3)
1st Year
      SpEd 517 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

     SpEd 559 (3)

SpEd 523 (3)

      SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

2nd Year
      SpEd 603 (2)

SpEd 526 (3)

Written Comprehensive Exams

     Ed 609 (2)

SpEd 695 (1)

SpEd 664 (3)

      SpEd 523 (3)

SpEd 527 (3)

SpEd Master’s with Developmental Disabilities Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
      SpEd 519
1st Year
SpEd 517 (3)      SpEd 559 (3)      SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

2nd Year
ED 632 (4)      SpEd 606 (3)      SpEd 664 (3)

SpEd 670 (3)

3rd Year
ED 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Examination

    Ed 609 (2)     SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Developmental Disabilities Emphasis (2 year plan)
    SpEd 519 (3)
1st Year
     SpEd 517 (3)

Ed 632 (4)

     SpEd 559 (3)

SpEd 664 (3)

     Ed 632 (3)

SpEd 670 (3)

2nd Year
      Ed 603 (2)

SpEd 670 (3)

Written Comprehensive Exams

      Ed 609 (2)

SpEd 606 (3)

SpEd 695 (1)

    SpEd 670 (3)
 
if not taken previous summer
SpEd Master’s with Physical/Health Disabilities Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
    SpEd 519 (3)
1st Year
SpEd 517 (3) SpEd 559 (3)      SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 620 (3)

2nd Year
ED 632 (4) SpEd 664 (3)      SpEd 547 (3)

SpEd 670 (3)

3rd Year
ED 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Examination

ED 609 (2)     SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Physical/Health Disabilities Emphasis (2 year plan)
    SpEd 519 (3)
1st Year
      SpEd 517 (3)

 Ed 632 (4)

     SpEd 559 (3)

SpEd 664 (3)

    SpEd 547 (3)

Ed 670 (3)

2nd Year
      Ed 603 (2)

SpEd 620 (3)

Written Comprehensive Exams

     Ed 609 (2)

SpEd 613 (3)

    SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Specific Learning Disabilities Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
      SpEd 663 (2)
1st Year
SpEd 620 (3) SpEd 555 (4)       SpEd 613 (3)

 SpEd 664 (3)

2nd Year
ED 632 (4) SpEd 606 (3)       SpEd 575 (3)

SpEd 670 (3)

3rd Year
ED 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Exams

ED 609 (2)      SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Specific Learning Disabilities Emphasis (2 year plan)
     SpEd 663
1st Year
      SpEd 620 (3)

SpEd 632 (4)

     SpEd 555 (4)

SpEd 606 (3)

     SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 670 (3)

SpEd 575 (3)

2nd Year
       Ed 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Exams
      Ed 609 (2)

SpEd 664 (3)

     SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Emotional/Behavior Disorders Emphasis (3 year plan)
Fall Spring Summer
    SpEd 663 (2)
1st Year
SpEd 620 (3) SpEd 555 (4)      SpEd 613 (3)

SpEd 664 (3)

2nd Year
ED 632 (4) SpEd 606 (3)      SpEd 670 (3)

SpEd 578 (3)

3rd Year
ED 603 (2)

Written Comprehensive Exams

ED 609 (2)      SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s with Emotional/Behavior Disorders Disorders (2 year plan)
      SpEd 663 (2)
1st Year
      SpEd 620 (3)      SpEd 555 (4)

SpEd 606 (3)

      SpEd 613 (3)

 SpEd 670 (3)

 SpEd 578 (3)

2nd Year
      Ed 603 (2)

 Ed 632 (4)

Written Comprehensive Exams

     Ed 609 (3)

SpEd 664 (3)

      SpEd 695 (1)
SpEd Master’s: Autism (3 year)
Autism (2 year)
ECSE (3 year)
ECSE (2 year)
DD (3 year)
DD (2 year)
P/HD (3 year)
P/HD (2 year)
SLD (3 year)
SLD (2 year)
E/BD (3 year)
E/BD (2 year)

Graduate Office