M.Ed. Special Education

Program Highlights

WHY STUDY Special education AT CONCORDIA?

With an online master’s degree in special education from Concordia University, you’ll find a distinctive blend of faith-based instruction and real-world, hands-on experience, including: 

• A holistic special education master’s program. Gain a broad introduction to special education policy, practice and teaching strategies that you can start applying in your classroom right away.   
• Our online program does not require a practicum. You will need to complete five hours of field experience in four different courses.  These experiences all involve observing a student or two with special needs and three of the four observations need to be done in a school setting.  If you currently work with special education students, you can observe students that you teach.  
• Special education endorsement options. If you want to work exclusively with students with disabilities, you can complete additional coursework to earn a special education endorsement after finishing your master’s degree in special education. Choose from education teaching endorsements for K–6, 7–12 and K–12 students, or one of our many additional teaching endorsements. 
• TEACH Grant eligibility. Students who meet requirements for the TEACH Grant may be able to apply grant funds to the Master of Education in special education program. 

Special Education Program Director

Meet our Students

Accreditation

Concordia is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.   

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Degree Goals

Earning an M.Ed. in Special Education provides you with a comprehensive foundation in special education practices and strategies. In your course work, you can expect to learn both concepts and skills for working with students who have learning, intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

A Special Education graduate from Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to:  

• Understand how disabilities can interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with disabilities. 
• Use multiple methods of assessment and data analysis to select and adapt general and specialized curricula to personalize learning for individuals with disabilities. 
• Create safe, inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments for students with disabilities. 
• Collaborate with families, educators, service providers, students and community agencies to address the needs of individuals with disabilities across a range of learning experiences. 

Career Outcomes

With a degree in special education from Concordia University, you’ll use your knowledge of  behavior intervention, differentiation and classroom management strategies to create inclusive and compassionate learning environments for underserved students. 
 
With an additional special education endorsement, you can further expand your career opportunities to include a wide variety of positions in the school system, or move into the private sector with community based opportunities working with students with special needs. 

Special Education Professional

As a special education professional, teacher or leader, you’ll be responsible for working with students who have special learning needs. You’ll adapt classroom environments and curricula to facilitate learning despite students’ mental, emotional and physical barriers to their education.  

Inclusion Specialist

An inclusion specialist is responsible for developing curricula that includes students with diverse needs in a traditional classroom, allowing students with various abilities to learn together.  

FAQs

What can I do with a special education degree?

With a master’s in special education, you can apply your knowledge of behavior intervention, differentiation and classroom management strategies to the general education classroom to teach a diverse student population. With one of our three Special Education endorsements you can become an expert in the field of special education and fill a much needed teaching role in schools across the country.  You will have an opportunity to work collaboratively with families, school psychologists, counselors, administrators and general education teachers to develop educational plans that help students succeed. With a foundation of an M.Ed. in Special Education and an additional special education endorsement, you can further expand your career opportunities to include a wide variety of positions in the school system, or move into the private sector with community based opportunities working with students with special needs.

Does this program require the completion of a practicum?

Our online special education degree program does not require a practicum. You will need to complete five hours of field experience in four different courses.  These experiences all involve observing a student or two with special needs and three of the four observations need to be done in a school setting.  If you currently work with special education students, you can observe students that you teach.  

What is the importance of special education teachers in education today?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there is an acute shortage of special education teachers across the country. Educators with qualifications in special education are in high demand.  

Is special education the right career path for me?

A career in special education may be right for you if you are empathetic and an advocate. An inclusive classroom environment is vital to effective special education, so if you are dedicated to making sure that all students, in spite of their abilities, are part of their classroom community, then special education may be the right career path for you. In addition, for general education teachers who wish to enhance their ability to help every student, our master’s degree in special education can help you become an exceptional teacher able to reach and impact every student.

For those outside of Nebraska, will this program meet the requirements for my state?

Our program is designed to align with the Nebraska state requirements for special education endorsement but may be beneficial to meet your goals as well. We encourage all from states other than Nebraska to research the requirements of their state as additional coursework could be required.  

Does this program lead to certification or endorsement?

Students from states who are not members of the Interstate Mobility Compact will be enrolled in a “field of study” program that does not lead to certification or endorsement. The coursework and requirements of field of study programs are exactly the same as those that lead to certification/endorsement in Nebraska. Questions? Please contact your enrollment specialist.
 

Related Programs

Interested in advancing your teaching skills, but not sure which M.Ed. is right for you? Explore our other master’s in special education programs or learn more about other M.Ed. degree paths at Concordia Nebraska:

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