Program Overview

---

Special Education

Shape Young Minds: Specialize in Supporting Students with High-Incidence Disabilities (PK-12)

Special Education Certificate Program for All Teacher Education Majors

As part of a 4-year degree, teacher education students at MSU-Bozeman can take classes to enhance their ability to teach all students effectively. By adding one class per semester, students can complete the requirements for a special education teaching certificate.

This program is open to all MSU teacher education majors and provides eligibility to apply for a PK-12 special education teaching license upon successful completion of the 24-credit curriculum. Students will gain hands-on practice in local schools, working with diverse learners and applying evidence-based strategies. Coursework includes innovative practices in:

• behavior management
• collaboration and transition
• special education teaching methods
• assessment
• more

Education Specialist Program

Education Specialist students work with researchers, whose studies provide quantitative evidence on various topics, including factors affecting retention of sexual minority STEM students.

Work-Life Balance

Livability has previously ranked Bozeman as one of its Best Places to Live four years in a row, including the #1 best place to live in Montana, calling the city a "tech-savvy, economically vibrant, highly educated city on the grow" with year-round natural attractions.

CPED Member

The College of Education, Health and Human Development is a proud member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate.

Adventure Awaits

LendEDU has ranked MSU #1 in Outdoor Recreation, due to its proximity to world-class skiing, blue-ribbon rivers for fishing, and seemingly endless hiking opportunities, as well as access to rental equipment from the ASMSU Outdoor Recreation Program.

Fund Your Education

The Graduate School at Montana State is dedicated to helping students secure funding during their time at MSU. Some resources the certificate program and Graduate School offer include:

• Scholarships through the College of Education, Health and Human Development
• Internal Fellowship and Funding Opportunities
• External Fellowship and Funding Opportunities

Distance Learning

For students focusing on the Educational Leadership track for the Education Specialist degree, the program is designed to grant students a blended graduate student experience, combining the networking strength of face-to-face delivery with the convenience of distance delivery. As the goal of the Educational Leadership program is to create strong networks within each cohort as well as enhance students skills and knowledge in the workplace, a combination of field experience, on-campus learning, and other opportunities are core to the program.

Admissions Requirements

Each program within the Graduate School at Montana State has its own particular requirements for admission, and the Education Specialist program is no different. To ensure that you start your application on the right foot, please review the admissions requirements for the Education Specialist program. This includes any additional deadlines that the Department of Education may have aside from the Graduate School, which practices rolling admissions.

Related Programs

• Educational Leadership graduate
• Curriculum & Instruction graduate
• Adult & Higher Education graduate
  • M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.