Program Overview

Accelerated Online Early Childhood & SPED Degree

The University of North Dakota offers an Accelerated Online Early Childhood & SPED Degree, which allows students to graduate with a B.S. in early childhood education and M.Ed. in special education in 5 years.

Program Overview

Special education teachers are in high demand, and UND graduates from the early childhood education program enjoy a 100% employment rate. This program addresses the educational needs of children under the age of eight in various settings.

Program Details

• Program type: Accelerated (Bachelors and Masters)
• Format: Online
• Estimated time to complete: 5 years
• Credit hours: 120 (bachelor's) + 30+ (master's)

Why Combine Degrees in Early Childhood and Special Education?

With the accelerated online program, students gain a bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, a Special Education minor, and a master's in Special Education with specialization in Early Childhood Special Education. Upon degree completion, students will have completed an important step towards licensure in North Dakota in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education.

Program Benefits

• Focus on children in the context of family, culture, and community
• Explore developmentally appropriate practices, emergent curriculum, descriptive assessment, and problem-solving approaches to resolving conflict and choices for children
• Learn how to screen and assess young children with disabilities and program plan using research-supported interventions
• Develop interdisciplinary collaborative skills when working with families and colleagues in early intervention and early childhood special education programs
• Learn online from an interdisciplinary group of faculty members with extensive experience as practitioners, professors, and researchers

Double Count Up to 12 Credits

The online degree programs M.Ed. in Special Education or M.S. in Early Childhood Education allow those with an associate's degree in education or currently enrolled undergraduate students at UND to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace. Undergraduates with 60 credits or those currently in an Education degree program are eligible for consideration for the accelerated degree program.

Accredited Online Early Childhood Special Education Degree

Teacher education programs at UND are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The online program follows the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Online Early Childhood Special Education Program

• Enjoy affordable online tuition rates regardless of where you live
• Be a part of Graduate Research Achievement Day or the College of Education & Human Development Research Conference
• Join the Early Childhood Education Student Organization (ECESOO)
• Have direct involvement with children in more than 60% of courses
• Emphasizing scholarly application for practitioners, the degree allows you to continue your education and Doctor of Education
• Be more competitive and get a higher paying job with the accelerated program

Careers in Early Childhood Special Education

100% of graduates are employed in positions related to their UND early childhood education degree. The median annual salary for special education teachers is $64,000 (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Licensure Requirements

To be eligible for licensure to teach in North Dakota, students must:

1. Complete a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with an overall grade point average of at least 2.75
2. Pass state licensure exams
3. Meet the state's legal requirements with a satisfactory background check

Early Childhood Education Careers

An Early Childhood Education degree provides strategic skills, including:

• Curriculum Development
• Lesson Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Child Development Graduates can work in:
• Public schools (PreK and kindergarten through third grade)
• Early Head Start
• Child care and education centers
• Administration/Director

Online Early Childhood Special Education Courses

Courses include:

• Language Development and Emerging Literacy
• Methods and Materials for Preschool Children with Special Needs
• Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education
• Intervention Strategies with Infants and Toddlers
• Identification and Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs
• Behavior Management

Field-Based Practicum

Students are required to complete a 3-credit practicum in an early childhood education classroom setting for a total of 60 hours. They must find an approved practicum site and supervisor.

Leaders in Online Education

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online. Students can feel reassured knowing they won't be alone in their online learning journey and will have resources and services tailored to their needs.

Same Quality Education Online

• Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Same classes: Students take courses from UND professors and follow the same semester schedule as on-campus students
• Real interaction: Students can ask questions, get feedback, and regularly connect with professors, peers, and professionals in the field
• Personalized academic advising
• Free online tutoring and unlimited academic coaching
• Full online access to UND's libraries, writing center, career services, and more
• 24/7 technical support

Best Online College

UND is ranked among the best online colleges in the nation for affordability, student satisfaction, academic quality, and student outcomes.