BVU’s two-year online special education master’s degree program can be accomplished alongside your current teaching career. The master’s program provides the knowledge and strategies to put learning into practice in the classroom right away. Students also can choose from five tracks within the special education master’s degree program:

• Instructional Strategist I- Mild to Moderate Disabilities, K-8, 5-12, or Both 
• Instructional Strategist II- Behavior Disorder/Learning Disabilities 
• Instructional Strategist II- Cognitive/Intellectual Disabilities 
• Comprehensive track (includes all four endorsements)

Instructional Strategist I- Mild to Moderate (Leading to a K-8, 5-12, or Both Endorsements)

Mild to moderate disabilities, K-8 and 5-12: Teach students with mild to moderate disabilities in resource, inclusion, pull-out, and push-in models with students having exceptionalities in the area of mild to moderate disabilities.

Instructional Strategist II

Option 1: Cognitive: Teach students with significant support needs and cognitive disabilities in grades K-12.
Option 2: Behavior/learning: Teach students with significant support needs, behavior or learning disabilities in grades K-12.

All endorsements are designed for Iowa Board of Educational Examiners approval. Please check with your state for acknowledgement or acceptance of endorsements.

What do I need beforehand?

No GRE required. Save time and money. 

• A Bachelor of Arts or Science from an accredited institution, with a 2.75 GPA minimum 
• A valid K-12 teaching certificate or license

• Program Courses and Endorsement Areas

  Core Courses

  • GEDU 510 Graduate Study & Research
  • GEDU 512 Learning, Development & Motivation
  • GEDU 517 Leadership in a Changing Society and Culture

  Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate—Leading to K-8, 5-12, or Both Endorsements (27 credit hours)

  • ESSI 501 Characteristics of Exceptional Learners
  • ESSI 510 Advanced Special Education Law and Professional Practices
  • ESSI 520 Multidisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation
  • ESSI 530 Advanced Transitions and Self-Determination
  • ESSI 603 Curriculum Development and Differentiated Instruction
  • ESSI 604 Literacy Methods
  • ESSI 605 Math Methods
  • ESSI 610 Advanced Behavior Interventions and Supports
  • ESSI 690 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio Instructional Strategist I Mild/Moderate – (K-8) OR ESSI 691 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio Instructional Strategist I Mild/Moderate – (5-12) OR GECI 584 Capstone Portfolio in Exceptional Student Services and Instruction

  *If seeking K-12 licensure, graduate students will need to evidence distributed experiences across K-12 settings through course field experience as well as through taking either ESSI 690, ESSI 691, or GECI 584.

  Instructional Strategist II: Cognitive—Intellectual Disabilities (30 credit hours)

  • ESSI 502 Characteristics of Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
  • ESSI 510 Advanced Special Education Law and Professional Practices
  • ESSI 520 Multidisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation
  • ESSI 530 Advanced Transitions and Self-Determination
  • ESSI 603 Curriculum Development and Differentiated Instruction
  • ESSI 604 Literacy Methods
  • ESSI 605 Math Methods
  • ESSI 606 Methods for Teaching Students with Cognitive Disabilities
  • ESSI 610 Advanced Behavior Interventions and Supports
  • ESSI 692 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio Instructional Strategist II Cognitive (K-12) or GECI 584 Capstone Portfolio in Special Education

  Instructional Strategist II: Behavior—Behavior Disorder/Learning Disabilities (30 credit hours)

  • ESSI 503 Characteristics of Learners with Significant Behavioral Disabilities
  • ESSI 510 Advanced Special Education Law and Professional Practices
  • ESSI 520 Multidisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation
  • ESSI 530 Advanced Transitions and Self-Determination
  • ESSI 603 Curriculum Development and Differentiated Instruction
  • ESSI 604 Literacy Methods
  • ESSI 605 Math Methods
  • ESSI 607 Methods for Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities
  • ESSI 610 Advanced Behavior Interventions and Supports
  • ESSI 693 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio Instructional Strategist II Significant Support Needs (K-12) or GECI 584 Capstone Portfolio in Special Education

  Comprehensive—Instructional Strategist I & II: Mild/Moderate, Intellectual Disabilities, & Behavioral Disorder/Learning Disabilities (42 credit hours)

  • ESSI 501 Characteristics of Exceptional Learners
  • ESSI 502 Characteristics of Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
  • ESSI 503 Characteristics of Learners with Significant Behavioral Disabilities
  • ESSI 510 Advanced Special Education Law and Professional Practices
  • ESSI 520 Multidisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation
  • ESSI 530 Advanced Transitions and Self-Determination
  • ESSI 603 Curriculum Development and Differentiated Instruction
  • ESSI 604 Literacy Methods
  • ESSI 605 Math Methods
  • ESSI 606 Methods for Teaching Students with Cognitive Disabilities
  • ESSI 607 Methods for Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities
  • ESSI 610 Advanced Behavior Interventions and Supports
  • ESSI 694 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio - Elementary Special Education
  • ESSI 695 Practicum and Capstone Portfolio – Secondary Special Education

  Courses with a grade lower than “C-” do not count toward the degree and must be repeated.

• Application Requirements
  • Official transcripts
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Autobiographical questions
    • Why are you applying to the online special education master’s degree program at this time?
    • How do you plan to contribute to this program?
    • What do you expect to take from it?
    • How will you support your own success in this program? That is, what steps will you take to ensure your success in this academically rigorous endeavor?
  • Valid teaching license