Program Description
39 semester credits required: Fully online. This program is designed to take 24 months to complete. Each transcript is evaluated for applicable transfer credits.
This major is designed for those seeking a formal educational leadership role as Director of Special Education. The program emphasizes the administrator as an instructional and transformational leader. Skills appropriate to goal setting, maximizing human potential, the unique aspects of an organizational structure, and the management tasks of an administrator are identified. The major offers schedules to allow the educator to complete a master's degree while teaching full-time. The Director of Special Education program takes approximately 24 months, including the 9-month internship.
A significant expectation is that each student will identify a specific topic or problem of interest to design and complete a project. The student will also complete a 9-month (2 semester) administrative internship in a district setting. The internship experience should include participation in a maximum number of meaningful experiences related to the Director of Special Education role. A minimum of 150 clock hours is required, including the two weeks before schools open and the two weeks after schools close (beyond teacher contracts.) Students will complete various tasks and duties typical of a district-level leader under the supervision of an experienced Director of Special Education. The school district and the NNU program director must approve the internship assignment. In the last semester of the program, each student will enroll in EDUC7595P Director of Special Education Portfolio (0-1) credits, where they will upload their artifacts of learning and evidence of competencies of the Idaho Standards for Initial Certification.
The program is fully online, with some courses scheduling synchronous video class sessions. We encourage students to attend these ‘live” sessions as they are available. Archived recorded sessions may be available for review.
Successful completion of the degree qualifies the graduate for recommendation to the State of Idaho for a Director of Special Education endorsement on an Idaho Certificate. Students must demonstrate competency with the building-level administrator AND the Director of Special Education standards. NOTE: An Institutional Recommendation (IR) is only valid for two years after completion of the degree. Therefore, the student should apply for a certificate revision or renewal within that timeframe.
It is the student's responsibility to submit the appropriate paperwork and fees to the Idaho State Department of Education for obtaining certifications and endorsements in Idaho. Current forms and information are available from the ISDE website. Students should check the Internet and other sources for specific requirements for certification in other states.
Required Courses for M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education (Online):
EDUC7595G Director of Special Education Internship (2 semesters; total of 4 credits)
EDUC7596 Principal Internship (1 semester; total of 3 credits)
Application Requirements - M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education
All applicants to the program are responsible for familiarity with Idaho Code Section 33-1208; no person convicted of a felony or who would otherwise be denied certification or have certification revoked under Idaho Code 33-1208 will be admitted to the Building Administrator program.
The following requirements must be received by Admissions a minimum of one week before classes start, and are online, mailed or emailed as indicated. For mail: Northwest Nazarene University, Attention Graduate Admissions, 623 S. University Boulevard, Nampa, ID, 83686. For email: gps@nnu.edu. Transcripts can be received through email if sent from an accepted digital credentialing service, such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse.
- Online: application and $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Mail, or email from a digital service: official transcripts from the regionally accredited institution(s) where candidate received a bachelor’s degree. (We do not accept faxed transcripts.)
- Email or mail: a copy of candidate’s teaching certificate.
- Online: two recommendation forms completed by professional colleagues.
- Online: an Educational Leadership Evaluation Form from the candidate’s current building administrator. The online recommendation form and the online evaluation form must be completed by different individuals.
- Online: Candidates will write to the following questions concisely and in their own words, without the use of AI. This will allow faculty to review your individual writing style and get to know you better as a student.
- What are your academic and professional interests?
- What are your reasons behind selecting this particular program at Northwest Nazarene University?
- How will this degree impact your role in your educational community/organization?
Admission Requirements - M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the baccalaureate program.
- Certification/Licensure as a classroom teacher, school counselor, or school psychologist, based on a recommendation from a state-approved higher education preparation program.
- Have four (4) years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with students while under contract in an accredited school setting before degree completion.
- Approval by the Graduate Education Admissions Committee.
The Graduate Education Admissions Committee may approve exceptions to regular admission requirements.
Graduation Requirements - M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education
- Credits must be earned in courses numbered 7000 or above. Continuing education courses and pass/fail courses (except those specified for degree completion) do not apply toward the degree. Exceptions for substitutions from other institutions may be approved by the program director.
- Have four (4) years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with students while under contract in an accredited school setting before degree completion.
- The candidate must complete requirements as specified in the degree major. The degree must be completed within six years of beginning course work. If the degree is not completed within six years, the candidate must reapply to the program. Credits older than six years may need to be retaken.
- The candidate must apply for graduation one full semester prior to anticipated degree completion. Deadlines: June 1 for Fall; October 15 for Spring; and January 15 for Summer.