Master of Education

Master of Education: Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education

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Program
Graduate Education

Program Description

The program prepares educators for leadership roles as Directors of Special Education. This fully online program requires 39-40 semester credits and is designed to be completed in approximately 24 months, including a 9-month administrative internship. Each applicant’s transcript is reviewed for possible transfer credits. The schedule is designed to accommodate full-time educators pursuing a master’s degree. Courses are asynchronous, with some requiring occasional synchronous virtual sessions.

Program Components:

  • Coursework Focus
    • Understanding the Individuals with Disability Education Act
    • Special education funding and fiscal accountability
    • Results-driven leadership and accountability in special education
    • Instructional, behavioral, and management strategies for supporting students in the least restrictive environment.
  • Administrative Internship
    • A 9-month (two-semester) internship in a district setting, totaling at least 150 clock hours, including:
      • Two weeks before school opens and two weeks after school closes (beyond teacher contracts)
    • Students complete tasks typical of a district-level leader under the supervision of an experienced Director of Special Education. Internship assignments must be approved by both the school district and the NNU program director.
    • Each student identifies a topic or problem of interest and completes a related project during the program, demonstrating leadership and benefitting district-level concerns.
  • Capstone Portfolio
    • In the final semester, students enroll in EDUC7595P Director of Special Education Portfolio (0–1 credits) to submit artifacts and evidence demonstrating competencies aligned with Idaho Standards for Initial Certification. Students must demonstrate competency in both building-level administrator standards and Director of Special Education standards.
  • Certification:
    • Graduates who successfully complete the program qualify for recommendation to the State of Idaho for a Director of Special Education endorsement on an Idaho Administrator Certificate. Note: Institutional Recommendations are valid for two years after degree completion. Students should apply for certificate revision or renewal within that timeframe. Students are responsible for submitting all required paperwork and fees to the Idaho State Department of Education. Current forms and information are available on the ISDE website. For certification in other states, students should verify requirements independently. 

 

Required Courses for M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Director of Special Education (Online):

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
39-40

EDUC7595GS Director of Special Education Internship Spring (1 semester; total of 2 credits)

EDUC7595GF Director of Special Education Internship Fall (1 semester; total of 2 credits)

EDUC7596GF Principal Internship Fall (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.

  1. Online: application and $50 non-refundable application fee.
  2. 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.)
  3. Email or mail: a copy of candidate’s teaching certificate.
  4. Online: two recommendation forms completed by professional colleagues.
  5. 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.
  6. 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

  1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
  2. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the baccalaureate program.
  3. Certification/Licensure as a classroom teacher, school counselor, or school psychologist, based on a recommendation from a state-approved higher education preparation program. 
  4. Have four (4) years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with students while under contract in an accredited school setting before degree completion.
  5. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Have four (4) years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with students while under contract in an accredited school setting before degree completion.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
Total Credits
39-40