Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities Online

This accredited online Ed.S. program designed for working professionals prepares you to help meet the demand for qualified educators who are passionate about serving students with significant needs.

Apply by 8/6/25
Start class 8/18/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

Get to know our 100% online moderate & severe disabilities Ed.S. program

Follow your calling in a high-demand field with the Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities (MSD) online degree at NKU. This 100% online teaching program prepares you to ensure that students can thrive while overcoming advanced intellectual disabilities or behavioral challenges.

In this online CAEP-accredited education program, you will develop new teaching techniques and strategies along with behavioral management skills for children with the most severe academic impairments. Gain credentials for leadership roles in schools or for a broad range of community educational services such as tutoring, respite care, day habilitation programs, residential facilities, and more. The curriculum includes clinical experiences and an embedded capstone project.

In this online accelerated education program, you will:

  • Learn to apply transdisciplinary collaboration methods with agencies outside of school
  • Deepen your knowledge of diagnostic and prescriptive teaching while studying language development and assistive technologies
  • Prepare for Rank 1 teaching certification in Kentucky
  • Learn from the same experienced faculty who teach on campus
In this online accelerated education program, you will:+
  • Learn to apply transdisciplinary collaboration methods with agencies outside of school
  • Deepen your knowledge of diagnostic and prescriptive teaching while studying language development and assistive technologies
  • Prepare for Rank 1 teaching certification in Kentucky
  • Learn from the same experienced faculty who teach on campus

As a graduate of this online MSD degree program, you will have the tools and knowledge you need for advanced educational roles, including:

  • MSD Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Resource Teacher
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Intervention Specialist
As a graduate of this online MSD degree program, you will have the tools and knowledge you need for advanced educational roles, including:+
  • MSD Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Resource Teacher
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Intervention Specialist
+

Online education programs also available:

Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of graduate education programs online. Check out our other quality online education programs.

Total Tuition Starts at $13,365*
Program Duration In as few as 18 months
Credit Hours As few as 30-52
Accreditation
CAEP Accredited

The Northern Kentucky University College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 800-985-7215

Call 800-985-7215

Tuition

Learn more about our affordable tuition

The Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included in the total cost.

Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid section on our FAQ page.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Required Fees Total Program with Fees*
Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities $422 $ $13,365*

*This does not include the additional hours needed for certification.

Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.

Tuition Breakdown:

Total Tuition Starts at $13,365*
Per Credit Hour $422
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Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022

Calendar

When to apply, when classes start, when tuition is due

The moderate & severe disabilities Ed.S. online program is convenient and flexible, featuring six start dates on an accelerated course schedule. View the calendar to find the best start date for you and be sure to note all corresponding deadlines

View full calendar  + 

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Summer 26/30/256/18/256/23/256/27/256/30/25
Fall 18/18/258/6/258/11/258/15/258/18/25
Fall 210/15/2510/2/2510/7/2510/10/2510/15/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 8/6/25
Class Starts 8/18/25
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Admissions

Follow the steps to being admitted into our online moderate & severe disabilities program

The admission process for the Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities online program is streamlined to help you get started right away.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts of all coursework from accredited institutions
  • Teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent
  • 3.0 GPA or higher in all master's-level coursework
View all admission requirements +

Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities Online Admission Requirements

  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from accredited institution(s). One transcript must show successful completion of a master's degree in education or in the content area of the applicant's teaching certificate.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA in master's-level coursework
  • Teaching Certificate: Submit a copy of current teaching certificate showing certification at the Rank 2 level or out-of-state equivalent. New teachers in Kentucky may submit a Kentucky Statement of Eligibility.
  • Supplemental application

Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:

NKU Office of Graduate Education
302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099

[email protected]

Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.

Courses

Read about our online Ed.S. – moderate and severe disabilities classes

For the Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Moderate & Severe Disabilities online program, students who already hold certification must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. For students seeking certification, an additional 19-22 credit hours are required for a total of 49-52 credit hours.

Expand All

Students must take the following courses. 

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to education research enabling candidates to become effective consumers and users of research in education. It will improve candidates’ ability to apply research findings appropriately in school settings and will lay a foundation for an original action research project.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Legislation and instructional practices relating to the education of students with exceptionalities. Course covers various methods of co-teaching as well as locating, adapting, and developing materials and methods for including students with disabilities in general elementary, middle, and secondary classrooms.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the role of the cooperating teacher in developing and mentoring prospective teachers and interns and standards-based observation and feedback. This course includes a job-embedded requirement of supervising a student in field or clinical experience.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct a comprehensive literature review on a topic that relates to a specific educational issue that impacts P-12 student learning and create a research-based design of an action research project that can be conducted and reported as their capstone project. This class must be taken in the first 7-week of a semester and followed by 703.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct a comprehensive literature review on a topic that relates to a specific educational issue that impacts P-12 student learning and create a research-based design of an action research project that can be conducted and reported as their capstone project. This course should be taken in the second 7-week period of the same semester in which 702 is taken.

Students must take the following courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Evaluating for assistive technology; approaches and devices for communication, mobility, and sensory impairments; distance learning technology for transition to the community and post school careers.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3-6
Classroom field experience in added area of certification; individual project.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Knowledge of and skills in coordinating agencies and community services that provide opportunities for students with multiple disabilities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories of language development; teaching functional communication skills; skills necessary for pre interactions; assistive technology and communication; teaching conversational skills.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theoretical perspectives, measurement systems, ecological inventories, functional behavior assessment, and positive and proactive behavior intervention plans.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Assessing functional skills; formal and informal assessment; portfolio assessment; adaptive approaches; teaching self-care and independent living skills, language skills, motor skills, social skills, and career skills; community-based instruction, transportation and mobility; encouraging student self-determination; and teaching for skill generalization.

Students pursuing Moderate & Severe Disabilities certification must take the following additional courses:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Characteristics and educational programs for students who have intellectual disabilities or orthopedic and/or health impairments.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Information, skills, and resources for effective interaction with parents and families of children with disabilities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles, instruments, and procedures to place and plan instruction for students with learning or behavior disorders.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles of behavior analysis applied to curriculum, methodology, and management of students with disabilities; behavioral teaching methods contrasted with alternative management techniques.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Nature and needs of students with exceptionalities; overview of legal requirements and educational approaches.

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