Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Special Education Online
This online Ed.S. program prepares you for leading professional roles in special education classroom environments focused on positive learning outcomes for exceptional students.
Program Overview
What our online Ed.S. – special education program offers you
Help shape the future of children with exceptionalities by earning your Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Special Education degree online from NKU. Learn how to become a more effective educator for students with special needs while building toward Rank 1 teaching certification in Kentucky.
Deepen your expertise in working with exceptional children by assessing students with learning and behavior disorders, planning lessons that allow them to thrive, analyzing legal requirements and educational approaches, and learning applied behavior analysis techniques applicable to all children. The education curriculum includes clinical experiences and an embedded capstone project.
In this accredited special education program, you will:
- Learn how to apply methodology and management techniques toward educational programs for students with intellectual disabilities or orthopedic and/or health impairments
- Gain a working understanding of principles, instruments, and procedures to place and plan instruction for students with learning or behavior disorders
- Learn from the same experienced faculty who teach on campus
- Learn how to apply methodology and management techniques toward educational programs for students with intellectual disabilities or orthopedic and/or health impairments
- Gain a working understanding of principles, instruments, and procedures to place and plan instruction for students with learning or behavior disorders
- Learn from the same experienced faculty who teach on campus
Online education programs also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of graduate education programs online. Check out our other quality online education programs.
Accreditation
The Northern Kentucky University College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Tuition
Discover the value of our low-cost tuition
The Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Special Education online program offers the same affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition to in-state and out-of-state students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Special Ed. | $422 | $ | $13,365 |
Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.
Tuition Breakdown:
“Top Public College”
Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022
Calendar
Read about dates you need to know
The special education 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.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/18/25 | 8/6/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/18/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/15/25 | 10/2/25 | 10/7/25 | 10/10/25 | 10/15/25 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Find out the details of our online special education Ed.S. admission criteria
The streamlined admission process for our Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Special Education online program helps 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
Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Special Education 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 Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
Examine the degree plan for our online SPED Ed.S. program
For the Ed.S. – Teaching and Leading – Special Education online, students must complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.
EDG 702 and EDG 703 must be taken twice to receive full credit.
