Zach Smith
208.467.8753
gradeducationinfo@nnu.edu
Education Specialist
NNU’s online Ed.S. Degree in Director of Special Education is designed for certified teachers with a master’s degree who seek a leadership role as a Director of Special Education.
- 100% online
- Program utilizes set courses to plan schedules ahead of time
- Student typically completes this 32-43 credit program in 17-24 months
- Completion leads to Ed.S. with Director of Special Education endorsement on an Administrator Certificate
About Educational Leadership: Director of Special Ed
NNU’s Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership: Director of Special Ed advances the academic preparation and teaching skills of experienced classroom teachers and instructional leaders. This online degree is designed for educational professionals who have a master’s degree and are seeking a leadership role as a director of special education. Program emphasis is on the administrator as an instructional leader as well as a servant leader. Coursework emphasis is on ethical decision-making, creative problem-solving and professional growth.
degree details
Education Specialist
Offered Online
$565 per credit, $150 per semester technology fee
Program Design
Completion of this Education Specialist degree leads to a recommendation to the State of Idaho for a Director of Special Education endorsement on an Idaho Administrator Certificate. Also, depending on the track taken, the graduate qualifies for a recommendation for one of the following additional endorsements:
- K-12 Exceptional Child Generalist endorsement
- Pre-K-12 School Principal endorsement
- Pre-K-12 Superintendent endorsement
Individuals should check for specific requirements for certification in other states.
Application Requirements
The following requirements must be received by Admissions a minimum of one week before classes start and are online, mailed or emailed as indicated. Recommendation forms and essay guidelines are available online within the application portal.
For mail:
Northwest Nazarene University
Attention Graduate Admissions
623 University Boulevard
Nampa, ID 83686
For email: gps@nnu.edu
- Online: Application and $50 non-refundable application fee
- Mail or email from a digital service such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse: Official transcripts from a regionally accredited institution(s) where the applicant received a master’s degree
- Email or mail: A copy of the applicant’s teaching certificate
- Email or mail: A copy of candidate’s building administrator’s license for Superintendent or Exceptional Child Generalist track
- Online: Two online recommendation forms completed by professional colleagues
- Online: One Educational Leadership Evaluation form from the applicant’s current building administrator; the two recommendations and one leadership evaluation must be completed by three different individuals
- Online: Evidence of writing competency, preferably from a research paper or other document completed during master’s courses
Admission Requirements
- Exceptional Child Generalist track: A master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university plus a Principal’s certification, serving as an administrator (building or district level) in a district. Principal track: A master’s degree in Exceptional Child, Special Education or a related field (as determined by the program director) from a regionally accredited college or university. Superintendent track: A master’s degree in Exceptional Child, Special Education or related field (as determined by the program director) from a regionally accredited college or university plus a Principal’s certification.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the master’s program
- Certification/Licensure as a classroom teacher, school counselor, school psychologist or building administrator based on a recommendation from a state-approved higher education preparation program
- Four (4) years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with students while under contract in an accredited school setting before Ed.S. degree completion
- Approval by the Graduate Education Admissions Committee
Program Start Dates
Classes begin every 8 weeks, and new students may join throughout the year.
Required Courses with Exceptional Child Generalist Endorsement Track
Has a School Principal certification and is a school administrator or is in the role of Director of Special Education
EDUC8000 Orientation: Graduate Education (0)
EDUC7536 Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care (3)
EDUC7538 Methods in Behavioral Intervention and Treatment (3)
EDUC7540 Research, Theory and Intervention of Reading and Literacy Difficulties (3)
EDUC7548 Methods and Adaptations for Exceptional Learners (3)
EDUC7549 IEPs and Transition (3)
EDUC7555 Mixed Methods Research (3)
EDUC7556 Conceptual Statistics and Applications for Educators (3)
EDUC7573 Technology: Special Education (3)
EDUC7575 Legal and Financial Issues in Education (3)
EDUC7576 Special Education Law (3)
EDUC7586 Assessment and Collaboration (3)
EDUC7595B Director of Special Education Practicum Portfolio Binder (0-1)
EDUC7595G Practicum in Special Education and Related Services (4)
EDUC7596IV Internship in Teaching Special Education (4)
EDUC7596IVB Internship in Teaching Special Education Portfolio Binder (0-1)
EDUC7598D Special Education Policies and Procedures (2)
Total Credits: A minimum of 43 semester credits are required.
Required Courses with Principal Endorsement Track
M.Ed. in Special Education completed or in the role of Director of Special Education
EDUC8000 Orientation: Graduate Education (0)
EDUC7511 The Learning Process (3) or EDUC 7553 Curriculum, Assessment and Collaboration (3)
EDUC7556 Conceptual Statistics and Applications for Educators (3)
EDUC7575 Legal and Financial Issues in Education (3)
EDUC7579 Special Education Law for Administrators (if not taken during the last 3 years) (2)
EDUC7581 Instructional Supervision and Leadership (3)
EDUC7584 Data-Driven Decision Making (3)
EDUC7585 Administering Human Resources (3)
EDUC7595B Director of Special Education Practicum Portfolio Binder (0-1)
EDUC7595G Practicum in Special Education and Related Services (4)
EDUC7596III Internship/Principalship (6)
EDUC7596IIIB Building Administrator Internship Portfolio Binder (0-1)
EDUC7598D Special Education Policies and Procedures (2)
Total Credits: A minimum of 32 semester credits are required.
Required Courses with Superintendent Endorsement Track
Principal certification completed and are in the role of Director of Special Education
EDUC8000 Orientation: Graduate Education (0)
EDUC7556 Conceptual Statistics and Applications for Educators (3)
EDUC7579 Special Education Law for Administrators (if not taken during the last 3 years) (2)
EDUC7584 Data-Driven Decision Making (3)
EDUC7595B Director of Special Education Practicum Portfolio Binder (0-1)
EDUC7595G Practicum in Special Education and Related Services (4)
EDUC7598D Special Education Policies and Procedures (2)
EDUC8670 Labor Relations in Schools (3)
EDUC8671 Educational Change: A Historical Perspective (3)
EDUC8672 The Superintendency (3)
EDUC8673 Advanced School Finance (3)
EDUC8674 School Facilities (3)
EDUC8675 Public Relations and Marketing for Schools (3)
EDUC8676 Special Populations: Issues and Resources (3)
EDUC8678 Central Office Internship (4)
EDUC8678B Central Office Internship Portfolio Binder (0-1)
Total Credits: A minimum of 39 semester credits are required.
Notice Out-of-State Students
Since this is a program that leads to professional licensure, prospective students should review important information about NNU’s participation in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and Professional Licensure about this program. Individual states often have different expectations for professional licensure, so it is in a prospective student’s best interest to investigate whether NNU’s degree program will help them achieve licensure in their home state.
CAEP ACCREDITED PROVIDER
Northwest Nazarene University’s College of Education meets the requirements for accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION
Northwest Nazarene University received the 2023-2024 Colleges of Distinction Award in Education.
career paths
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates for the Boise area are sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
Meet Our Faculty
Lori Sanchez, PH.D.
Dean, College of Education; Professor of Education
Holly Ripley, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Undergraduate Chair
Heidi Curtis, PH.D.
Associate Professor of Graduate Education; Graduate Chair
Whitney Ward, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Director of Clinical Practice
Robin Gilbert, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Educational Leadership Program Director
Lisa Amundson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education; Exceptional Child Program Director
Lauren Pastoor
Program Coordinator, Accelerated Certification in Education (ACE)
L. Michelle Rowley, MA
Assistant Professor of Education; Elementary Math and Science
Jennifer Hill, ED.D.
Associate Professor of Education, Secondary Education Coordinator
Jennifer Cornell, PH.D.
Associate Professor of Education; Director of Student Teaching
Jackie Schober, BA
Program Coordinator, Educational Leadership Programs
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