Become a specialist within SPED

Understanding the unique learning needs and strategies within specialized areas of special education can make you a more effective educator and advocate for your students. In this online master’s program, designed for teachers with certification in special education, you will focus on targeted areas to enhance student learning in one of four emphasis areas.

Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS)
Assess student behavioral and emotional disorders, learning disabilities and intervention approaches. The BIS Emphasis results in a Nebraska Department of Education supplemental endorsement.

Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist (ICS)
Strategize techniques for inclusiveness among students with language, behavioral and learning challenges. The ICS Emphasis results in a Nebraska Department of Education supplemental endorsement.

Assistive Technology Specialist Emphasis (ATS)
Facilitate the learning process for special education students by integrating assistive instructional technology. The ATS Emphasis does not require teacher certification and does not lead to a Nebraska Endorsement, but you may choose to pursue the Assistive Technology Practitioner credential through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).

Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist Emphasis (FASILS)
Utilize instructional and intervention skills to prepare students for independent living. The FASILS Emphasis allows you to pursue a supplemental teaching endorsement as a Special Education Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist, which would require you to have, or earn concurrently, an endorsement in special education.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate in Special Education; Prerequisite for Assistive Technology Specialist Emphasis is a bachelor's degree only.

Teach and engage gifted and talented learners

Effective instruction for high ability learners requires comprehensive knowledge of the strategies that meet their social, emotional and cognitive development needs. This online master’s program includes an emphasis in high ability education to equip you with expertise in the psychology and educational development of gifted students for teaching, guidance and assessment. Through the program, you will gain the knowledge base and competencies to engage gifted and talented learners as well as to coordinate high ability curricula and programs for your school or district.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate.

You may choose to pursue a supplemental teaching endorsement in High Ability Education, which would require you to have, or earn concurrently, an endorsement in a subject or field.

Focus on all facets of SPED instruction

Learn the instructional and assessment strategies to effectively teach students with unique learning needs, focusing on either special education in K-6 or 7-12 grade levels. This online master’s program covers many areas within the special education field, including studies in legal issues in special education, functional behavior analysis and social and personal skill development.

This program is designed for teachers who currently hold a teaching certificate in any discipline and would like to obtain certification in special education in the state of Nebraska. Students pursuing certification in other states must check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements. You may choose to also pursue an additional teaching endorsement as a Special Education Generalist, which would require you to possess previous teaching certification.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and teacher certification in any discipline, as well as 6 credit hours of prerequisite coursework.