Special Education Endorsement Program in Learning Disabilities (K–12) with an M.S. in Education with a Specialization in Special Education

Developed in response to the severe shortage of teachers with the training to address special education needs, this Minnesota state-approved* program provides teachers with the practical skills to help students who have learning disabilities (LD) fulfill their potential to succeed.

Incorporating the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, this endorsement program allows you to earn a master’s degree with only four additional courses. Our Master of Science in Education degree was developed by leading educational experts and master teachers in order to expand your teaching skills and help you make a significant and positive impact on all K–12 students.

In this program, you will

• Examine the characteristics of children and adolescents with LD, in comparison with all types of learners.
• Learn how to plan for the individual needs of students with LD, and how to support their strengths.
• Discover how to build collaborative relationships with parents and agencies to promote learning in all content areas.
• Participate in supervised fieldwork to prepare you for the specific challenges of special education teaching.

Completion Requirements

• 33 total semester credit hours
  • 5 core courses (15 sem. cr.)
  • 1 specialization course (3 sem. cr.)
  • 1 clinical practicum (3 sem. cr.)
  • 4 master’s-level courses (12 sem. cr.)
• 8–10 hours of field experience per course
• Completion and review of ePortfolio

Estimated time to completion is 16 months. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
EDUC 6691	Foundations of Special Education	3
EDUC 6692	Individualizing Education for Learners With Disabilities	3
EDUC 6693	Current Issues in Assessment and Intervention	3
EDUC 6694	Reading and Writing Instruction for Learners With Exceptionalities	3
EDUC 6695	Planning Positive Behavior Support Strategies	3
EDUC 6697	Instructional Strategies for Students With Learning Disabilities	3
EDUC 6700	Clinical Practicum: Special Education: Learning Disabilities	3

M.S. in Education Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
EDUC 6640	Designing Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment	3
EDUC 6733	Action Research for Educators	3
EDUC 6650	Enhancing Learning through Linguistic and Cultural Diversity	3
EDUC 6657	Creating an Effective Classroom Learning Environment	3

Course Descriptions

For assistance in deciding which online degree specialization fits your goals, request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.

*Not applicable in all states. Walden University’s endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for endorsement or add-on licensure in Minnesota. Candidates for this program must already hold a valid P–12 teaching license. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about endorsements. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state endorsement requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be endorsed.