Northern Arizona University
College of Education
PO Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-5342
Special Education and Gifted Education
Admission Requirements
To apply, you must submit your graduate application online and send official transcripts to NAU's Graduate College.
In addition, you must meet the following program requirements:
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or take either the general or subject area test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).
- Complete a program of studies form with one of our graduate advisors and submit it to our department office.
You should also contact the department chair of educational specialities to arrange an interview. We may waive this requirement if one of our regular special education faculty members writes a memo to the chair on your behalf.
Other admission requirements include providing documentation of successful teaching experience. You must also demonstrate your writing competency by completing a brief writing task. You can get more detailed information about these requirements from our Graduate Studies Office.
Our admissions committee reviews your application and other admission materials and determines your cumulative grade point average. The committee then makes a decision on admission and assigns an advisor, who works with you to plan your individual program of study.
Financial Assistance
Our faculty have been successful in securing financial assistance for students through grants from the US Deparment of Education. This assistance is available for limited periods of time and is constantly changing. Contact a faculty advisor or the department chair of Educational Specialties for current information.
If you meet all of our program requirements, you may be eligible for an assistantship. Graduate assistantships are offered through our Graduate Studies Office as well as some other departments. The number of these positions is limited, and you must apply early in the semester before the one in which you need the assistantship. If you receive an assistantship, we expect you to carry 9-12 credit hours per semester, and we assign you responsibilities to which you must devote a specified number of hours each week.
For more information, see our Financial Aid Information page.
Placement Assistance
Our faculty members provide you with informal placement assistance. We have established contacts with school administrators throughout the region and frequently receive requests for names of prospective teachers from employers in Arizona schools.
Formal assistance is also available through NAU's Career Services office.
Degrees and Certification Programs Offered
In the special education program, you may pursue an:
- M.Ed. in special education with one of several emphases
- M.Ed. in reading and learning disabilities
- Ed.D. in curriculm and instruction
We also offer nondegree programs leading to endorsement in gifted education or certification in special education.
Currently, our graduate courses are available during summer sessions, although courses are also occassionally offered during fall and spring semesters.
