Online programs leading to certification require fieldwork, internship, and/or student teaching which must be completed onsite in Arizona.
Online programs leading to certification may require synchronous online learning activities. Students must have access to technology with audio and video capabilities.
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) This program is accredited by the Arizona State Board of Education (AZSBE)
If your aspiration is to teach young children with disabilities, ages birth to eight, this degree plan is for you. This plan will guide you toward certification in early childhood special education as an area of expertise, and upon successfully completing the program you will be eligible to receive an institutional recommendation. The Early Childhood Special Education certification means you will be prepared to work with young children ages 0-8 with disabilities. The demand for early childhood special educators currently outpaces the supply across the country. By earning this degree you'll be ready to enter a special education teaching position in either early intervention, preschool and kindergarten to third grade settings in private, human service, and public school settings.
To receive a master's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master's degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Individual degree programs may exceed the baseline University Policy for a master's degree. The program-specific requirements are provided on the Details tab below.
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 37 - 46 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Arizona Endorsement | Prepares student for Arizona Endorsement. |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching is required. |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
To prepare early educators and early interventionists to best serve children birth to eight years old with disabilities, and their families in diverse settings. Coursework provides students with professional preparation focused on the implementation of evidence-based and recommended practices in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education for diverse children with disabilities, and their families. Students further refine their professional skills through embedded and applied learning experiences. This degree is designed for individuals who may or may not have previous early childhood experience who wish to pursue licensure in Early Childhood Special Education. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter special education teaching positions in either early intervention, preschool, and kindergarten to third grade settings in private, human service, and public school settings.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).
Learner Development and Individual Differences: Beginning special education professionals understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
For those applying for fall 2026 and beyond, the following will be required:
This Master's degree requires 37 - 46 units units distributed as follows:
Take the following 37 - 46 units:
Courses taken in Block A are required for those candidates entering the program without an education degree.
Candidates with an education degree will be evaluated by the department prior to admission. Upon transcript and prior completed coursework evaluation, requirements in Block A may be considered met and/or transfer credit may be applied. ECI 502 is a required course for partial completion of the state-mandated Literacy Endorsement/Science of Reading (A.R.S. §15-501.01(C)(4)), and in most cases, students will be asked to take ECI 502. For candidates who meet all Block A requirements, additional elective courses (chosen in consultations with your advisor) may be required to earn the 37 - 46 units required for the degree.
Block B - Content Coursework (31 - 37 units)
*The number of elective units are determined by the faculty advisor once the department completes an evaluation of Block A Requirements.
Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement
Candidates who have full SEI endorsement at admission must provide proof of the full endorsement. If proof of the full SEI endorsement is not presented at admission, the candidate is required to take the BME course (i.e., BME 631) as part of their program of study.In order to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate, you must also pass the required Arizona Educator Exam:
Arizona teaching certification also requires a college course or passing the appropriate examination related to:
Some districts/schools in Arizona may require additional NES exams if the position is responsible for instruction, evaluation and assigns grades for core academic subjects, such as a Special Education teacher in a self-contained classroom.
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.