Graduate online program offered by the College of Education

About

UNT’s Master of Education in Special Education with concentration in Educational Diagnostician prepares professional educators to practice as assessment personnel in education. UNT’s Educational Diagnostician Program prepares candidates to advocate for and assess students’ academic, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. They learn to collaborate with teachers to recommend data-based accommodations, modifications, and interventions. Graduates are highly qualified and in high demand. 

There are five start dates throughout the year. The start dates vary slightly by year, but they are around mid-January, mid-March, May, August, and mid-October. Our summer-to-summer option allows you to complete all degree requirements for the diagnostician program in 15 months. Students can also begin the program in the fall or spring, but due to course rotation, it will take closer to two years to complete all required coursework. Depending on the course, some are five-week, eight-week, or sixteen-week in length. Internship and practicum courses are the full term and require participation in Saturday seminars. Your coursework will prepare you for certification as an educational diagnostician. 

Students in UNT’s Educational Diagnostician Program will need to work closely with respective TEA approved districts and secure placements to complete a minimum of 160 clock hours. Securing field mentors who are certified educational diagnosticians is your responsibility. Some districts require applications for practicums a year in advance and grant limited practicum placements. Students will need to plan with placements to access test kits including Woodcock-Johnson Achievement, Woodcock-Johnson Cognitive, Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, Weschler Individual Achievement Test, Kauffman Assessment Battery for Children, and Kauffman Test of Educational Achievement. A certified educational diagnostician must supervise the administration of these instruments. The University of North Texas cannot be responsible for site placements or the securing of testing kits or field mentors. 

To obtain a recommendation to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for certification through University of North Texas, individuals must have an earned master’s degree, three years of creditable teaching experience in K-12 settings, a valid Texas teaching certificate, completion of a program, and deficiency plan on file. As certification requirements may change without notice, it is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for certification. Individuals who are located out of state should contact the state of residency education agency for specific assessment personnel requirements. 

Top 3 Careers

  • Educational Diagnostician
  • ARD Facilitator
  • Psychometrist

How it Works

  • ​33-hour Master of Education Degree in Special Education
  • Course schedule rotates throughout fall, summer and spring with courses offered each semester
  • Begin one summer and graduate the next summer, or go at a slower pace
Apply

Apply online through GradCAS

Submit Application Documents

  • Two written letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references. These letters must be specifically written for the current application, signed by the reference, and printed on his/her official letterhead. Personal references are not accepted.  
  • Professional resume that delineates previous work, educational experiences, membership and involvement in professional organizations, and scholarly activities.
  • Personal statement between 1-3 pages that explicitly addresses your goals and rationale for applying to the desired concentration and degree at UNT.
  • Teaching Certificate
  • Policy Manual Agreement
  • GRE scores or other standardized test scores such as SAT, ACT, or Praxis in order to meet state certification requirements are only required if entering the program with a GPA below 2.5 or graduating the program with less than a 3.0.

All departmental admission decisions are based on a holistic review of the applicant's submitted materials. Applicants that are strong in all areas will have first priority for admission.

Send all application inquiries to:

Devyn Dougherty
Coordinator of Graduate Admissions
University of North Texas
Department of Educational Psychology
1155 Union Circle #311335
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Email: Devyn.Dougherty@unt.edu

Courses

All students completing the Master of Education with a major in special education degree are required to complete a minimum of 33 hours as follows.

Departmental core, 6 hours

Common courses in special education, 9 hours

Course selection made with advisor’s approval.

 

or

Concentration area, minimum 18 hours

Educational diagnostician

Completion of master’s comprehensive exam

Costs

Estimate tuition and fees by using the Tuition Calculators. For more information about tuition plan options, fees, and tuition, see Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid

UNT offers a variety of options to help finance your education. Visit financialaid.unt.edu to find out more about the application and award process.

UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys© for 25 consecutive years and offers the quality of a private university at an affordable cost.

Applying for financial aid

  1. Apply for financial aid online at fafsa.gov. The application is required for all types of financial aid, including Pell and other federal grants, state grants and loans. The FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA are available annually.
  2. You must enroll in 6 hours (over one or two online sessions) in order to be eligible for financial aid.
  3. Financial aid awards will be disbursed 10 days prior to the first day of class. Awards will not disburse if you are enrolled in only 3 credit hours.
  4. Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or by visiting online at financialaid.unt.edu

Educational Psychology Faculty