The Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Autism Intervention is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and is designed to prepare personnel in evidence-based practices to work with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in various capacities. Personnel may resume roles as classroom teachers*, autism specialists in public school settings or other related professions (e.g., social work, healthcare, mental health and rehabilitation), coordinator/case managers of home-based family services, life skills coach or professional advocate.
Top 3 Careers
- Behavior Intervention Specialist
- Occupational Therapist
- Early Intervention Specialist
How it Works
- Earn a master’s degree in as little as 15 months (33 hours) or go at a slower pace
- Courses offered on a rotation schedule via two 8-week terms during the fall and spring semesters and 3-week, 5-week and 10-week terms during the summer
- 5 different starting points during the year.
*Teaching certification requires a unique process. Contact the program advisor for more information.
Admission to the master's program is a two-step process. First, each applicant must apply to and meet the general admission requirements of UNT's Toulouse Graduate School. Second, applicants must apply and be admitted into the Department of Educational Psychology for the specific program.
Apply to Toulouse Graduate School
- Complete an application at applytexas.org and choose "Special Education MEd” when prompted to select your major. The application will request you to select the “Autism Intervention” concentration at a later step.
- Requirements for international applicants can be viewed at http://admissions.unt.edu/international, including information on meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement.
- Have official transcripts from each college or university you have attended sent to the Toulouse Graduate School. Submit documents to:
- University of North Texas
Toulouse Graduate School
1155 Union Circle #305459 (USPS)
1147 Union Circle, ESSC Room 354 (UPS/FedEx)
Denton, TX 76203
Email: GradAdmission@unt.edu
Phone: 940-565-2383
Fax: 940-565-2414
Apply to the Department of Educational Psychology
- 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.
- GRE scores are waived for admission purposes if you have at least a 3.25 from your undergraduate program (as calculated by UNT). If your GPA is lower than 3.25, you must submit GRE scores.
- All departmental application materials must be received within three months of the submitted online application. You can begin submitting departmental materials before receiving a decision from Toulouse Graduate School about graduate school admission.
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 departmental materials and 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
Check Status Online
There are two ways to check your application status:
- To check if your transcripts have been submitted: The Toulouse Graduate School will send you an email and pin number to check online at my.unt.edu. You will need to activate your EUID with the pin number and click on Admissions Status.
- To check if your supporting documents (essay, resume, letters of recommendation) have been submitted: Email your full name and UNT Student ID to Devyn.Dougherty@unt.edu. Enter "Application Status Update" as well as your name and UNT Student ID in the email subject line.
Departmental Core (6 hours)
- EPSY 5000 - Introduction to Educational Psychology
- EPSY 5050 - Foundations of Educational Research Methodology
Common courses in Special Education (9 hours)
- EDSP 5240 - Collaboration with Parents, Paraeducators and Professionals
- EDSP 5330 - Classroom and Behavior Management Strategies for Exceptional Learners
- EDSP 5520 - Special Education Law
OR
- EDSP 5710 - Special Education Programs and Practices
Concentration area (minimum 18 hours)
- EDSP 5615 - Positive Behavioral Interventions in Educational and Related Settings
- EDSP 5310 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
- EDSP 5340 - Supporting High Functioning Students with Autism in General Education
- EDSP 5350 - Educational Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- EDSP 5360 - Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- EDSP 5600 - Characteristics of Children/Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
OR
- EDSP 5670 - Teaching Social Skills to Children and Youth with Disabilities
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 22 consecutive years and offers the quality of a private university at an affordable cost.
Applying for financial aid
- 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.
- You must enroll in 6 hours (over one or two online sessions) in order to be eligible for financial aid.
- 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.
- Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or by visiting online at financialaid.unt.edu
