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.
The Graduate School’s deadlines are April 15 for the summer, June 15 for the fall, and October 15 for spring. While we do not have separate departmental deadlines, we always encourage people to apply well in advance of the Graduate School’s dates to ensure there is plenty of time for processing and review. This is especially important for students who wish to start in summer, as courses start in May and our committees only meet once a month to review application packets.
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. Three years of experience as a fully-licensed teacher are required to apply to this program.
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
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.
Devyn.Dougherty@unt.edu
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
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.
Course selection made with advisor’s approval.
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