Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Intervention Specialist Mild - Moderate Disabilities online
Learn to nurture the abilities of exceptional students.
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Program Overview
Find out why our online M.S.Ed. – Special Education – Intervention Specialist – Mild and Moderate Disabilities stands out
$12,450*
In-State Tuition
As few as 12 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
The Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate Disabilities online program is designed to give educators the specialized knowledge and skills they need to teach children with limited special educational needs in grades K-12.
In this 100 percent online education program, you will study the characteristics and behaviors of exceptional individuals, including those with learning, developmental and emotional disabilities, and learn the best strategies to improve their transition from school to adult life. You will also learn how to use rigorous standards to plan, accommodate and assess curricula across content areas to meet the academic needs of all learners.
This online mild and moderate disabilities education program meets the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Learn from our accomplished practitioner faculty and gain the support and tools you need to prepare for new career opportunities. No teaching license is required to enter this program. For those seeking a teaching license, this program neither prepares the student for nor fulfills the requirements necessary to receive a teaching license.
The educator preparation programs at Youngstown State University meet rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). For more information, contact CAEP by mail at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 or by phone at 202-223-0077.
In this mild and moderate disabilities program, you will learn to:
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
This online intervention specialist degree program prepares graduates for a variety of elevated roles, including:
- Special Education Teacher
- Resource Teacher
- Intervention Specialist
- Exceptional Student Education Teacher
- Special Education Service & Support Administrator
- Emotional Disabilities Teacher
In this mild and moderate disabilities program, you will learn to:
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Analyze learners to determine unique needs using the principles and theories of human development
- Prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Individualize instruction to meet the unique learning, communication, social and behavioral needs of exceptional students
- Develop and use appropriate technology adaptations for individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Demonstrate appropriate classroom management strategies
- Use formal and informal assessment to evaluate the progress of individuals with exceptional learning needs
- Write, monitor and adjust IEP goals to inform academic and behavior-related goals
- Use research to inform classroom practices
- Special Education Teacher
- Resource Teacher
- Intervention Specialist
- Exceptional Student Education Teacher
- Special Education Service & Support Administrator
- Emotional Disabilities Teacher
Nationally recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council
Tuition
Learn more about our affordable tuition
YSU offers students the opportunity to earn their online degree with affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
$415*
Per Credit Hour
$12,450*
Total Tuition
*In-state tuition.
Note: No payment plans are available for accelerated online students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | |
| M.S.Ed. Special Ed – Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate Disabilities | $415 | $420 | $1,245 | $1,260 | $12,450 | $12,600 |
Additional Fees
Application: $45 (waived if you are an active/veteran military member)
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. The first step in applying for financial aid is to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). YSU's Federal School Code is 003145.
Contact Us
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships1 Tressel Way
Meshel Hall, 203
Youngstown, OH 44555
Phone: 330-941-3505
Fax: 330.941.1659
Email: [email protected]
Calendar
View Youngstown State's online program dates and deadlines
At YSU, we offer multiple start dates throughout the year, so you never have to wait long to get started on your online intervention specialist degree. The chart below shows upcoming start dates, along with important deadlines, such as when your application should be submitted and when payments are due.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
2/17/25
Next Application Deadline
3/10/25
Start Classes
| First Starts | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/6/25 | 12/16/24 | 12/23/24 | 1/1/25 | 1/3/25 | 2/16/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/17/25 | 2/24/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/7/25 | 4/20/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/21/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/9/25 | 6/22/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/9/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/25/25 | 6/27/25 | 8/9/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/22/25 | 10/12/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/6/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/17/25 | 12/7/25 |
Admissions
Check requirements for this online intervention specialist program
YSU's online M.S.Ed. programs have specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Online application
Bachelor's degree
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Online application
Bachelor's degree
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Note: A teaching certificate is not required for admission.
(Prospective students who do not work at a public school requiring a teaching
license can enter the program.) For those seeking a teaching license, this
program neither prepares the student for nor fulfills the requirements
necessary to receive a teaching license.
- Complete online application for admission
- Pay $45 application fee ($90 International). Waived for active/veteran military members or for applicants who have attended the College of Graduate Studies in the past.
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Names and contact information for 3 professional references (in online application)
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
- Submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (waived for applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher)
Transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution or sent electronically through a secured server vendor.
Mailing Address:
YSU College of Graduate Studies1 Tressel Way
Coffelt Hall
Youngstown, OH 44555
Email Address:
[email protected]
Courses
Explore what you'll learn in these online special education classes
For the Master of Science in Education – Special Education – Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate Disabilities online, you are required to take 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.
SPED 6900: Issues, Trends & Ethical, Legal and Professional Guidelines in Special Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with an exploratory study of the issues, trends, as well as the ethical, legal and professional guidelines in special education. Candidates will become familiar with legal policies and procedures as well as practice ethical guidelines as related to students with exceptionalities. Candidates will understand how to advocate for improved outcomes for learners with exceptionalities and their families as well as design and implement professional learning activities to increase their own practices.
SPED 6906: Understanding and Addressing the Characteristics and Behaviors of Learners with Exceptional Needs
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with the knowledge and understanding of how individuals with exceptionalities grow and develop in an inclusive learning environment. Candidates will understand how multiple influences, including diversity, families, communities and individual differences shape an individual with an exceptionality’s development and learning. The candidate will then use this knowledge to develop high-quality learning experiences based on strengths and needs.
SPED 6914: Behavior Management for Educators
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to address the social-emotional and behavioral needs of children with mild to intensive needs, including those needing intensive support due to disability or trauma. It provides education candidates with effective routines and procedures consistent with the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to create a safe, caring, respectful and productive learning environment as well as a range of preventive and responsive practices. Candidates will apply specific tools grounded in the principles of ABA with ethical strategies being of particular focus. Candidate skills will be grounded in the ability to plan, implement and evaluate behavioral interventions and social skills programs within any special educational service delivery model.
SPED 6916: Planning, Teaching, Accommodating and Assessing Learners with Mild-Intensive Exceptional Needs
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the candidate with knowledge of general and specialized curricula for students with exceptionalities. Based on each individual’s needs, the candidate will understand how to use rigorous content standards to plan, accommodate and assess the curricula across all content area. The candidate will grasp how to modify the general and specialized curricula to make them accessible and in alignment with the rigorous content standards for individuals with exceptionalities.
SPED 6917: Effective Instruction for Learners with Exceptional Needs
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide knowledge about development and assessment data for individuals with exceptionalities, to inform decisions about effective instruction. Candidates will understand how to use explicit and systematic instructional strategies including active student engagement and motivation, differentiated instruction, flexible and small groups, specialized individualized instruction, self-regulated learning and meta-cognition strategies. The candidate will then use this knowledge to plan and guide instruction to meet the rigorous content goals for each individual’s academic and social-behavioral needs.
SPED 6928: Transition to Adult Life
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide candidates with best practices of the professional collaboration process to include specific culturally responsive models and strategies to improve the transition from school to adult life, including career readiness, community, and domestic skills for students with mild to intensive learning needs. Candidates will develop a team training model and evaluate culturally responsive evidence-based practices regarding the transition process for students. Individual strengths and characteristics will be considered to facilitate social, vocational, and daily living skills for all learners and their families.
SPED 6929: Assessment of Exceptional Learners
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the educational assessment process for exceptional learners. Topics include state and federal regulations, data collection techniques, formative and summative assessment, and test interpretation as well as the importance of instructional alignment between objectives, assessment and instructional strategies.
TCED 6932: Action Research in Urban and Rural Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on action research as it applies to urban and rural education. Topics include reflecting to identify a problem, reviewing literature, planning and implementing interventions, data collection and analysis strategies, and sharing outcomes with others. Course may be offered onsite, online, or as a combination of both. Field experience in an appropriate educational setting is required.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply different types of reflection throughout the action research process.
- Align action research studies with personal goals and values.
- Articulate research questions that are action-oriented and outcome-based and seek support for this using AI.
- Evaluate and synthesize published research to inform practice, with the support of an AI.
- Write an action research proposal that can provide a positive intervention in a school setting, including urban and/or rural settings.
- Follow ethical guidelines in action research studies.
SPED 6931: Field-Based Practicum with Moderate/Intensive Exceptional Learners in Grades K-6
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades K-6, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.
SPED 6932: Field-Based Practicum with Moderate/Intensive Exceptional Learners in Grades 7-12
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum experience, with moderate/intensive exceptional learners within grades 7-12, in which the candidate acquires and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to design and implement data guided standards-based instruction with differentiated methods, assessments that promote learner growth including effective feedback, and collaboratively work with teacher(s), parents/guardians, and related service professional(s) to implement instruction to meet learners’ diverse needs. Field hours required.
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