NDNU’s Special Education Program is designed to train teachers to alleviate the increasing shortage of special education teachers in the State of California. This shortage of special education teachers is so great that districts and county offices of education hire our students as teachers before they have completed their special education credential program. These students/teachers teach on Emergency or Intern Credentials until they complete their programs at NDNU. More than 95% of our students are working as paid teachers before they finish the credential program.

NDNU’s Special Education Credential and Master of Arts in Special Education programs prepare students to teach in special education settings in public and private schools. Mild/Moderate credential holders teach students in Resource Specialist Program classes, students in special day classes for learning disabilities, and some full inclusion students. Moderate/Severe credential holders will be able to teach students in grades K-12 whose needs are more severe. Students may pursue a special education credential whether or not they have a regular education credential.