A Best Value School
Dordt ranked No. 7 – "Best Value Schools (Regional Universities—Midwest)," which includes institutions that provide the best value for students based on academic quality and college costs.
Meet the increasing needs of your community with an advanced degree from Dordt University, the Christian university known for student engagement.
Courses are 100% online with both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and are offered in the fall, spring, and summer terms. Cohorts begin at all of those terms.
Dordt also offers a Master of Special Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Learn more at the links, and then complete the form below for half-off your first course.
50% Off Your First CourseDordt ranked No. 7 – "Best Value Schools (Regional Universities—Midwest)," which includes institutions that provide the best value for students based on academic quality and college costs.
The 100% online M.Ed. program offers eight areas of specialization:
(30 credits, 11 courses)
This track will prepare you to be a strong leader in reading development. You will learn to evaluate and address literacy development and instruction in a school. You will also gain experience in developing instructional strategies for an elementary literacy program.
Note: This track meets the Master's degree requirement for a master educator license in the state of Iowa and in conjunction with undergraduate courses in reading may lead to a developmental reading endorsement.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 12 courses)
This track will prepare you to be a strong leader in reading development. You will learn to evaluate and address literacy development and instruction in a school. You will also gain experience in developing instructional strategies for an elementary literacy program.
Note: This track meets the Master's degree requirement for a master educator license in the state of Iowa and, in conjunction with undergraduate courses in early childhood may lead to an early childhood endorsement.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 12 courses)
This specialization will help you to become a competent leader in the role of instructional coach. You will focus on strategies that help shape the instructional culture of a school and promote staff professional development. Courses and an internship will provide experience in curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and faculty development.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 11 courses)
This specialization will strengthen your classroom skills and prepare you to assume leadership in curricular decisions and instructional practices. It will provide practical, hands-on instruction for teaching in a distinctively Christian manner.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 11 courses)
This specialization will prepare you to be a competent leader in educational technology. You will gain practical, hands-on experience as you focus on specific strategies for helping to shape the technology and culture of a school. This will be seen in promoting staff professional development and effective teaching and learning in online and blended classrooms, integrating technology, e-learning design, and emerging technologies.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 11 courses)
This specialization consists of 11 courses in a 30-credit hour program and prepares the teacher or administrator to be a competent leader in special education roles. The program provides practical, hands-on learning experiences in teaching and leading in a distinctively Christian manner. Coursework focuses on specific strategies for assessing and addressing learning difficulties of various types. Courses and field hours provide experience in developing instructional strategies, behavior interventions, and inclusion opportunities for special needs learners. Additional focus is on working with professionals and parents to maximize learning opportunities for children.
Students who are interested in adding a special education teaching endorsement to their Iowa teaching license may contact grad@dordt.edu for more information.
First-time applicants for an Iowa teaching license will need to complete the Requirements for Institutional Recommendation for Licensure as noted in the university catalog.
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 10 courses)
This specialization will prepare you to be an educational leader, capable of undertaking the tasks and responsibilities of a principal or director of special education. This is a licensure specialization approved by the state of Iowa and leads to an administrator’s license. Students seeking the Initial Administrator license in the state of Iowa must complete six additional field experience credits to qualify for the license. Significant hours will be spent in on-the-job field experiences, allowing you the opportunity to put into practice what you are learning in the classroom.
Those seeking the Initial Administrator license in the state of Iowa must take six additional credits of field experience (560L, 561L, 563L, and 564L).
3 credit courses unless indicated
(30 credits, 10 courses)
This specialization will prepare teachers, coaches, and education professionals for leadership in educational athletics. It focuses on issues, research, leadership in education, and principles and perspectives related to sport leadership.
Choose one of the following:
3 credit courses unless indicated
“One of the ways that Dordt has readied my heart is the way that professors have poured into me and truly tried to get to know me as a leader. And I've taken that lesson to the role that I'm in right now to help students find out who they are.”
–Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator, Western Christian High School
Submit your information to request more information about Dordt and this program, and receive 50% off your first course in the MEd or MSpEd programs.
Must enroll within 12 months of completing this form. Offer applies to the tuition of one course for new students only, non-transferable.
Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt University is a Christian university committed to helping you serve in the real world—right now, today.
Dordt University is ranked number six on the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking by 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges and is the top-ranked school in Iowa in the category. The mission of Dordt's Christian community is to equip students to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all areas of life.
Learn MoreTo learn more, visit our admissions requirement page.
The Curriculum and Instruction specializations in Teacher Leadership, Special Education, Developmental Reading, Early Childhood Education, Educational Technology, and Instructional Coach specializations and the Administration specialization in Sport Leadership are each 30 credits.
The School Leadership specialization is 30 credits and meets Initial Administrator license requirements in the State of Iowa. Those seeking Initial Iowa Administrator License must take an additional 6 credits of field/lab work. These field hours can be done in the school or district in which one is currently teaching and do not require absence from current teaching assignments.
The program can be completed in two years. A typical plan of study includes one course every fall semester and spring semester and three courses every summer for two full years. A slower pace can reduce summer work to two courses in each of three summers. The School Leadership and Teacher Leadership specializations offer an accelerated option that can be finished in as little as 14 months.
Yes, all courses are 100% online. No travel or on-campus residency is required.