Educational Specialist – Educational Diagnostician Online

Become a more qualified educator, capable of identifying special education students and preparing a better learning environment for them.

Apply by: 1/3/25
Start class: 1/13/25 Apply Now Apply Now

Program Overview

Reach a new level in education with the Ed.S. – Educational Diagnostician

In the Educational Specialist -- Educational Diagnostician online program from Northwest Missouri State University, you will learn to determine student eligibility for special education services, utilize research methods to design more effective learning plans, and serve as a leader to create more quality experiences for them. Students with a teacher or student service credential in Missouri are eligible for certification as a School Psychological Examiner.

The courses offered in the Ed.S. – Educational Diagnostician program will increase your knowledge around crucial psychological theories and prepare you to assess learners in diverse classrooms to determine their individual needs. You’ll be able to determine eligibility for learners with medical diagnoses, such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and be trained to collaborate with other educators and parents to create holistic plans for each student.

Apply what you’ve learned during the required 7-week capstone project. You’ll be required to design and implement an evaluation plan for a case study, culminating in an evaluation report showing you have mastered the material. These skills will qualify you to take on new roles, such as Educational Diagnostician, Academic Assessment Specialist or School Psychological Examiner.

Designed exclusively for post-graduate students, this program gives you the opportunity to collaborate with other highly skilled individuals as you learn.

Graduates of this educational diagnostician online program will be prepared to:

  • Evaluate and apply research methods appropriate for special education
  • Utilize assessments to determine eligibility for students and design more effective educational learning plans
  • Create quality educational experiences for students with exceptionalities through assessments and engaging stakeholders to create a holistic educational plan
  • Satisfy the program requirements for the Missouri Psychological Examiner designation (no test required)
Graduates of this educational diagnostician online program will be prepared to:
  • Evaluate and apply research methods appropriate for special education
  • Utilize assessments to determine eligibility for students and design more effective educational learning plans
  • Create quality educational experiences for students with exceptionalities through assessments and engaging stakeholders to create a holistic educational plan
  • Satisfy the program requirements for the Missouri Psychological Examiner designation (no test required)

Career opportunities include:

  • Educational Diagnostician
  • Academic Assessment Specialist
  • Diagnostician
  • School Psychological Examiner
Graduates of this educational diagnostician online program will be prepared to:
  • Educational Diagnostician
  • Academic Assessment Specialist
  • Diagnostician
  • School Psychological Examiner

Accreditation:

AAQEP logo

Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education™ (DESE) and the Higher Learning Commission.

Also available:

Northwest offers a variety of specialized online education program options. Check out our other online education programs.

Total Tuition $12,570*
Program Duration As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 30

Accreditation:

AAQEP logo

Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education™ (DESE) and the Higher Learning Commission.

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Need More Information?

Call 844-890-9304

Call 844-890-9304

Tuition

Check out our affordable tuition

Our Ed.S. – Educational Diagnostician online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program*
Ed.S. – Ed Diagnostician $419 $1,257 $12,570

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $12,570*
Per Credit Hour $419

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Calendar

Learn about our start dates and deadlines

Northwest online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/21/2410/7/2410/10/2410/14/2410/16/2412/6/24
Spring 11/13/251/3/251/6/251/7/251/8/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/27/253/3/253/5/254/25/25
Summer 15/5/254/21/254/24/254/28/254/30/256/20/25
Summer 26/23/256/6/256/11/256/13/256/17/258/8/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date: 1/3/25
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25
Ready to take the next steps toward

earning your degree?

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Admissions

How to get started with the Ed.S. educational diagnostician online program

At Northwest, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the Ed.S. – Educational Diagnostician online, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.

Admission Requirements:

  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended
View all admission requirements +

To apply for this program, you must meet these requirements:

  • Graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • Documentation of ONE of the following:
    • Current, valid state teacher certificate
    • Successful completion of a teaching degree with at least a 2.75 GPA
    • Successful completion of a human development degree with at least a 2.75 GPA

In addition, you must complete EDCI 62642 (Introduction to Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities) during your first term enrolled at Northwest unless you:

  • Hold a degree in special education OR
  • Show a service record of teaching in special education for one complete academic year

Students who have started and did not finish an Ed.S. program at another regionally accredited university may be able to transfer up to nine credit hours per advisor approval. If you are a non-Missouri student, you should determine whether this program fits the certification requirements for your state.

Students who did complete an Ed.S. program at another regionally accredited university may substitute coursework in the Northwest Ed.S. program if the previous courses were identical to courses in the Northwest program (advisor approval), but there will still be 10 total courses (30 credit hours) required in the Northwest program.

Northwest students who have completed the M.S.Ed. will be assigned new courses for those already taken and will still take 10 classes (30 hours in the Ed.S. program).

Official transcript(s) can be emailed to: [email protected]. To submit official documents by mail, send them to:

Graduate Records Specialist
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001

Have a question? Call us at 844-890-9304.

Click here for State Authorization information.


Admission Requirements:

  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

Courses

Here are the advanced educational diagnostician degree courses

For the Ed.S. – Educational Diagnostician online, the curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credit hours).

Expand All
Students who do not hold a degree in Special Education or do not have a service record of teaching in Special Education for one complete academic year are required to complete EDCI 62642 in their first term enrolled at NWMSU.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is an introductory course designed to provide an initial understanding of K-12 students with mild to moderate disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, and physical and other health impairments. **Required first course for the MSEd in Special Education with Certification program.**
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Having a two-fold focus, this course treats (1) basic methods of developing and reporting educational research and literature and (2) techniques of interpreting and evaluating educational research and literature. Basic statistical methods are utilized in each of the components. Prerequisite: Ed.S. students only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Personnel practices in education are considered along with the implications of collective negotiations and professional accountability for personnel policies. Policies pertinent to the selection and placement, promotion, tenure, and retirement of both certified and noncertified personnel are included.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to prepare school leaders for effective two-way communication with families and the community. In addition, school leaders will effectively engage families, community and school personnel in strengthening student learning in and out of school. This course will prepare school leaders to build and sustain productive partnerships with communities and public and private sectors to promote school improvement and student development. Finally, this course will prepare school leaders to advocate for the needs and priorities of the school, district, students, families and the community. 27 hours field experience embedded in the course.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses the key concepts and ideas regarding developmental psychology applicable to education related tasks through content acquisition and research application. Concepts to be addressed include the following areas development (birth through end of life): theories, biological, environmental factors, language, and healing centered practices.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines best practices for using research and assessment to implement evidence- based interventions for students as part of a multi-tiered system of support or special education services. Instruction will include assessment of academic environments, curriculum-based measurement, diagnostic assessments, intervention planning, progress monitoring, and data-based decision making. Participants will learn about a variety of low-cost empirically validated interventions. There are field work requirements.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The application of learning theories for students with exceptionalities as it pertains to cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral development. Field experiences involved in this course allows students to understand the application of this learning in an educational diagnostician profession.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analysis, scoring, and interpretation of standardized measures used for eligibility determination will be examined.  Measurements will be reviewed in multicultural and cross cultural contexts. Field experiences involved in this course allow students to understand the application of this learning in an educational diagnostician context.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Administration and interpretation of standardized assessments and measures of cognitive and perceptual abilities for eligibility determination. Field experiences involved in this course allows students to understand the application of this learning in an educational diagnostician profession.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses the key concepts and ideas regarding educational psychology applicable to educational diagnostician related tasks through content acquisition and research application. Topics to be addressed include the following: theories of human development (birth through life), theories of learning, and creating effective learning environments through the use of research.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides candidates with an opportunity to apply what they have learned through the courses in this program to design and implement an evidence-based high-leverage intervention. The culminating projects for this course include a case study presentation as well as completion of a professional portfolio. There are extensive fieldwork requirements. Prerequisites: EDCI 62658, EDCI 62685, EDCI 62678, and EDCI 62668, or concurrently.

Highly Qualified Faculty

100% of classes are taught by professionals, not graduate assistants

*Tuition and fees are based on current rates. Textbooks and laptops are not included with tuition.

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