Special Education, Concentration in Moderate/Severe Disabilities P-12 (MAT)

Admission Requirements

Candidates who meet the following criteria may be eligible to apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching program:

  1. Complete graduate application. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
  2. Bachelor's Degree from Accredited College or University with a Minimum 2.75 Grade Point Average (official transcripts required)
  3. Grade of C or better in ENGL 102, or equivalent
  4. Grade of C or better in oral communication course
  5. TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
  6. Professional Writing Requirements
  7. Three Letters of Recommendation
  8. Acceptable interview
  9. Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines

Questions about admission should be directed to teacher@louisville.edu.

Admission is competitive. Candidates who meet minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission to the program. 

Program Requirements

Student Characteristics
EDSP 540Introduction to Exceptional Children3
EDSP 594Foundational Concepts in Intellectual and Physical Disability3
Pedagogy
EDSP 520Assessment of Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities3
EDSP 609Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods I3
EDSP 611Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods II3
EDSP 614Transition Programs and Services for Children and Youth with Disabilities3
EDSP 644Applied Behavior Analysis3
Midpoint Assessment
EDSP 518Teaching Reading Special Education P-123
EDSP 546Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication3
EDSP 570Autism: Introduction and Understanding3
EDSP 608Student Teaching: Moderate and Severe Disabilities3
EDSP 647Teaching Mathematics to Students with Disabilities3
Research
EDSP 697 Topical Seminar2
EDSP 697 Topical Seminar1
Minimum Total Hours39

Midpoint Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; no grade lower than B- in all coursework; Electronic documentation of 200 hours of diverse and approved field experiences; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance or better on all rubrics.

Degree Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; no grade lower than B- in all coursework; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance or better on all rubrics.

Certification Assessment: Satisfactory dispositions assessment; passing scores on required PRAXIS exams; completion of degree requirements.

Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in Academic Policies, Procedures, and Requirements.

Praxis Disclaimer: Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for certification test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at epsb.ky.gov/ or ets.org/praxis/ky  for current requirements.

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program with a concentration in Moderate/Severe Disabilities P-12 prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures