Special Education (MEd)
Application Requirements
Applicants to the Master of Education in Special Education program must submit the following:
- Completed UofL graduate application submitted at https://apply.graduate.louisville.edu/apply/
- Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School. Transcripts issued to the candidate, and/or uploaded by the candidate, are considered unofficial.
- International transcripts must be evaluated per UofL Graduate School requirements: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international/evaluation
- Personal statement – Candidates should upload an essay in response to the prompt below. The essay should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) and no more than three pages in length.
- Describe how you, as an educator, understand your own learning process. What strategies, experiences, or conditions best support your growth as a learner? How do you create inclusive, affirming spaces that honor the identities and backgrounds of every student? How do these insights influence your teaching practices?
- Current resume
- Copy of current Kentucky teaching certificate
- Recommendations – Two (2) recommendations are required. Requests are automatically sent to the recommenders’ emails once the graduate application is submitted. Adequate time should be given for recommenders to respond to the request by the application deadline. Candidates may log into their admission portal to check the status of the recommendations.
- Signed documents included in the application. You will be asked to review and sign the Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement.
International Applicants:
- International applicants must submit additional application items, and meet additional admission requirements. Information on the international application and admission requirements can be found here: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international
Admission Requirements
- Complete application (including all checklist items above and payment submitted).
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Candidates enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor’s degree can be reviewed for provisional admission - pending a final, degree transcript.
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Candidates with a GPA lower than 2.75 should consult with the pre-admissions counselor to discuss state certification requirements and potential options.
Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum and all other admission requirements does not guarantee that prospective students will be accepted into the program.
Program admission dates: Spring, Summer or Fall semester
Application Deadlines: December 1 for Spring, April 1 for Summer, and August 1 for Fall
Out-of-State Applicants
Out-of-state applicants should check state authorizations and licensing disclosures. Please be advised that the University of Louisville cannot guarantee that our program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in states other than Kentucky. The University of Louisville makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for programs is current; however, licensure requirements are always subject to change. Applicants should always check with their state licensure board to confirm licensure requirements.
Program Requirements
MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Learning and Behavior Disorders (grades P-12)
Academic Plan code(s): SPE_MEDLBO
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite for entry into the program | ||
Teacher Certification | ||
| Introduction to Exceptional Children (or equivalent) | ||
| Program Requirements | ||
| EDSP 512 | Methods for Students with Learning and Behavior Disorders 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 516 | Assessment Procedures for Students with Learning & Behavior Disorders 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 518 | Structured Literacy for Diverse Learners 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 570 | Autism: Introduction and Understanding | 3 |
| or EDSP 650 | Behavior Assessment | |
| EDSP 627 | Applications of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| EDSP 639 | Education Research in P-12 Setting | 3 |
| EDSP 644 | Applied Behavior Analysis 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 645 | Learning and Behavior Disorders Practicum 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 647 | Teaching Mathematics to Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 652 | Academic and Behavior Response to Intervention | 3 |
| EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | 3 |
| EDSP 675 | Characteristics, Needs, and Respones to Students with EBD 1 | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Course is required for certification with a grade of “B-” or higher. EDSP 645, Practicum, should be the last certification course completed.
Midpoint Assessment: Successful completion of 18 credit hours; scored target or better on rubrics for Advanced Candidates; minimum 3.0 GPA; “B-” or higher required in all course work.
Exit Assessment: Successful completion of all required coursework; scored target or better on rubrics for Advanced Candidates; minimum 3.0 GPA; “B-” or higher required in all course work.
Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Certification Assessment: Successful completion of degree and certification course work and all requirements above. Passing PRAXIS exam score. Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for exams, please check for current requirements at praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/Kentucky-tests.html.
Successful completion of appropriate PRAXIS Exams is required for Learning and Behavior Disorders teacher certification.
MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Moderate and Severe Disabilities (grades P-12)
Academic Plan Code(s): SPEMEDMSO
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite for admission to the program: | ||
Teacher Certification | ||
| Introduction to Exceptional Children | ||
| Program Requirements | ||
| EDSP 520 | Assessment of Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 546 | Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 570 | Autism: Introduction and Understanding | 3 |
| EDSP 594 | Foundational Concepts in Intellectual and Physical Disability | 3 |
| EDSP 609 | Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods I 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 611 | Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods II 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 627 | Applications of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| EDSP 635 | Moderate and Severe Disabilities Practicum 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 639 | Education Research in P-12 Setting | 3 |
| EDSP 644 | Applied Behavior Analysis 1 | 3 |
| EDSP 652 | Academic and Behavior Response to Intervention | 3 |
| EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Course is required for certification with a grade of “B-” or higher. EDSP 635, Practicum, should be the last certification course completed.
Midpoint Assessment: Midpoint Assessment: Successful completion of 18 credit hours; scored target or better on rubrics for Advanced Candidates; minimum 3.0 GPA; “B-” or higher required in all course work.
Exit Assessment: Exit Assessment: Successful completion of all required coursework; scored target or better on rubrics for Advanced Candidates; minimum 3.0 GPA; “B-” or higher required in all course work.
Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Certification Assessment: Successful completion of degree and certification course work and all requirements above. Passing PRAXIS exam score. Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for exams, please check for current requirements at praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/Kentucky-tests.html.
Successful completion of the appropriate PRAXIS Exams is required for Moderate and Severe Disabilities teacher certification.
The Master of Education in Special Education program 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.
Although this program has determined that it meets educational requirements for licensure in other US states and jurisdictions, this program is designed specifically to align with Kentucky certification requirements for the supervised student teaching or culminating clinical experience. Therefore, students in this program are required to complete their student teaching or clinical experience at an approved placement location in the state of Kentucky. Please contact the program director to discuss possible arrangements to complete culminating experiences in Southern Indiana before enrolling in the program.
More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website: https://louisville.edu/about/departments/academic-planning-accountability/disclosures/professional-licensure.
For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here:
https://online.louisville.edu/resources/compliance/license.
