Special Education (MEd)
Teach the Future
The MEd in Special Education offers specialized concentrations in Autism, Learning and Behavior Disorders, and Moderate and Severe Disabilities. The Autism concentration focuses on understanding individuals with Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and implementing alternative communication systems. The Learning and Behavior Disorders concentration equips educators to support students with behavior disorders and learning disabilities from kindergarten to high school. The Moderate and Severe Disabilities concentration prepares teachers to work with students with significant intellectual disabilities. Courses are available on campus or online, providing flexibility for busy professionals, and empowering educators to create inclusive classrooms that positively impact students with special needs.
Course Catalog
Master of Education in Special Education
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): See Degree Requirements tab.
Program Information
This program is completed 100% online.
The MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Learning and Behavior Disorders, or Moderate and Severe Disabilities, is designed for the Kentucky certified teacher to add certification. Bachelor’s-level certified teachers may use the program to add certification in LBD or MSD, and complete the required Rank II/master’s degree. Teachers who have already earned a master’s degree may use the program to add certification and complete the Rank I.
Learning and Behavior Disorders
Through the MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Learning and Behavior Disorders program, teachers increase their knowledge and expertise in teaching students with Behavior Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Mild Mental Disabilities, and Orthopedic Impairments at all grade levels from kindergarten through high school.
Moderate and Severe Disabilities
The MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Moderate and Severe Disabilities program prepares candidates to teach students with intellectual disabilities that impede academic achievement and adaptive behavior skills (e.g., communication, social behavior, and daily living activities).
Elementary teachers work primarily with beginning or remedial skills in academic content (English language arts, math, science, and social studies) and adaptive behaviors. Middle Grades and Secondary teachers address these skills in addition to preparing students to transition to vocations or to post-secondary education.
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.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework * | 18 | |
| Area of Emphasis (Concentration) | 18 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
- *
EDSP 540 and Teacher Certification are prerequisites for program entry.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following materials:
- Graduate Application to the Graduate School
- Admission to the College of Education and Human Development
- Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
- Valid Kentucky Teaching Certificate or Statement of Eligibility for candidates outside Kentucky.
- If you are certified in Kentucky, please indicate that on your application. You are not required to submit this documentation as we have access through the Education Professional Standards Board.
- If you are certified in another state, please read the Out of State disclaimer.
- Official transcripts with a 2.75 minimum GPA in the Bachelor's degree and a 3.0 or higher GPA for graduate work
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines
Note: The GRE is no longer required for this degree program.
Candidates who earned a baccalaureate (and/or advanced) degree outside the United States and whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores that meet minimum criteria, and must submit an evaluated transcript from WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators).
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 | ||
EDSP 540 | Introduction to Exceptional Children (or equivalent) | |
| Inquiry (Critical Thinker) | 9 | |
EDSP 644 | Applied Behavior Analysis 1 | |
EDSP 639 | Education Research in P-12 Setting | |
EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | |
| Advocacy (Professional Leader) | 6 | |
EDSP 652 | Academic and Behavior Response to Intervention | |
EDSP 627 | Applications of Assistive Technology | |
| Action (Problem Solver) | 3 | |
EDSP 645 | Learning and Behavior Disorders Practicum 1 | |
| Midpoint Assessment | ||
| Area of Emphasis | 18 | |
EDSP 647 | Teaching Mathematics to Students with Disabilities | |
EDSP 512 | Methods for Students with Learning and Behavior Disorders 1 | |
EDSP 516 | Assessment Procedures for Students with Learning & Behavior Disorders 1 | |
EDSP 675 | Characteristics, Needs, and Respones to Students with EBD 1 | |
EDSP 518 | Structured Literacy for Diverse Learners 1 | |
EDSP 570 | Autism: Introduction and Understanding | |
or EDSP 650 | Behavior Assessment | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Course is required for certification.
Midpoint Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; grade no lower than "B-" in all coursework; Target performance or better on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks to date (EDSP 512, EDSP 516, EDSP 518, and EDSP 644); Target performance or better on all Advanced Program rubrics.
Exit Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; grade no lower than "B-" in all coursework; Target performance or better on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance or better on all Advanced Program rubrics; positive recommendation from the Special Education Program Committee.
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.
Successful completion of appropriate PRAXIS Exams is required for Learning and Behavior Disorders teacher certification.
PRAXIS Disclaimer:
"Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for PRAXIS test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at epsb.ky.gov/ or ets.org/praxis for current requirements."
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 | ||
EDSP 540 | Introduction to Exceptional Children | |
| Inquiry (Critical Thinker) | 9 | |
EDSP 644 | Applied Behavior Analysis 1 | |
EDSP 639 | Education Research in P-12 Setting | |
EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | |
| Advocacy: (Professional Leader) | 6 | |
EDSP 652 | Academic and Behavior Response to Intervention | |
EDSP 627 | Applications of Assistive Technology | |
| Action (Problem Solver) | 3 | |
EDSP 635 | Moderate and Severe Disabilities Practicum | |
| Mid-Point Assessment | ||
| Area of Emphasis | 18 | |
EDSP 594 | Foundational Concepts in Intellectual and Physical Disability 1 | |
EDSP 520 | Assessment of Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities | |
EDSP 609 | Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods I 1 | |
EDSP 611 | Moderate/Severe Disabilities Curriculum and Methods II 1 | |
EDSP 570 | Autism: Introduction and Understanding | |
EDSP 546 | Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication 1 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Course required for certification.
Midpoint Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; grade no lower than "B-" in all coursework; Target performance or better on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks to date (EDSP 520, EDSP 609, EDSP 611, and EDSP 644); Target performance or better on all Advanced Program rubrics.
Exit Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; grade no lower than "B-" in all coursework; Target performance or better on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance or better on all Advanced Program rubrics; positive recommendation from the Special Education Program Committee.
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.
Successful completion of the appropriate PRAXIS Exams is required for Moderate and Severe Disabilities teacher certification.
Praxis Disclaimer:
"Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for the test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at www.epsb.ky.gov or http://www.ets.org/praxis/ky for current requirements."
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://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures.
More About MED in Special Education
Traineeship Program funds are available to help defray part of the tuition costs for courses that lead to teacher certification in special education or early childhood education. The Kentucky Department of Education has allocated federal professional development funds to provide tuition assistance for special educators and preschool teachers in obtaining certification in the area in which they are teaching. With the increasing shortage of fully certified teachers seeking teaching positions in special education and early childhood education, a major focus of the Traineeship program is on teachers seeking alternative certification, emergency or probationary certification, and working toward full certification while enrolled in a Kentucky institution of higher education. Further information can be found at: http://kytraineeship.org/about/, including eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and more!
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides up to $4,000 per year to those who intend to teach in a public or private school that serves students from low-income families. Teachers must be certified in a high-need field. (Amount is pro-rated based on part-time or full-time status up to a maximum of $8,000 for graduate students.)
Applicants must complete the FAFSA (although financial need is not required) and be admitted to a teacher certification program. Applicants must score above the 75th percentile on a college admission test or maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 for eligibility.
Recipients must teach for a minimum of four years within eight calendar years of completing the teacher certification program. Those who fail to complete the service obligation must re-pay the loan, with interest charged form the first date of disbursement.
Teacher education candidates should visit the Educator Preparation Program page and review the expectations listed under the "Review These Teaching Profession Expectations" section.
Terry Scott
Special Education Department
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0576
Betty Hampton
Office: 502-852-0411
Department of Special Education, Early Childhood & Prevention Science
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
100% Online
The MEd in Special Education can be completed 100% online!
FAQ: M.Ed. in Special Education
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to Graduate Admissions.
You will receive a Master of Education in Special Education degree. You will also receive certification to teach Moderate and Severe Disabilities or Learning and Behavior Disorders.
The program can be completed in as few as two years or as many as six years.