M.A.T. in Special Education: Moderate and Severe Disabilities, P-12 Alternative Certification
Master of Arts in Teaching for Special Education: Moderate and Severe Disabilities
The special education licensure program provides a strong foundation in general education content, special education theory and methods, and teaching experience. Extensive classroom experience allows students to develop the skills, competencies, and confidence for successful teaching, including strategies for inclusion, behavior management, social skill instruction, and modifying instruction in the general curriculum. Students also benefit from the supervision and mentorship of experienced practitioners and field supervisors. The program's special education professors are experienced practitioners who are experts in their fields as researchers, teachers, and administrators. Some on-line courses are available as well as in-person offerings at a variety of times.
Applicants to the program should have excellent academic credentials as well as successful experience working with children and/or adults with Moderate and Severe Disabilities (MSD). The Alternative Certification program requires that students who are admitted to this program become employed in an MSD classroom on a temporary provisional certificate. Classes start in the Summer each year, and admitted students must secure employment before the start of the Fall term. Those who are not employed may have the option to pursue the traditional version of the program, which requires field placements and student teaching. Completion of this degree/licensure program will lead to certification as an MSD teacher only (not an Elementary, Middle or Secondary content area teacher).
Licensure to teach students with moderate and severe disabilities prepares candidates to teach students with intellectual disabilities which 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. Students with moderate and severe disabilities generally spend all or part of their time in traditional classroom settings, but may also receive special education instruction for part of the day in resource rooms, or in self-contained classrooms within the school. Students with moderate and severe disabilities may have intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, or other health impairments.
Helpful Links
For details about curriculum information, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Suggested Sequence of Courses (39 hours)
Year One
Semester I (Summer)
- EDSP 540: Introduction to Exceptional Children
- EDSP 594: Foundational Concepts in Intellectual & Physical Disabilities
- EDSP 644: Applied Behavior Analysis
Begin teaching in accredited Kentucky School
Semester II (Fall) - Begin teaching in accredited Kentucky school
- EDSP 609: MSD Curriculum and Methods I
- EDSP 520: Assessment of Exceptional Learners
Semester III (Spring)
- EDSP 611: MSD Curriculum and Methods II
- EDSP 614: Transition Programs and Services for Children/Youth with Disabilities
Schedule Midpoint Portfolio Review with Advisor
Year Two
Semester IV (Summer)
- EDSP 647: Teaching Mathematics to Students with Disabilities
- Elective (see advisor for approval), Taken this semester or Semester VI (Spring)
Semester V (Fall)
- EDSP 670: Autism: Introduction and Understanding
- EDSP 646: Augmentative Communication
- EDSP 635: MSD Practicum (or Student Teaching)
Take PRAXIS
Semester VI (Spring)
- EDSP 639: Education Research in P-12 Setting
- Elective (see advisor for approval), Taken this semester or Semester IV (Summer)
Take PRAXIS again, if needed.
Schedule Final Portfolio Review with Advisor
Apply for Graduation
Begin KTIP
Admission Process
Applicants are required to submit credentials supporting their academic ability, writing proficiency, and positive disposition as determined through test scores, college grade point average, writing samples, letters of recommendation and interview. Suggested minimum test scores and grade point averages are listed in the application materials. Dispositional characteristics essential for success in graduate school and for teaching are also listed in the application materials. These dispositional characteristics are determined by the ability of the applicant to navigate the admission process, applicant interactions during the admission process, writing samples, letters of recommendation, and faculty review.
All applications are due by the posted application deadline. All complete applications are reviewed by faculty and interviews are scheduled for competitive applicants. Final admission decisions are made by faculty committees no more than 30 days after the application deadline and applicants are notified of the committee decision.
Application Process
The teacher education admission portfolio is a combination of forms, transcripts, test scores, and other requirements that applicants will submit to the College of Education and Human Development admission counselor, Taleia Fisher. Questions about the application process or the admission portfolio, should be directed to Taleia Fisher at 502-852-0587 or taleia.fisher @ louisville.edu.
All of the directions and forms are listed as links below. Applicants should print, complete and sign forms as appropriate. Include other materials as directed. Applicants should compile all information and forms, and submit to Taleia Fisher in a sealed envelope with name and telephone number on the front of the envelope. (Do not staple forms, put forms in a binder, or in page protectors.) Application materials can be submitted in person or by mail.
Have you attended a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Information Session or met with an Education advisor? If the answer is "no," then you are encouraged to attend a session BEFORE you start the application process! You can register at the link above. You will learn more about our programs as well as the academic requirements needed for admission.
Application Deadlines:
Summer Admission - March 1st by 5:00 p.m.
Please note: If the application deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, we will accept the admission portfolio on the Monday after the deadline by 5:00 p.m.
- Application to Graduate School at the University of Louisville. This should be completed four to six weeks prior to submission of the teacher education admission portfolio!
- The following academic requirements, writing and disposition documents, and forms comprise the application to teacher education. Please submit all by the application deadline as instructed above.
- Academic Requirements
- Graduate Record Exam Official Scores (If you have already submitted official scores to the Graduate School, you do not need to submit scores again to this program.) Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
- Bachelor's Degree from Accredited College or University
- Official Transcripts (If you have already submitted official transcripts to the Graduate School, you do not need to submit transcripts again to this program.)
- Overall Grade Point Average
- Oral Communication Proficiency
- Written Communication Proficiency
- TOEFL
- Writing Proficiency and Disposition Documentation:
- Supplemental Forms and Application Materials (Please note these files require the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download the file or click to read)
Once the application deadline has passed, all complete applications will be processed and sent to members of the faculty admissions screening committee -who will contact competitive applicants for interview.
- Interview (competitive applicants only)
Once all interviews have been completed, the faculty admissions screening committee will make admission decisions. Applicants will be notified by email of the admission decision. Those admitted will receive information about a mandatory orientation session for the program.
Contact Us
Department of Teaching and Learning
Monica Delano
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Program Faculty
Career Pathways Certification
Students would primarily be certified to teach in a Moderate/Severe Disabilities (MSD)classroom in Kentucky.
The program leads to MSD certification only. Individuals completing this program would not be certified to teach in a typical classroom (Elementary, Middle or Secondary) unless they completed an additional certification program.
General Information
For general information on financial aid resources, please visit the University of Louisville's Student Financial Aid office. The College of Education and Human Development has it's own web page dedicated to financial aid that contains some extra information not listed here.
When considering the cost of higher education, please consider the following items:
Awards can be combined with institutional aid up to the University's total direct cost of attendance. Direct costs include tuition, room, board, and books. The University of Louisville is required to adhere to all federal, state, and institutional guidelines. Policy information is available on-line at UofL's Student Financial Aid office.
College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) Scholarship
The CEHD has a long history of offering scholarships to prospective and current students pursuing an education degree program. The CEHD provides over $225,000 annually and selects recipients three times per year. Scholarship selection is competitive and applies to tuition only. Apply online for a CEHD Scholarship before the deadline (March 1st, June 1st and/or October 1st). Applicants should expect notification in four to five weeks after the posted deadline.
TEACH Grant
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 elementary 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.
Minority Teacher Scholarship Program
Since 1985, the Minority Teacher Recruitment Project (MTRP) has been addressing the shortage of minority teachers in our nation's classrooms. The program is a partnership among the University of Louisville's College of Education and Human Development, the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and the schools of the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC).
Scholarships of up to $5,000 annually are available to qualifying full- or part-time students of color pursuing initial teacher certification at UofL. Visit the MTRP webpage to view more information about the scholarship program.
