Through this 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.
Special Education faculty members are committed to continuous scientific research and bring in over $1 million each year in grant funding to support research, training, and service delivery. Faculty members have authored or co-authored numerous books including:
Additionally, our faculty have published in the top professional journals in our field, including Behavioral Disorders, Exceptional Children, Intervention in School and Clinic, Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Journal of Special Education, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. Faculty are widely recognized and regularly present research across the nation and internationally – including Canada, Jamaica, Australia, Ireland, Germany, and New Zealand.
Detailed requirements for completing this degree are provided in the Graduate Catalog.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums does not guarantee admission to the program.
Students may apply to the program by first going to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies web site.
Students must also submit the following information:
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
The personal statement is the applicant's opportunity to demonstrate his/her writing ability as well as provide a personal introduction to the admissions screening committee. The personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and should be double spaced and word-processed. Applicants are encouraged to proofread their writing, and to submit the best work possible. The attached rubrics (Ideas to Action Unit Dispositions Rubric [PDF], Ideas to Action Holistic Construct Rubric [PDF], and University of Louisville Effective Communication Rubric [PDF]) are provided to help applicants understand how their writing will be evaluated.
Amy Lingo
Department of Teaching and Learning
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0563
Graduates of this program acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to address the needs of students with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities in the classroom.
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
In recognition of valuable service to the preparation of teachers and the need for all teachers to have continual professional growth, a supervising teacher or a resource teacher for teacher interns may, with prior approval of the course-offering institution, take a maximum of six (6) credit hours per term at any public postsecondary institution and pay no tuition. The postsecondary institution shall waive the tuition up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours.
To apply, you must complete the Tuition Waiver Certification for Supervising and Resource Teachers Application [PDF]. It should be completed by the supervising teacher, certified by their principal, and returned to our office. Return the form to the Student Financial Aid Office at U of L, attention: Wesley Partin.
Eligibility: 6 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a full responsibility supervising or resource teacher, or 3 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a shared supervising or resource teacher. Students may exercise the tuition waiver option up to twelve months following the assignment. Tuition benefits are paid directly to the University of Louisville.
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 the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
You will also receive certification to teach Learning and Behavior Disorders.
The program can be completed in as few as two years or as many as six years.