Through this program teachers increase their knowledge and expertise in teaching students with Behavior Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Mild Intellectual Disability 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.
Candidates for the Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Learning and Behavior Disorders are required to submit credentials supporting their academic ability to succeed at the graduate level as well as positive dispositions for teaching. Positive dispositions include: effective communication and critical thinking skills, professionalism, and commitment to diversity as well as the teaching profession. Admission credentials will include official transcripts, professional writing requirements, and letters of recommendation.
Candidates should review the following rubrics, used to assess admission credentials:
This program is open to all eligible students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.
Questions about the application may be sent to gradadm@louisville.edu. Candidates should apply no later than three weeks prior to the beginning of the semester (August 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring and April 1st for Summer). Candidates will be notified via e-mail regarding the admission decision.
Applicants must submit the following:
*Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended with a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the Bachelor's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA or higher for graduate work.
Please have transcripts sent to:
University of Louisville
Graduate Admissions
2211 South Brook Street
Houchens Bldg, Room 105
Louisville, KY 40292
Or gradadm@louisville.edu (for official electronic transcripts)
Professional Writing Requirements. Please complete the following and upload with your application. Each essay should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) and no more than three pages.
Essay #1
Essay #2
*Note: Candidates who earned a baccalaureate (and/or advanced) degree outside the U.S. and whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores that meet minimum criteria, and must submit an evaluated transcript from WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators).
Terry Scott
Special Education Department
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0576
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.