Special Education, Concentration in Moderate/Severe Disabilities P-12 (MAT)

Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education, Concentration in Moderate/Severe Disabilities P-12
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Special Education, Early Childhood and Prevention Science
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): SPE_MATMSD, SPE_MATMSO

Program Information

This program can be completed 100% online.

This program leads to Kentucky certification for Moderate and Severe Disabilities, grades P-12. 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. Completion of this degree/licensure program will lead to certification as an MSD teacher only (not an Elementary, Middle or Secondary content area teacher).

Students must complete weekly field hours in school or community placements that serve individuals with moderate and severe disabilities. Prior to the end of the program a 12-week student teaching placement must be successfully completed.

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.

Application Requirements

Candidates considering an application to the MAT program should contact the MAT pre-admissions counselor (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission. A transcript evaluation must be completed before a candidate can be considered for admission.

• 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 two essays in response to the prompts below. The essays should be included in one document. Each essay should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) with no more than three pages per essay. 
  • Essay 1: In consideration of the characteristics of an effective teacher, the ability to collaborate, and to support student collaboration in the classroom, is essential. Please self-evaluate this important skill and indicate whether you consider this as a strength or weakness. If you consider it as a weakness, please explain how you might further develop this skill. Also, please explain how you might encourage collaboration in your future classroom.
  • Essay 2: In what ways have your life experiences shaped the way you learn, and how you interact with others with different life experiences? Additionally, explain how you would support the ideal of "respect for all learners" in your future classroom.
• Current resume
• Recommendations – Three (3) 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.
  • Work with Children and/or Adolescents Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by an individual who has observed the candidate’s work/engagement with children and/or adolescents. The recommender should address the candidate’s ability to relate to and work with children/adolescents, as well as his/her ability to organize, lead and direct activities. The faculty screening committee wants to see evidence that candidates have engaged with the age group he/she intends to teach, and that a professional (such as a teacher or school administrator, scout leader, community organization director, etc.) confirms the candidate’s potential for success in the teacher education program.
  • Professional/Community Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by an individual who can address the candidate’s character and professional qualities (punctuality, communication, leadership, work ethic, etc.). Pastors, P-12 teachers, supervisors/employers, and community organization directors are a few examples of appropriate recommenders.
  • Faculty Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by a faculty member at the college level. The faculty member should address the candidate’s academic skills and potential to succeed in a graduate program including: critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration. College graduates who have been away from higher education more than five years may have difficulty obtaining a faculty recommendation. Candidates who will not be enrolling in prerequisite courses prior to the MAT program, may choose to submit a Professional/Community Recommendation instead. Two Professional/Community Recommendations would then be required. 
• Signed documents included in the application. You will be asked to review and sign the Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines and 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.
• Prerequisite course requirements. Candidates must have a transcript evaluation completed by the pre-admissions counselor (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission. The following courses are required: Written Communication and Oral Communication with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Interview with the admissions screening committee. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their qualifications for admission and should project a professional image. Candidates are encouraged to prepare for the interview by reflecting on the domains in the professional dispositions rubric.

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: Summer or Fall semester only

(Priority) Application Deadlines: March 1 for Summer and June 1 for Fall

Program Requirements

Midpoint Assessment: Successful completion all required courses Prior to Student Teaching; 3.0 cumulative GPA with no grade lower than “B-” in each course; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance on all rubrics; electronic documentation of 200 hours of approved field experiences.

Exit Assessment: All program course work with 3.0 cumulative GPA with no grade lower than “B-”; satisfactory dispositions assessment; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance on all rubrics.

Certification Assessment: Successful completion of degree and certification course work and all requirements as above. Passing PRAXIS content and PLT exam scores. 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.

Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in Academic Policies, Procedures, and Requirements.

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education program with a concentration in Moderate/Severe Disabilities P-12 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.