Overview

This Special Education for Initial Certification, Learning and Behavior Disorders option from Western Kentucky University is for those individuals with no prior teacher certification in any area. This 33-hour program consists of coursework in induction to the profession of special education, the diagnosis and assessment of learning and behavioral disabilities, prescriptive teaching, managing behavioral disorders and positive behavior supports, research in special education, and special education law.

If a student is currently employed or has verification of employment from a school district, the student may be eligible for a Temporary Provisional Teaching Certificate (CA-TP). If the student does not secure employment as the teacher of record in an LBD setting during the program, the student will be required to complete the equivalent of the state required student teaching experience in an unpaid position in an accredited Public School within WKU's service area. Graduates completing the equivalent of a student teaching experience will be eligible for a Statement of Eligibility for certification as a teacher of students with LBD.

Degree requirements

Students must submit passing scores on the Praxis II and be fully admitted to the professional education unit (teacher admissions) PRIOR to enrolling in SPED 590 Students must meet all state requirements for student teaching and initial certification. SPED 590 should be taken as the final course of the program. Courses in the program carry key assessments that must be completed before the final course grade will be recorded. Performance on coursework and key assessments is reviewed at the end of each semester to measure progress through the program.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Education of Exceptional Children
Advanced Educational Psychology
Advanced Assessment Techniques
Literacy Development and Instruction
Advanced Prescriptive Teaching
Seminar: Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-01-16 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-05-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

33 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bowling Green, United States

Disciplines

Special Education Educational Psychology Teaching View 370 other Masters in Educational Psychology in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

English requirements

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IELTS

6.5

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Other requirements

General requirements

Document completion of a bachelor’s degree with a major, or equivalent, in an approved subject area and from an accredited institution.
Present a letter of application (including professional goals). Document a cumulative overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or above (counting all course work, undergraduate or graduate) OR a GPA of 3.0 in the last 30 hours of course work (counting all course work, undergraduate and graduate).
Submit the state required passing score on the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE).
Submit documentation to satisfy partial criteria for admission to professional education, including references, physical including TB test, signed commitment to uphold the code of ethics, and criminal background check.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

17907 USD / year

≈ 17907 USD / year
Out-of-State

16506 USD / year

≈ 16506 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

10926 USD / year

≈ 10926 USD / year

Living costs

Bowling Green

United States

900 - 1400 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Special Education for Initial Certification, Learning and Behavior Disorders.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Degree requirements

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Bowling Green

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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