Admission/Continuance Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Arts in Education, Moderate and Severe Disabilities, candidates must:

1.  Hold a B.A./B.S. from an accredited college or university and certification in at least one of the following areas: Exceptional Education, Moderate and Severe Disabilities, (MSD), Elementary Education P-5, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Communication Disorders, P-12, Secondary Education and other P-12 specialty areas, or Exceptional Education, Learning and Behavior Disorders, P-12.

2. Meet the requirements for acceptance into Graduate College as stated in the Western Kentucky University Graduate Catalog.   These requirements include a GAP score (the product of the GRE score times the overall undergraduate grade point average) of 2200 or higher and a 3.5 writing.

3. Present an application portfolio to the Exceptional Education Admissions Committee for consideration for admission into the M.A.E. MSD program.  The application portfolio consists of the following documents: 3 letters of recommendation, personal philosophy of teaching students with moderate to severe disabilities, current vita, and letter of intent/commitment to teaching students with moderate and severe disabilities. 

The Master of Arts in Education in Moderate and Severe Disabilities requires the development of an ongoing Portfolio, built upon the application portfolio which reflects the candidate’s progress toward attainment of the Experienced Teacher Standards. The portfolio, which contains the Critical Performance Indicator exemplars from each course, is reviewed at the end of each semester. A written comprehensive examination is required at the conclusion of the coursework.  Candidates lacking initial certification in Moderate and Severe Disabilities (MSD) P-12 must the required PRAXIS II specialty examinations.

The Portfolio, all courses, and the written comprehensive examination must be successfully completed before the degree is awarded.  The PRAXIS II specialty examinations must be successfully passed to obtain certification in Moderate and Severe Disabilities P-12.

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION, MODERATE AND SEVERE DISABILITIES

Successful completion of this program qualifies the candidate for the Rank II: Kentucky Professional Teaching Certification in Moderate and Severe Disabilities (Grades P - 12)