Master of Arts in
Exceptional Education

Welcome

Exceptional Education is a program area in the Department of Special Instructional Programs within the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.  Graduates in the area of Exceptional Education continue the tradition of excellence with their high levels of preparation and dedication to the profession.  In recent years, students have held leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels in the professional organization, Student Council for Exceptional Children.               

This 30-hour graduate program consists of coursework in the diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities, prescriptive teaching, transition services programming, and research in Exceptional Education.

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Admission Requirements

Students must apply for admission to the Graduate School and the Exceptional Education program. You may apply to both at the same time, but you must be admitted to the Graduate School before the Exceptional Education program will formally consider your application.

Part 1: Apply to the Graduate School for Admission

1. Send an original copy of undergraduate transcripts to the Graduate School
2. Complete the Graduate Record Exam
3. Complete a Graduate School application form, available online at www.wku.edu/graduate

Admission to the Graduate School requires a GAP Score of 2200 or higher (GAP = GRE composite score x undergraduate GPA) and a required GRE Analytical Writing score of 3.5

Part 2: Apply to the Exceptional Education Program for Admission

Submit a Portfolio containing the following:

• Three letters of recommendation from professional references
  
• A Professional Development Plan, describing previous coursework, life experiences, and planned professional development activities in the area of Learning and Behavior Disorders
  
• Personal philosophy of educating students with exceptionalities, with an emphasis on commitment to the profession
  

Program Requirements

Individuals who are certified in Learning and Behavior Disorders must complete the following:

EDFN 500: Research Methods
EXED 517: Transitions Services and Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
EXED 518: Seminar, Comtemporary Challenges in Special Education
EXED 530: Advanced Assessment Techniques
EXED 531: Advanced Prescriptive Teaching
EXED 532: Families, Professionals and Exceptionalities
EXED 533: Seminar, Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders
EXED 534: Seminar, Research in Exceptional Child Education
EXED 590: Advanced Internship in Exceptional Education
PSY 540: Behavior Problems of Childhood and Adolescence

Individuals who are not certified in Learning and Behavior Disorders must complete the following:

EDFN 500: Research Methods
EXED 517: Transitions Services and Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
EXED 516: Exceptional Child Perspectives and Issues OR
EXED 518: Seminar, Comtemporary Challenges in Special Education
EXED 530: Advanced Assessment Techniques
EXED 531: Advanced Prescriptive Teaching
EXED 532: Families, Professionals and Exceptionalities
EXED 533: Seminar, Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders
EXED 590: Advanced Internship in Exceptional Education
EXED 630: Special Education Law and Finance
PSY 519: Psychological Perspectives on Classroom Behavior

The Alternative Route to Certification program is designed for students who do not already hold certification in Exceptional Education.  Because students come from a variety of educational backgrounds, program advisors review each application carefully, taking into consideration comparable course work a student may have already taken as well as appropriate life experiences.  Students may also indicate plans for proposed future professional development in the form of workshops, in-service training, or conferences to be used in place of background coursework for the program.

To ensure that all significant information is available for each applicant, a Portfolio review process is used.  As students complete coursework in the program, items will be added to the Portfolio as evidence of progress.  During the program, any deficiencies identified in the initial Portfolio review process may be addressed through planned and approved involvement in professional development activities.  Documentation of such involvement will be added to the Portfolio.  Actual Portfolio examples are available from the Exceptional Education office.  Call (270) 745-4607 or visit the Exceptional Education website for more information.

Note: To obtain teacher certification, a passing score on the PRAXIS II is required for all candidates. A passing score on the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) is required for students who are not certified teachers.

All courses in the program carry critical performance indicators (CPI). A course's Critical Performance must be completed before the final course grade will be recorded. Each course's CPI becomes a part of the portfolio that is reviewed at the end of each semester for progress through the program.

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required. It may be retaken one time. If the student does not meet this requirement, the program will convert to a Planned 5th Year Rank II.

GPA of 3.0 or higher is required of all graduate coursework with no grade lower than a C.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Certain courses may offered on a rotating basis, so please plan your program of study carefully. See what is currently being offered at www.wku.edu/online.

Department Contact Information

Name: Jamie Stephens
Email: Jamie.Stephens@wku.edu
Phone: (270) 745-4607
Web: http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/grad.htm