School of Teacher Education
Director of Special Education
The Director of Special Education is an administrative certification in the state of Kentucky. WKU offers two EPSB approved programs leading to certification/endorsement as a Director of Special Education:
- Rank I – Director of Special Education for Level I or Level I and Level II (30 Unduplicated Credit Hours Required). #0426
- Certification Only (Endorsement) for Director of Special Education Level I or Level I and Level II (15 Credit Hours Required). #132
Admission Requirements for either of the above programs are as follow:
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ADMISSION REQUIRMENTS for Rank I and Certification Only DoSE Programs |
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1. Candidate must submit an application to the Graduate School |
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2. Candidate must submit current, valid teaching certificate to the Graduate School when applying |
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3. Candidate must submit current vita/resume, Letter of application indicating future goals, and a statement verifying that he/she has completed at least 3 years of full-time appropriate teaching experience with exceptional children or as a School Psychologist. |
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4. Candidate must submit transcripts verifying an earned master’s degree from an accredited institution. |
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5. Candidate must document a 3.2 GPA or above in all graduate coursework. |
Prerequisites to enter either of the above programs are as follow:
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*PREREQUISITES for Rank I and Certification Only DoSE Program
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1. Candidate must have completed a graduate level research methods course within the past ten years. |
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2.Candidate must have completed an Introductory Special Education Course within the last 10 years
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3. Candidate must have completed 6 hours of advisor approved Graduate Level Curriculum Coursework such as: SEC 580 The Curriculum ELED 503 Organization of the Elementary School Curriculum MGE 571 The Middle School Curriculum EDAD 683 Seminar in Curriculum Development
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*If applicants do not meet the above pre-requisites, they must complete deficient course work prior to beginning the Required Course Work.
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Course Requirements for Director of Special Education Programs |
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RANK I DoSE PROGRAM REQUIRES 30 NEW CREDIT HOURS LEVEL I
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CERTIFICATION ONLY DoSE PROGRAM REQUIRES 15 HOURS FOR LEVEL I
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CORE COURSES (15 HOURS) EDAD 585 FUNDAMENTALS OF SCHOOL ADMIN SPED/EDAD 620 SEMINAR IN ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SPED/EDAD 625 PRACTICUM IN ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SPED/EDAD 630 – SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND FINANCE EDAD 677 SCHOOL LAW
3 HOURS OF GRADUATE LEVEL SPED CURRICULUM COURSE: SPED 533 – CURRICULUM FOR LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS SPED 535 CURRICULUM FOR MODERATE AND SEVERE DISABILITIES SPED 615 INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND DESIGN FOR CANDIDATES WITH ASD OR OTHER SPED CURRICULUM COURSE APPROVED BY ADVISOR
3 HOURS GRADUATE LEVEL GENERAL ED CURRICULUM COURSE AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL: ELED 503 ORGANIZATION OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM OR OTHER GRADUATE LEVEL GENERAL ED CURRICULUM COURSE AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL APPROVED BY ADVISOR
3 HOURS GRADUATE LEVEL GENERALED CURRICULUM COURSE AT SECONDARY LEVEL: SEC 580 THE CURRICULUM MGE 571 THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM OR OTHER GRADUATE LEVEL GENERAL ED CURRICULUM COURSE AT SECONDARY LEVEL APPROVED BY ADVISOR
3 HOURS COMMUNITY/CULTURE/DIVERSITY COURSE EDAD 682 – SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPED 532 FAMILY PROFESSIONALS AND EXCEPTIONALITIES OR OTHER COMMUNITY/CULTURE/DIVERSITY COURSE APPROVED BY ADVISOR
3 HOURS OF GRADUATE LEVEL BEHAVIOR/APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS COURSE SPED 518 SEMINAR: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES SPED 618 SOCIAL SKILLS INSTRUCTION AND BEHAVIORAL PROGRAMMING FOR CANDIDATES WITH ASD OR OTHER BEHAVIOR COURSE APPROVED BY ADVISOR
Total required for RANK I – 30 NEW UNDUPLICATED HOURS
NOTE: If you’ve already had any of the coursework above as part of another program, you will need to substitute other courses to equal 30 new hours for the Rank I.
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CORE COURSES (15 HOURS) EDAD 585 FUNDAMENTALS OF SCHOOL ADMIN SPED/EDAD 620 SEMINAR IN ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SPED/EDAD 625 PRACTICUM IN ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SPED/EDAD 630 – SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND FINANCE EDAD 677 SCHOOL LAW
Total Required for Certification Only – 15 hours for Level I
LEVEL II DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION - 6 Additional Hours Required for Level II Director of Special Education
REQUIRES ALL LEVEL I COURSES IN ADDITION TO 6 HOURS: EDAD 686 PRINCIPLES OF SUPERVISION EDAD 598 FIELD PRACTICUM IN DOSE
Note that Candidates must apply for and have a separate program of study on file to be recommended for Level II.
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Contact Program Coordinator for the Director of Special Education, Dr. Gail Kirby, for additional information gail.kirby@wku.edu 270-745-3746
"Candidates for this certification are required to take the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) ."
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