Special Education Program

Working as a special education teacher can make a powerful impact in the education of a special needs child. Special education teachers may work one-on-one with students with learning disabilities or teach a classroom of students with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays. As a special education teacher, you may work with students with specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, or a multitude of other health or mental impairments.

Undergraduate Programs

Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) with Elementary or Middle School Emphasis

The special education learning and behavior disorders (LBD) program is a bachelor of science degree program within the Department of Adolescent, Career, and Special Education. This program offers dual certification in special education/elementary education or special education/middle school education. The program will prepare you to become a certified special education teacher (in primary through grade 12), certified in elementary education (primary through grade 5), or certified in middle school education (grades 5-9). As a special education teacher, you will work with students identified as having learning disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, or behavior disorders.

LBD with Elemenatry Emphasis curriculum

LBD with Middle School Emphasis curriculum

Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) Moderate to Severe Disabilities P-12 Certification Track

The learning and behavior disorders moderate to severe disabilities track is an undergraduate degree track in special education for students who wish to be certified to teach only special education. Students in this program will be certified to teach P-12 students with learning and behavior disorders and P-12 students with moderate to severe disabilities. Teacher candidates completing the program will have field experiences and student teaching placements in inclusive/co-teaching settings and self-contained settings to serve students with disabilities across the continuum.

LBD Moderate to Severe Disabilites P-12 Certification curriculum

2+2 Program

The special education learning and behavior disorders 2 +2 program is offered  at two Murray State regional campuses, Madisonville and Paducah. This program offers dual certification in special education/elementary education. This program prepares you to become a certified special education teacher in primary through grade 5. The program consists of approximately 130 hours, including University Studies, professional education courses, and special education courses. You will be introduced to a wide range of theoretical systems and education systems and will be able to apply this knowledge to real students in real classrooms. Observations, assisting classroom teachers, and teaching experiences in public schools are incorporated into University classes. The culminating experience is a semester-long student teaching experience in two classroom settings in a public school.

Graduate Programs

Moderate to Severe Disabilities Certificate (P-12)

This program is designed for teachers certified in LBD who wish to obtain a P-12 certification in moderate to severe disabilities. A valid teaching certificate is required for entrance. Your progress will be continuously assessed throughout the program using established program checkpoints and portfolio entries addressing Kentucky teacher standards. This program does not lead to a master’s degree but can be used as a basis for developing a master’s degree or Rank I in moderate to severe disabilities. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for completion of this program.

Master of Arts in Education, Mild Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) Program

This program leads to Rank II certification in LBD, provided the student already possesses initial certification in regular education. Individuals certified in LBD are trained to work with students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, and other mild disabilities. This program requires 31 precise credit hours, the passing of an exit portfolio, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

MAED in Special Education/Mild LBD curriculum

Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leader Program in Special Education Learning and Behavior Disorders

If you want to assume a leadership role within your school but you do not necessarily wish to become an administrator, the Master of Arts in Education teacher leader program is for you. Upon completion of the 30-hour program, you will earn a Rank II and teacher leader master’s designation as well as the teacher leader endorsement. This certification is required to take 15 hours of core courses in addition to the 15 hours required for a specialization.

Teacher Leader Program

Master of Arts in Education, Moderate to Severe Disabilities Certification (P-12)

This program is for individuals with elementary, middle school, secondary or special education certifications (any area) who wish to obtain a P-12 certificate in moderate to severe disabilities. A valid teaching certificate is required for entrance. Your progress will be continuously assessed throughout the program using established program checkpoints and portfolio entries addressing Kentucky teacher standards. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for completion of this program. Individuals currently certified in learning and behavior disorders, interdisciplinary early childhood education, and communication disorders with teaching experience who are participating in the alternative route to moderate to severe disabilities certification may apply for this program once they have their provisional certificate.

MAED Moderate to Severe Disabilities P-12 CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM