Exed Home | Undergraduate Programs | Graduate Programs | Faculty | Financial Aid Praxis II Information | Silver Cup Award | Links

This program provides preparation for students who wish to pursue careers in a P-12 school setting as teachers serving students with diverse learning needs, including Learning and Behavior Disorders. The School of Teacher Education, through the Exceptional Education program area, offers three concentrations within the MAE in Exceptional Education, LBD programs:

• LBNC – Alternate Route to Certification in LBD and initial LBD Certification for those with no other teacher certification; (Program Information Packet )
• LBOC – Initial LBD certification for those with prior teacher certification in another area or a statement of eligibility for such; and
• LBLB – Advanced LBD certification for those with prior certification in LBD 

Within each concentration, the student is expected to become competent in theory, research, and application of best teaching practices related to exceptional students with Learning and Behavior Disorders and exhibit appropriate teacher disposition behaviors as indicated by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Teacher Disposition Rating Form.  Student areas of concentration will be based upon their current teaching certification or lack thereof. All courses in the program carry critical performance indicators (CPIs) which 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.

For program and degree completion, a passing score on a comprehensive examination or action research capstone project is required.  A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all graduate course work is required, with no grade lower than a C.

Note: To be eligible to be recommended for teacher certification students must document that they have received a passing score on each required PRAXIS II examination. Students must pass all required PRAXIS II examinations before they may register for EXED 590.

Admission To Program

Applicants must apply to and be accepted through WKU Graduate Studies according to current admission requirements. Once admitted through Graduate Studies, students must then meet the requirements for admission into the MAE programs in Exceptional Education and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Admission to all LBD concentrations requires the following: 

• Achieve a GAP (GRE-V plus GRE-Q multiplied by undergraduate GPA) score of 2200 or higher on the GRE and a GRE Analytical Writing score of 3.5 or higher.  Applicant is responsible for maintaining contact with the Graduate College (270-745-2446).
• EITHER possess a current , valid teaching certificate (a copy of which must be submitted with the application), OR document a 2.5 GPA for all previous course work (undergraduate and graduate) and meet all other requirements for admission to teacher education; and
• Submit an admission portfolio with your application to Graduate Studies. Portfolio needs to include an application letter; a philosophy of education; two letters of reference from college/university faculty; and two letters of reference from school personnel.
• Exhibit acceptable teacher disposition behaviors as indicated by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Teacher Disposition Rating Form.
• All admissions materials must be received by March 1 for admission to the summer terms or May 1 for admission to the fall term for priority consideration.

Students who do not meet the previously stated requirements may seek admission through the following process:

1. WKU graduates with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher may apply to be considered for admission without the GRE.  These students must submit a portfolio that includes the following: a) a letter of application that explains why they should be exempt from the GRE; b) a written philosophy of education; c) two references from faculty members that detail their potential as graduate students; and d) two references from public school teachers and/or administrators that address their dispositions to teach.
2. Graduates of accredited universities with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply to be considered for admission without the GRE.  These students must submit a portfolio that includes the following: a) a letter of application that explains why they should be exempt from the GRE; b) a philosophy of education; c) two references from faculty members that detail their potential as graduate students; and d) two references from public school teachers and/or administrators that address their dispositions to teach.
3. Students who are graduates of an accredited college or university with a master’s degree and who earned a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply to be considered for admission without the GRE.  These students must submit a portfolio that includes the following: a) a letter of application that explains why they should be exempt from the GRE; b) a philosophy of education; c) two references from faculty members that discuss their potential as graduate students; and d) two references from public school teachers and/or administrators that address their dispositions to teach.

The LBNC concentration comprises 21 hours of core courses, 6 hours of introductory Exceptional Education courses, 3 hours of Literacy courses, 3 hours of electives and 6 hours of field experience/internship courses, for a total of 39 credit hours.

The LBOC and LBLB concentrations comprise 21 hours of core courses, 3 hours of advanced Exceptional Education course work, and 6 hours of field work or action research course work, for a total of 30 credit hours.

Core Courses for LBNC; LBOC; and LBLB Concentrations

EXED LBD Concentrations

Learning and Behavior Disorders Initial Certification, Concentration Code: LBNC
The MAE in LBD, Initial Certification, is for individuals who are not certified in any area of education.  Individuals in this concentration may or may not be employed as teachers.  For those individuals who are   not currently employed as teachers of students with Learning and Behavior Disorders, this 39-hour program consists of course work in the diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities, prescriptive teaching, transition service programming, research in Exceptional Education, and content areas. For those individuals with no prior teaching certification in any area and not currently employed as a teacher of students with Learning and Behavior Disorders. 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 a student teaching experience and will be eligible for a Statement of Eligibility for certification as a teacher of students with LBD.
Students must pass PRAXIS II before beginning the student teaching experience and must complete the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP) to be eligible to be recommended for certification as teachers of students with Learning and Behavior Disorders in the state of Kentucky.

For individuals who are currently employed (or have written documentation of a school district’s intent to employ them) as teachers of record for students with Learning and Behavior Disorders, this 39-hour program consists of course work in the diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities, prescriptive teaching, transition service programming, research in Exceptional Education, and content areas. These individuals with no prior teaching certification in any area and upon verification of employment in an approved setting, students are eligible for recommendation for a Temporary Provisional Teaching Certificate in LBD. This certificate is issued for one year and is renewable for two additional years (total of 3 years). Students in this program must complete ALL state and university requirements within the three-year time frame.

Upon completion of program, passing PRAXIS II, and completing the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP), these students will be eligible to be recommended for certification as teachers of students with Learning and Behavior Disorders in the state of Kentucky.

See the EXED LBNC Program Information Packet for more details.

Learning and Behavior Disorders w/Other Certification, Concentration Code: LBOC
This concentration is for individuals who have prior teaching certification in an area other than Exceptional Education. This 30-hour program consists of course work in the diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities, prescriptive teaching, transition service programming, and research in Exceptional Education, and content areas. This concentration is for those individuals who hold a valid teaching certificate or statement of eligibility for such certification in an area other than Exceptional Education LBD and are seeking LBD certification through their master’s degree course work.

Learning and Behavior Disorders with LBD Certification, Concentration Code: LBLB
This concentration is for individuals who have prior teaching certification in Exceptional Education – LBD. This 30-hour program consists of course work in the diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities, prescriptive teaching, transition service programming, and research in Exceptional Education, and content areas. This concentration is for individuals who hold teaching certification in Exceptional Education.

OR

Related Links

• Exceptional Education LBNC Program Information Packet