The School of Education at Kentucky State University (KSU) offers an on-line program for a Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education with Certification in Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12). The intent of this program is to increase the diminished supply of special education teachers.  Our program targets qualified college graduates, including those whose degrees are in fields other than education, and guided them expeditiously through an intensive training and internship experience which certifies them as special education teachers with a Masters degree. The program is designed specifically to lead to teacher certification in the area of Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD, P-12.) Individuals who are not certified teachers may seek initial teaching certification in LBD and those who are certified in another area may seek an “add on” certification in LBD. When successful graduates are employed as teachers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, they are classified and compensated as Rank II.

The following courses are required:

ESP 501: Special Topics in Education (elective course)

ESP 502: Legal & Parental Issues in Special Education

ESP 504: Theories of Reading & Educational Practices P-12

ESP 505: Teaching Mathematics to Children and Youth with Learning & Behavior Disorders

ESP 507: Introduction to Special Education

ESP 510: Curriculum & Methods in Learning & Behavior Disorders

ESP 511: Methods & Strategies in Behavior Management

ESP 515: Research in Special Education

ESP 523: The Individual with LD: Learning & Development through the Lifespan

ESP 524: Instructional Assessment Methods

ESP 525: Inclusion, Collaboration, & Advocacy

ESP 526: Prescriptive Teaching

ESP 573: Practicum - Option 6 OR

ESP 574: Supervised Teaching OR

ESP 575: Supervised Student Teaching 

The Master of Arts in Special Education (MASPE) program is founded on personal support, high expectations, relevant and practical experiences, and distance learning technology. Candidates are mentored, from the beginning, in how to succeed in an electronic instructional environment and they are provided 24/7/365 support in accessing course content, instructors, and colleagues from wherever a telephone or Internet service is available.