The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University is pleased to announce Alternative Route to Certification Program in Learning and Behavior Disorders
v Students with an undergraduate degree in any major are eligible
v Teacher Certification possible in 18 months
Application Deadlines are July 20 for fall admission and April 1 for summer admission.
An Alternative Route to Certification Program is a graduate degree program for individuals with bachelor of art or science degrees, who are interested in working in schools with learning and behavior disordered 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.
Cohorts of students can begin the program each summer and each fall. Students in both cohorts take classes on the main campus in the summer. Students in the fall cohort have the option of taking classes in the fall and spring semesters via Interactive Television on WKU’s extended campuses in Glasgow, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown, or on the main campus in Bowling Green.
Students must apply for admission to the Graduate School and the Exceptional Education program. You may begin applying 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)
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
Coursework
EXED 517 Transition Services and Programs
For Individuals with Disabilities
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 630 Special Education Law and Finance
EXED 590 Advanced Internship in
Exceptional Education
EDFN 500 Research Methods
EXED 516 or Exceptional Child: Perspectives
and Issues
EXED 518 Seminar: Contemporary Challenges
in Special Education
PSY 519 Psychological Perspectives on
Classroom Behavior
TOTAL HOURS = 30 CREDIT HOURS
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.
The Exceptional Education program must receive complete applications, including Graduate School applications and Exceptional Education program applications, by the following dates:
· July 20 for admission to fall cohort
· April 1 for admission to the summer cohort
Allow sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and approved by the graduate school.
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.
(270) 745-2446
http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Academic/Graduate
CEBS Exceptional Education Program:
(270) 745-4607