Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Special Education is designed to prepare highly qualified, experienced persons for academic faculty and research positions in colleges, universities and research centers, in addition to leadership, administrative and advocacy positions. The program enables students to master a comprehensive field of emphasis in special education; employ intellectual and innovative methods for addressing the needs of exceptional children, youth and adults; and acquire a breadth of understanding of related disciplines that focus on the professional roles of college teaching, research, administration and clinical-, educational- and agency-based services for individuals with exceptionalities.

Students participate in research studies, learn methods for conducting research and design independent and collaborative studies in their specialty area. In addition to conceptualizing, designing, implementing and interpreting research, all doctoral students are also expected to demonstrate competence in teaching at the college level during their doctoral training.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

¹

Research topic for SPED 83998 must be approved by and registered with a specific faculty member and approved by advisory committee.

²

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for SPED 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter SPED 80299 each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

• After admission to the Ph.D. degree program, students plan a program of study with their respective faculty advisory committee, headed by their advisor.
• Students’ programs may include at least one appropriate graduate-level minor or cognate as well as the major.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

The Ph.D. degree in Special Education is accredited by the Council of Education of the Deaf for coursework that focuses on deaf education.

Full Description

The Master of Education degree in Special Education provides students with advanced understanding of contemporary research and practice issues in special education. Students in the program are typically interested in pursuing enhanced professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, advocacy and systems change; or they may be wanting to prepare for doctoral-level study. Students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in special education (or in education) to be successful in the master's degree; however, they should be motivated to develop a deeper understanding of the field of special education.

The M.Ed. degree program does not prepare students for teacher licensure; however, some of the coursework required for the degree may count toward licensure. Students interested in both licensure and a M.Ed. degree will need to apply and be fully admitted into both the master's degree and the non-degree graduate licensure preparation program.

The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Deaf Education concentration focuses on needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• The Early Childhood Intervention Specialist concentration focuses on needs of young children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, birth to grade 5 (birth to age 10) and their families.
• The General Special Education concentration provides a broad focus on special education across all ages and types of student needs. Students  work with a graduate adviser to develop a personalized plan of study.
• The Mild/Moderate Educational Needs concentration focuses on needs of students with mild to moderate educational needs who most often participate in the general education academic curriculum with special education supports.
• The Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs concentration focuses on students with moderate to intensive educational needs who most often require modifications to the general academic curriculum and/or other extensive special education supports.
• The Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs concentration focuses on the needs of preschool children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFLPBT score
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Develop advanced skills in designing, implementing and evaluating research-based practices that meet the special education needs of learners with disabilities.
2. Understand the conceptual underpinnings of special education, as well as policies that guide its implementation in school and community settings.
3. Analyze contemporary issues surrounding special education and the impact of exceptionality on individuals and their families.
4. Understand the roles that research plays in special education theory.
5. Demonstrate mastery of special education content within a particular specialization (e.g., mild/moderate, deaf education).

Program Requirements

¹

Students in the Deaf Education concentration should not take SPED 53309. 

Deaf Education Concentration Requirements

Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Concentration Requirements

General Special Education Concentration Requirements

Mild/Moderate Educational Needs Concentration Requirements

Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs Concentration Requirements

Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs Concentration Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student's coursework may be taken with 50000-level courses.
• Students have six years from the term of first enrollment to complete the degree.
• Students in the Deaf Education concentration must also pass the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the intermediate level for graduation.
• Students seeking a Reading Endorsement must see their advisor before beginning ANY coursework.

• Delivery:
  • Online (General Special Education concentration only)
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

The Deaf Education concentration is accredited by the Council of Education of the Deaf.

Full Description

The Educational Specialist degree in Special Education provides an advanced degree in specialized areas of educational programming for children and youth with exceptionalities. The program meets the needs of post-master's degree students who wish to assume leadership roles in schools and agencies that provide special education and related services to children, youth, and adults who have disabilities.

The Ed.S. degree is designed for the accomplished, experienced practitioner with specific professional aspirations. The program is not designed for those who wish to pursue a research emphasis as a prelude to doctoral study.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale (minimum 3.250 GPA is recommended)
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Attain the background knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to advance their ability to identify and plan evidence-based educational practices for exceptional learners.
2. Increase their proficiency with the pedagogical and decision-making skills necessary to implement evidence-based educational practices for exceptional learners.
3. Attain an appropriate level of expertise in methods of assessment relevant to providing special education to exceptional learners in schools.
4. Articulate professional positions on critical legal, policy and practice issues in special education that are grounded in logical analysis, empirical research and the ethical foundations of the field.

Program Requirements

¹

All electives, including additional coursework, must be approved by the student's Ed.S. degree committee.

Graduation Requirements

• Upon admission to the Ed.S. degree program, students will be assigned an advisor.
• Minimum 6 credit hours of coursework in statistics and research design are required.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

The Council of Education of the Deaf

Program Requirements

¹

Credit hours required to be determined with faculty advisor in consideration of previous professional experience.

Graduation Requirements

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Mild to Moderate Special Education minor provides students with valuable knowledge related to meeting the special educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities in schools. Mild to moderate disabilities include learning disabilities, ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders without accompanying intellectual impairment.

The minor allows students to learn effective practices for differentiating instruction, behavior management, collaboration and supporting students with mild to moderate disabilities in general education classrooms.

This minor is particularly relevant for students seeking to work in the K-12 academic environment, including those with a major or interest in education, special education, psychology, public health, sociology and human development and family studies.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Students declared in the Special Education major, Mild/Moderate concentration, are not permitted to declare this minor.

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Students will identify effective practices for differentiating instruction for exceptional learners.
2. Students will describe classroom management strategies to support the engagement and learning of exceptional learners.
3. Students will develop lesson plans tailored to the strengths and needs of exceptional learners in general education classroom settings.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum C grade is required in all courses.

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Early Intervention minor primarily is intended for individuals interested in working with young children — from birth to age three — who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities across a variety of settings.

The minor provides students with the skills and knowledge specific to contemporary and recommended practices in early intervention, typical and atypical development, teaming, family professional collaboration, assessment, legislation, ethical professional conduct, advocacy and inclusive practices.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare this minor, students must be at least a sophomore status and have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.750 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe and analyze contemporary philosophical and theoretical orientations about young children and families.
2. Demonstrate empirically-based and ethical practices of early intervention in natural environments.
3. Collaborate with families, caregivers, and professionals to enhance children's growth and development.
4. Identify state and federal legislation related to early intervention.

Program Requirements

¹

Students must contact the faculty advisor for the Early Intervention minor to be able to register for SPED 44951.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) minor is an interdisciplinary program, between Special Education and Speech Pathology and Audiology. The minor prepares students to understand and address the needs of individuals with ASD across the spectrum, across the lifespan and in varied contexts, including general and special education classrooms and community settings.

Students gain knowledge and skills related to the following:

• Diagnostic and learning style characteristics
• Causes and medical intervention
• Early signs and assessment protocols
• Social-communicative development and disorders
• Theoretical models and the implications of those models for intervention
• Family characteristics
• Evidence-based intervention practices

The ASD minor is particularly relevant for students with a major or interest in special education, speech pathology, audiology, occupational and physical therapy, psychology and human development and family studies.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.750 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

A Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Special Education prepares students to become special education teachers (also referred to as intervention specialists) or to work with individuals with disabilities in non-school settings.

Special educators teach individuals with many kinds of disabilities including learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, ADHD/other health impairments, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, hearing impairments and multiple disabilities.

Special educators may co-teach with general education teachers in academic classrooms, teach small groups of students in a resource room, or teach students individually in highly specialized classrooms or programs designed specifically to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Special education majors who do not want to become teachers often will work with adolescents and adults with disabilities in community, residential and/or vocational settings.

The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Deaf Education concentration prepares candidates to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students across inclusion, itinerant, resource room and self-contained public and residential classroom settings. Extensive field and teaching lab experiences optimize this preparation in combination with coursework in literacy, mathematics, science and social studies that help prepare students to take specific assessments to become designated as "highly qualified" teachers in deaf education, reading and mathematics. Instructional methods are comprehensive in nature and provide the unique strategies necessary to address issues concomitant with hearing loss, including language development in both English and American Sign Language, use of bilingual-bicultural methodologies and various assistive and instructional technologies. The hierarchical coursework sequence concludes with thematic unit instruction that prepares graduates to work with the core curriculum to address all academic content areas, as well as transition and students with additional needs. Graduates are eligible to apply for Ohio licensure to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students in prekindergarten to 12th grade.
• The Disability Services concentration prepares students to work with individuals with disabilities who have a wide variety of support needs in a broad array of settings (e.g., vocational, residential, community). Students in this concentration progress through highly-structured coursework and field experiences to learn evidence-based practices to teach leisure, social, adaptive and life skills to individuals with disabling conditions. Students who complete this program are not eligible for licensure as special educators/intervention specialists in the state of Ohio.
  • Students in the Disability Services concentration may apply early to the M.Ed. degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.
• The Mild to Intensive Dual License concentration prepares candidates to work with individuals (kindergarten through age 21) who have a wide variety of support needs in a broad array of settings (e.g., general education classrooms, self-contained classrooms, alternative schools and community-based programs). Candidates in this concentration progress through highly-structured coursework and extensive field experiences to learn evidence-based practices to teach academic, social adaptive and life skills. Successful completion of this program enables candidates to be eligible for licensure in both Mild/Moderate Educational Needs (e.g., learning disabilities emotional and behavioral disorders, ADHD) as well as Moderate/Intensive Educational Needs (e.g., intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities) through the State of Ohio. 

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this major is selective. To be admitted directly into the Special Education major, freshmen must have a minimum 2.750 high school GPA, and transfer students must have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA in all previous undergraduate coursework. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 2.750. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Engage in professional learning and practice within ethical guidelines.
2. Understand and address individual developmental and learning needs.
3. Demonstrate subject matter content and specialized knowledge.
4. Use assessment to understand the learning and the learning environment for data-based decision making.
5. Support learning using effective instruction.
6. Support social, emotional and behavioral growth.
7. Collaborate with team members.

In addition, graduates of the program will demonstrate:

1. the dispositions necessary to be successful special educational teachers/professionals
2. preparation for the profession by successfully completing the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Special Education Assessments required for their Special Education License type or being admitted to a graduate degree program or obtaining employment in a disability services field

Program Requirements

¹

Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs policy for details.

Deaf Education Concentration Requirements

¹

Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs policy for details.

Disability Services Concentration Requirements

Mild to Intensive Dual License Concentration Requirements

¹

Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs policy for details.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. See Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type. Taking and passing the licensure tests prior to graduation is encouraged but not required.

Students must apply for State of Ohio Licensure (defined by completion of all licensure program requirements) within 12 months of program completion. After 12 months, applicants must meet State-approved program/licensure requirements that are in effect at the time of application. This means that students who apply after the 12-month deadline may have to take additional coursework if the content, methods courses, program requirements, or licensure requirements have changed from the catalog in force.

Students completing the Disability Services concentration will not be eligible for licensure.

Progression Requirements

For students seeking teacher education licensure, admission to advanced study is required prior to enrolling in select upper-division education courses. Students must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study and have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA¹.

For students in the non-licensure concentration, admission into the professional phase is required prior to enrolling in select upper-division courses. Successful completion of 60 credit hours with a minimum 2.750 overall GPA¹ is required for admittance into the professional phase of the major.

To manage enrollment and deliver high-quality programs, the faculty will select the most qualified applicants for admission based upon evaluation of academic success (overall GPA¹) at Kent State University, non-academic criteria and other specific program criteria.

Please be aware that reapplication may be necessary if postponing advanced study coursework or if withdrawing for one year or more.

¹

Undergraduate students who have not completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours will be evaluated for advanced study and professional phase based on their high school GPA for new freshmen or transfer GPA for transfer students.

Graduation Requirements

• To graduate, students in the Deaf Education concentration must pass the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the intermediate level or receive a minimum Level 2 on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI).

Roadmaps

Deaf Education Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Disability Services Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Mild to Intensive Dual License Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (Deaf Education and Mild to Intensive Dual License concentrations only)