Program of Special Education FAQ's (top)
Where is the Program of Special Education located?
Where can I find the course syllabus for my Special Education courses?
Who can enter into a Graduate program in Special Education?
What is the first step to setting up a program?
What is included in the application for admission to Graduate study?
After submitting an application for admission, what is the next step?
What is the program looking for in order to approve the application?
Are there any pre-requistite courses requires before entering intro a program?
What if I have taken the pre-requisite course from another college or university?
Can other courses be substituted in the same manner?
How many hours are included in the Adaptive Special Education endorsement program?
Is the Adaptive Special Education program the only option?
Can I begin to teach in a Special Education classroom before completing the 33 hour program?
What are the requirements to obtaining a provisional endorsement?
How long can I work on this provisional endorsement?
Is there a certain time frame for completing the program ?
What is the difference between the master's degree program and the endorsement program?
I have heard about teaching Special Education with a waiver. What is a waiver?
What are the requirements for obtaining a Quality Performance Waiver?
How long can I teach on a Quality Performance Waiver?
What is the endorsement level of the Adaptive Special Education program?
Do I have to take a subject-area test in order to be endorsed?
Student Support Services (top)
What are the computer hardware and software requirements to complete my degree?
Where do I order my books?
Are library resources available to FHSU students?
Where do I find a list of courses offered across campus?
What support services does the Program of Special Education offer?
How do I contact the faculty member teaching my course?
How do I add or withdraw from an on-line course at FHSU?
Special Education FAQ's (top)
Where is the Program of Special Education located?
(back to FAQ's )
The Program of Special Education is located in Rarick Hall, second floor, room 210.
Where can I find the course syllabus for my Special Education courses?
(back to FAQ's )
For a general syllabus, you may visit www.fhsu.edu/syllabus. For your semester syllabus with due dates and up to date information, you will access it on Blackboard the first day of the semester.
Who can enter into a Graduate program in Special Education?
(back to FAQ's )
Students who have completed a bachelor degree and who hold a valid teaching certificate may plan a program for endorsement in Adaptive Special Education or Gifted.
What is the first step to setting up a program ?
(back to FAQ's )
The first step is to contact the graduate school (785) 628-4236, and obtain an application for admission to Graduate study. The application is also available online. The application can be submitted online or downloaded. Another option is to print the application to be handwritten.
Note: The Special Education Program does NOT require the GRE Exam for admission to the program.
What is included in the application for admission to Graduate study?
(back to FAQ's )
The application consists of:
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A personal information sheet containing academic background information.
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A hand-written statement from the student addressing their reason for wanting to begin a program in Special Education
- Two outside personal recommendations to be filled out and provided to the Graduate School
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Inclusion of all transcripts where the student has completed coursework.
After submitting an application for admission, what is the next step?
(back to FAQ's )
The Program of Special Education retrieves the completed application and will review its contents before approving or disapproving it.
What is the program looking for in order to approve the application?
(back to FAQ's )
Your assigned advisor will look for a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours of coursework. The recommendations will be reviewed as well as your personal statement concerning your reasons for seeking a program in Special Education.
Are there any pre-requisite courses required before entering into a program? (back to FAQ's )
SPED 601 - Educating Exceptional Students.
This course does not have to be completed before beginning the graduate courses included in the program. However, we suggest that you take it early in your program time.
What if I have taken the pre-requisite course from another college/university? (back to FAQ's )
We will accept the completion of this course from an outside academic institution providing that it is an equivalent substitute. If we have questions, our department will ask for a syllabus from the outside institution so we can compare the equivalency to the course offered by Fort Hays State University.
Can other courses be substituted in the same manner? (back to FAQ's )
Yes, we will accept coursework that may be included on our adaptive special education program providing that the course is an adequate substitute. Once again, we may request a syllabus. The completed coursework must fit into the 6-year time limit of the master's program timeframe.
How many hours are included in the Adaptive Special Education endorsement program?
(back to FAQ's )
It is a 33 hour program.
Is the Adaptive Special Education program the only option?
(back to FAQ's )
No, FHSU provides a Gifted Program.
Can I begin to teach in a Special Education classroom before completing the 33 hour program? (back to FAQ's )
Yes, you can begin teaching with a provisional endorsement in Special Education.
What are the requirements to obtaining a provisional endorsement?
(back to FAQ's )
The requirements for a provisional endorsement are the completion of the following courses:
- SPED 601 - Educating Exceptional Students (3 hrs)
- SPED 804 - Behavior Management in Special Education (3 hrs)
- SPED 801 - Legal/Professional Issues in Special Education (2 hrs)
- SPED 802 - Theories of Exceptionalities in Special Education (4 hrs) ·
- An Educational Strategies in Special Education (BD, LD, MR) (2 hrs)
- A practicum in Special Education (BD, LD, MR) (2 hrs) (The educational strategies course and practicum course must be in the same area.)
After completing these 16 hours of coursework, Graduate students can apply to the State of Kansas for a provisional endorsement in Special Education.
How long can I work on this provisional endorsement?
(back to FAQ's )
The initial endorsement is good for two years. The endorsement can be renewed for an additional two years providing there has been progress towards completing the program.
Is there a certain timeframe for completing the program?
(back to FAQ's)
In order to obtain a Master's degree in the Special Education Program, the time is limited to six years. If seeking a full endorsement in the Special Education Program the time is not limited to six years.
What is the difference between the Master's degree program and the endorsement program? (back to FAQ's )
The required coursework is similar for both programs. Both require 32 hours with the same pre-requisite. A research course is necessary when obtaining a master's degree. The master's degree program necessitates the completion of comprehensive exams or the completion of a written thesis within the six-year period.
I have heard about teaching Special Education with a waiver. What is a waiver?
(back to FAQ's )
The state of Kansas has approved a Quality Performance Waiver to teachers who are currently working towards a certification in Special Education. It allows the teacher to begin teaching before the provisional endorsement courses have been completed.
What are the requirements for obtaining a Quality Performance Waiver?
(back to FAQ's )
- You must hold a valid teaching certificate with the State of Kansas.
- You must be admitted to an approved program (Graduate School admission as discussed before).
- You must be currently enrolled in a required course included on the approved program.
- An outlined plan of study form must be completed by Fort Hays State University.
- An appropriate application initiated from the school district in which you plan to teach must be completed.
How long can I teach on a Quality Performance Waiver?
(back to FAQ's )
The waiver certificates are good for only one school year and renewable for an additional 2 years. Proof of progress towards completing the program must be presented upon renewal.
What is the endorsement level of the Adaptive Special Education program? (back to FAQ's )
The 33 hour endorsement in Adaptive Special Education is at the "PreK-12" endorsement level.
Do I have to take a subject-area test in order to be endorsed?
(back to FAQ's )
Yes. Anyone applying for a full endorsement after September 1, 2003 must take a content test in the area they are applying for before they can receive their endorsement. An endorsement in Adaptive Special Education will require the completion of Core Content Knowledge (20353), score 160, and Education of Exceptional Students: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (10542), score 169, tests. For more information concerning the scheduling of these tests, you can contact the Licensure Office at Fort Hays State University, 785.628.4542.
For those students completing the requirements for an ESOL Endorsement-English for Speakers of Other Languages, Exam #20360 - Teaching English as a Second Language, score 500 must be completed.
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