You are facing a lot of decisions as you think about college. What will you major in? What school will you go to? Will you stay close to home or move away? Will you live with your parents or in a dorm? What colleges and universities offer the programs that you are looking for? If you’re thinking about a career in the field of special education, this section will provide you with information about Kentucky colleges and universities that have programs of study in this area.

On this page, you will find a list all of the colleges and universities in Kentucky that have programs to prepare people to become special education teachers. Finally, at the bottom of the page is information about financial aid for people going into special education.

You will immediately notice that not every school has a program in every possible area of special education. In fact, programs to prepare teachers for “low incidence” (uncommon) disabilities are offered only at a small number of schools. You should also be aware that some colleges have special education programs that are only for graduate students. Therefore, if you are interested in a particular program at a specific school, you need to contact them or visit their web site for further information.

Every college program is a little different, but you will find that there are also similarities. All schools require that you meet the “general education requirements.” These basic courses in English, mathematics, science, arts and humanities, and social science are required of anyone getting an undergraduate degree. These courses usually make up about one-third of your course work. Another quarter to one-third of your work will be education courses that all teachers take. These include basic of education and methods of teaching reading, mathematics, social studies, and other subjects. This is required because a special education teacher must know the “general curriculum” for all students. The final third of your course work—including field experiences, and student teaching—will be in special education. The national organization that certifies special education programs requires that a college make sure that all special education teachers are well prepared to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the following 10 areas:

1. Foundations of special education,
2. Development and characteristics of learners,
3. Individual learning differences,
4. Instructional strategies,
5. Learning environment and social interactions,
6. Language,
7. Instructional planning,
8. Assessment,
9. Professional and ethical practice, and
10. Collaboration.

These standards are used to design the special education classes you will take to make sure that you are trained to be a “highly qualified teacher”. While you will see differences across colleges in the names and the number of course, they all must address these standards.

The final factor that will affect what you will do in college is the area of special education in which you specialize. While the general standards are the same, some of the specifics are different for teachers of people with different kinds of leaning needs. In Kentucky, this has led to the development of different types of special education certifications. A list of certifications offered in our state can be found on the Standards Board website.   For example, the sensory disabilities of students with visual impairments and hearing impairments require skills that other special educators will not often need. Certification of teachers of students with learning and behavior disorders is usually described as preparing teachers to work with students with “mild” disabilities. This requires skill in providing accommodations for learning difficulties that hinder progress in traditional academic subjects. As a peer buddy, you are familiar with a teacher of students with moderate and severe disabilities . The skills in this field focus on maximizing access and participation of students with severe disabilities in school and the practical preparation of adult life. The final area of certification, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education , prepares teachers to work with very young children in early intervention and pre-school programs. Links to each university can be found at the bottom of this page.

Note: Remember that requirements and even titles of different certifications can vary from state to state. The information we have provided here is for Kentucky specifically. Be sure to visit the US Department of Education website for information by state.

Teacher Certification Programs in Kentucky Colleges and Universities

Teacher of Students with Learning and Behavior Disorders (Pre-12)

University of Kentucky
Morehead State University
Asbury College
Bellarmine University
Eastern Kentucky University
Midway College
Murray State University
Northern Kentucky University
Spalding University
Union College
University of Louisville
Western Kentucky University

Teacher of Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities (Pre-12)

            University of Kentucky
            Morehead State University
            Northern Kentucky University

Georgetown University

            Murray State University
            University of Louisville
            Western Kentucky University

Teacher of Visually Impaired Students ( Pre-12)

            University of Kentucky

Teacher of Hearing Impaired Students ( Pre-12) 

            Eastern Kentucky University

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Birth to Primary)

            University of Kentucky
            Morehead State University
            Berea College
            Eastern Kentucky University
            Kentucky State University
            Murray State University
            Northern Kentucky University
            Spalding University
            University of Louisville
            Western Kentucky University

Note: If you are interested in a field other than special education teaching (such as school psychology), you should be aware that most of these fields require a master’s degree or higher to be a certified professional.  You should use the contact information below or the information provided in the section on related services to find out about degree requirements.  In addition, some of these graduate programs have very specific entrance requirements, including passing scores on the Praxis exam .  If you are interested in a particular field, research the requirements so you can take the needed courses as an undergraduate and prepare for necessary exams. 

Communication Disorders (Pre-12 ) Speech-Language Pathologist

            University of Kentucky
            Eastern Kentucky University
            Murray State University
            University of Louisville
            Western Kentucky University

Occupational Therapist

            Eastern Kentucky University
            Spalding University

Physical Therapist

            University of Kentucky
            Bellarmine University

Assistive Technology

University of Kentucky
    University of Louisville

School Psychologist

            University of Kentucky
            Eastern Kentucky University
            Murray State University
            Western Kentucky University

Audiologist

            University of Louisville

Orientation and Mobility Specialist

            No programs currently available in KY. Visit this link for programs nationwide.

Rehabilitation Counselor

            University of Kentucky

Note: As you are exploring the websites for these various universities, remember that those programs are often in a different department of the university or college than the special education courses. For example, many may be in the social work or psychology departments.

Financial Aid for Students Pursuing Special Education Certification in Kentucky Colleges and Universities

Students interested in special education degrees have a few financial aid “perks” available to them. Of course, students who are going to major in special education are eligible for all of the various forms of financial aid that any other college student can use.  The State of Kentucky has set up a special website to help all students find out about financial help for college.   The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority website is the place for Kentucky students to look for assistance in attending college. Several of its programs are of special interest to students planning to pursue a degree in teaching and especially in special education.  In addition to traditional financial aid, those in special education have additional options.

• One program of particular interest is the KHEAA teacher scholarship which provides financial aid to highly qualified Kentucky students pursuing initial teacher certification at participating Kentucky institutions.
• Additionally, some teachers may be able to get student loans forgiven. According to the US Department of Education, those who teach full time for five consecutive, complete academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 in principal and interest on their FFEL and/or Direct Loan program loans.

Note: To determine if you are eligible for financial aid, consult the Federal and Financial Student Aid website, paying special attention to deadlines for submitting the application. There, you can also find information about the Perkins Loan and other funding sources. For more information, contact your State Department of Education.