Low Incidence Disabilities Program Curriculum & Admission Requirements

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Coursework

Students take a major concentration of courses entailing a minimum of 33 credit hours of coursework designed to develop the knowledge base necessary for effective teaching in inclusive settings.

Practicum

The practicum provides a supervised teaching experience in a setting appropriate to the goals of the aspiring teacher.

Program Curriculum

The low incidence disabilities program provides students opportunities to gain experience in real world settings including classrooms and other service delivery models with children and youth with and without disabilities. Borrowing from the old adage that practice makes perfect, students are able to hone their teaching skills almost from their first semester in the master's program.

Course Requirements

Please note, this is a potential plan of study. Please consult with your faculty advisor before enrolling. SPED 730 or equivalent is required to be admitted to the endorsement program. If equivalency is not demonstrated, SPED 730 will be added to applicants program plan.

Students not pursuing a teaching endorsement do not complete practicum – SPED 775 and SPED 875. Instead, these students will work with their advisor to determine appropriate electives.

Additional requirements

SPED 746 Assessment and Supports for Students with Complex Communication Needs
SPED 898 OR SPED 899 OR SPED 798 (Master's Project OR Master's Thesis OR Comprehensive Written Exam)
Minimum program credit hours = 33

Additional links

Special Education Courses

Low Incidence Disabilities Master’s Graduate Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited institution or a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor’s degree requirements. International applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process well in advance of the application deadlines in order to ensure adequate time for processing of visa-related paperwork.

It is important for applicants to realize that the admissions standards listed above are not the sole determinants of admission. Other factors considered by the committee include: Strength of the letter of application; strength of the letters of recommendation; quality of previous experience and background in special education or a closely related discipline; availability of an appropriate advisor in the applicant's identified area of emphasis; and the fit between the applicant's professional and graduate program goals and the purpose and mission of the KU.

Application Deadlines

Aug. 1, 2025

Fall semester application deadline

Application Checklist

M.S.E. in Low Incidence Disabilities

Applicants are required to submit the following materials and meet the following requirements before the application deadline:

Online application
Complete through the KU Office of Graduate Admissions.
Application fee
$65 for U.S. residents, $85 for international applicants.
Application to student scholarship (optional)
Interested and eligible individuals are encouraged to apply to receive funding.
Transcripts
For application purposes, you may attach scanned versions of official transcripts to your application for all degrees conferred. If you are admitted to a program and accept the admission offer, you will be required to submit an official, final transcript that shows your degree has been conferred.
Resume or CV
Professional resume describing past employment experiences, licensure(s) received, educational preparation, publications and presentations, professional association memberships, and other professional activities.

Letter of Introduction
Specify why Low-Incidence Disabilities is the area of emphasis within the Department of Special Education you have selected for concentration of study. Click the link above for details.
Letters of recommendation
You will submit the names and email addresses when you apply online. The system will automatically email them requesting them to submit a letter of reference for you.
Proof of English proficiency
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English proficiency in the skill areas of reading, writing, and listening. Please read the full policy and acceptable proof of proficiency options by clicking the link above for details.
Professional Disposition Assessment Acknowledgement Form (pdf)
Professional Disposition Assessment for Advanced Degree Candidates Acknowledgement Form

Admission & Curriculum Resources

The online application is designed to give applicants the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form. We invite you to explore our graduate degree information, review our student resources, and learn more on our knowledgeable faculty and the vibrant community of Lawrence, Kansas.

Apply Online request info