Low Incidence Limited Residency Licensure Program Curriculum & Admission Requirements

Program structure

Coursework

Students take a major concentration of courses with a minimum of 35 credit hours of coursework designed to develop the knowledge base for effective teaching of learners with low-incidence disabilities.

Practicum

The practicum provides a supervised teaching experience in your own school or classroom, with extensive coaching and mentoring from KU.

Mentorship

You will be assigned a mentor from your school district. The Kansas State Department of Education requires that all LRL teachers complete all required mentoring activities as assigned.

Program Curriculum

The LRL in low-incidence disabilities program provides students with opportunities to gain experience in real-world settings, including classrooms and other service delivery models with children and youth with and without disabilities. The program is created for working professionals – students will be full-time teachers and take courses in the evenings (4:30-7:00 PM) in Lawrence or via Zoom.

Course Requirements

The following are course requirements for years 1 and 2:

Course Requirements Year 1

Summer

SPED 732

Fall

SPED 742
SPED 735
SPED 775 (2 credits)

Spring

SPED 746
SPED 723
SPED 775 (2 credits)

Course Requirements Year 2

Summer

Optional: EPSY 715

Fall

SPED 844
SPED 842
SPED 875 (2 credits)

Spring

SPED 856
SPED 875 (2 credits)
Optional: SPED 898

Please note, this is a potential plan of study. Please consult with your faculty advisor before enrolling. Students not pursuing a masters degree do not EPSY 715 or SPED 898.

The program requires a 6-credit hour course (SPED 732) to be completed in the Summer of the first year. Students must earn a grade of B or better in SPED 732 to continue in the program. Students will then complete approximately 8-credit hours of courses in Fall and Spring semesters for two years. In the Fall semester of the first year, students will apply to KSDE for a Low Incidence Limited Residency License. You must meet the eligibility requirements (GPA, credit hours, employment as a paraprofessional), (2) be hired as a low-incidence special education teacher (Teacher of Record), (3) Continue to enroll in coursework from the program of study, and (4) Begin formal approved mentor program. All LRL students must complete the entire program within three years.

Minimum program credit hours = 35

Application deadlines

TBD

summer session 1 deadline

The following lists the eligibility requirements for applicants to the LRL in Low-Incidence Special Education:

Have a bachelor’s degree (from a regionally accredited university*) with a minimum 2.5 GPA (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 hours of coursework.
1. *KSDE approved regional accrediting organizations:
  1. New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  2. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  3. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC
  4. Northwest Association of Schools and College
  5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  7. Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
  8. Association for Biblical Higher Education
Must have at least one year of experience as a special education paraprofessional.
The School District where you worked as a paraprofessional must identify you as a “person with great potential, based on the needs of the district”

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; and the fit between the applicant's professional and graduate program goals and the purpose and mission of the KU.

Per Kansas State Department of Education requirements, admitted students working toward the LRL are required to work full time as low-incidence special education teachers throughout their program of study. In other words, it is not possible to continue working as a paraprofessional while enrolled in the LRL program.

Application Checklist

LRL in Low-Incidence Special Education

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
Employment Assurances (docx)
Low Incidence Limited Residency License Employer Assurances
Employment verification (docx)
Please download and complete the Low Incidence LRL employment verification.

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