Admission to the Department of Special Education

Incoming Freshmen

All high school juniors and seniors, as well as other individuals, will need to apply for undergraduate admission to the University of Kansas through the Office of Admission: apply.ku.edu. 

Once admitted to the University of Kansas as a freshman student, all pre-teacher education majors will be advised and invited to apply for admission to an undergraduate professional teacher education program.

Transfer Students (Undergraduate)

Individuals interested in transferring coursework from another institution will need to apply for transfer admission to the University of Kansas through the Office of Admission: apply.ku.edu/transfer.  

Once admitted to the University of Kansas, all pre-teacher education majors will be advised and invited to apply for admission to an undergraduate professional teacher education program.

Undergraduate Professional Program (Pre-Ed Students at KU)

Current KU students (freshman or transfer) will need to apply to their undergraduate professional teacher education program during their first (or second) year at KU. Each teacher education program has individual admissions requirements and application deadlines: soe.ku.edu/apply

Graduate Students

Graduate students are encouraged to apply for admission through the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Kansas: graduate.ku.edu/apply.

Please note that each individual graduate program offered through the Department of Special Education has a unique set of program application requirements and application deadlines. Visit your graduate program web page for additional details: sped.ku.edu/degrees.

The Department of Special Education allows a maximum of six credit hours to be transferred into a M.S.E program in accordance with allowable rules of transfer credit. Transferred credits are not guaranteed to be applied to program requirements.

Online Programs

Graduate students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Department of Special Education's online graduate certificates and online Master’s degree programs through the Office of Graduate Studies: graduate.ku.edu/apply. 

Please note that each individual online graduate program and graduate certificate has a unique set of program application requirements. Visit your online graduate program web page for additional details: educationonline.ku.edu

International Students

International students are encouraged to apply to the Department of Special Education based on their level of degree/education interest:

• Intensive English or English as a Second Language (ESL): Applied English Center
• Bachelor’s Degree (B.S. or B.S.E.): International Recruitment & Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Degree (M.A., M.S., M.S.E., Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.): Graduate Studies

Edwards Campus Students

Graduate students interested in applying to the Department of Special Education at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park are encouraged to apply for admission through the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Kansas: graduate.ku.edu/apply.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Individuals interseted in completing coursework without the intent to complete a degree program are encouraged to apply as non-degree students. For more information, please contact the Department of Special Education at specialeduadm@ku.edu. 

Declaring a Minor

KU students who wish to declare a minor offered by the KU School of Education can do so online: soe.ku.edu/minor.