High Incidence Program

The requirements for earning a Master's of Science in Special Education - High Incidence degree, plus endorsement (Pre-Kindergarten - 12th grade), include:

Completion of 36 credit hours (see Program of Study below)
Completion of the Comprehensive Portfolio
Passing the Praxis (Special Education - Core Knowledge and Mild/Moderate Applications, 5543) Please note: The Praxis II is not required for the Master's Degree but is required for the endorsement.

Entry GPA requirement is 3.0 on last 60 undergraduate hours. Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program.

Most students can complete this program in 2-3 years. We highly recommend that you only take 2 courses or less per semester, based on your work and home obligations and needs. This program is designed to teach through practical application. As such, you will be required to observe in special education settings across grade levels (pre-K through 12th grade) and engage in case study applications of what you will be learning in courses with students with high incidence exceptionalities. All SPED courses also have face-to-face sessions hosted through Zoom.

Please note: If you have been hired to teach special education in the state of Kansas without having completed the coursework for a Full Endorsement, see Teaching on a Waiver and follow the course plan determined on your QPA Waiver Plan of Study.

Licensure Information:

The Master of Science in Special Education - High Incidence program is NOT a licensure program in the state of Kansas. If you want to teach High Incidence Special Education, you will need to have an existing, initial valid teaching license. Completion of this program will grant you a Full Endorsement in High Incidence Special Education (Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade). This full endorsement will then be added to your existing valid teaching license.If you plan to apply for the endorsement in a non-Kansas state, you will likely need to obtain an Institutional Verification Form from your state department of education. That form will need to be sent to Kerry Schuckman (kschuckm@fhsu.edu or fax 785-628-4447), FHSU Licensure Officer, for completion.

Graduate Course Credit:

Courses listed for this program of study cannot be used for another degree at FHSU. The time frame for completing your Master's of Science degree is 8 years starting with the first semester in which you enroll. If you already have graduate credit hours from another institution that have not been counted toward another degree, contact your adviser to see if they will transfer. Please note that courses eight years and older will not be considered. You will need to send FHSU Graduate School an official transcript of your graduate courses. A maximum of nine (9) credits may be transferred.

MS-Special Education High Incidence Program of Study (for candidates who began program AFTER June 1, 2021)

Start with these courses first (taken in any order):

SPED 801: Legal and Professional Issues in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 806: Methods and Materials for Exceptional Students (3 hours)
SPED 860: Transition in Special Education: Early Childhood to Adulthood (3 hours)

Then take these courses next (taken in any order):

SPED 802: Theories of Exceptionalities and Diversity (3 hours)
SPED 804: Behavior Management in Schools/Practicum (3 hours)
SPED 805: Assessment and Lab in Special Education (3 hours)

Then take these courses next (taken in any order):

SPED 867: Collaboration and Consultation in High IncidenceSpecial Education (3 hours)
SPED 832: Teaching Reading in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 822: Strategies in High Incidence Special Education/Practicum (3 hours) [Prerequisites: SPED 801, SPED 802, SPED 804, SPED 805, SPED 806, SPED 860, SPED 867] Requires a Memorandum of Understanding

Then take these courses (taken in any order):

AEP 803: Educational Research (3 hours)
Electives (Choose two of the following):
- SPED 810: Technology in Special Education (3 hours)
- SPED 823: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Leadership (3 hours)
- SPED 824: Strategies for Leaders and Individuals Working with ASD (3 hours) SPED 823 is pre-requisite
- SPED 825: Assessment in Autism (3 hours) SPED 823 and SPED 824 are pre-requisites
- AEP 800: Innovative Technology Integration (3 hours)
- AEP 855: Educational Leadership (3 hours)
- AEP 859: Curriculum and Evaluation of PK-12 Schools (3 hours)
- AEP 866: Fostering Engagement in Today's Learners (3 hours)
- AEP 867: Instructional Design and Assessment (3 hours)
- AEP 880: Cultural Diversity (3 hours)

MS-Special Education High Incidence Program of Study (for candidates who began BETWEEN June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2021)

Start with these courses first (taken in any order):

SPED 801: Legal and Professional Issues in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 806: Methods and Materials for Exceptional Students (3 hours)
SPED 860: Transition in Special Education: Early Childhood to Adulthood (3 hours) OR AEP 875: Transition in Special Education (3 hours)

Then take these courses next (taken in any order):

SPED 802: Theories of Exceptionalities and Diversity (3 hours)
SPED 804: Behavior Management in Schools/Practicum (3 hours)
SPED 805: Assessment and Lab in Special Education (3 hours)

Then take these courses next (taken in any order):

SPED 867: Collaboration and Consultation in High IncidenceSpecial Education (3 hours)
SPED 822: Strategies in High Incidence Special Education/Practicum (3 hours) [Prerequisites: SPED 801, SPED 802, SPED 804, SPED 805, SPED 806, SPED 860, SPED 867] Requires a Memorandum of Understanding
AEP 803: Educational Research (3 hours)

Then take these courses (taken in any order):

Electives (Choose three of the following):
- SPED 810: Technology in Special Education (3 hours)
- SPED 823: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Leadership (3 hours)
- SPED 824: Strategies for Leaders and Individuals Working with ASD (3 hours) SPED 823 is pre-requisite
- SPED 825: Assessment in Autism (3 hours) SPED 823 and SPED 824 are pre-requisites
- SPED 832: Teaching Reading inSpecial Education (3 hours)
- AEP 800: Innovative Technology Integration (3 hours)
- AEP 855: Educational Leadership (3 hours)
- AEP 859: Curriculum and Evaluation of PK-12 Schools (3 hours)
- AEP 866: Fostering Engagement in Today's Learners (3 hours)
- AEP 867: Instructional Design and Assessment (3 hours)
- AEP 880: Cultural Diversity (3 hours)

MS-Special Education High Incidence Program of Study (for candidates who began program BEFORE June 1, 2019)

Start with these courses first (taken in any order):

SPED 801: Legal and Professional Issues in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 802: Theories of Exceptionalities and Diversity (3 hours)
SPED 804: Behavior Management in Schools/Practicum (3 hours)
SPED 805: Assessment and Lab in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 806: Methods and Materials for Exceptional Students (3 hours)

Then take these courses next (taken in any order):

SPED 810: Technology in Special Education (3 hours)
SPED 811: Characteristics of Early Childhood Special Education (3 hours) OR Elective approved by advisor ( suggested - SPED 823, SPED 832)
SPED 860: Transition in SPED: Early Childhood to Adulthood OR SPED 861: Vocational and Transitional Education (3 hours)
SPED 867: Collaboration and Consultation in High Incidence Special Education (3 hours)

And end with these courses last (taken in any order):

SPED 822: Strategies in High Incidence Special Education/Practicum (3 hours)
AEP 803: Educational Research (3 hours)
AEP 880: Cultural Diversity (3 hours)