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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION:
GIFTED, TALENTED, and CREATIVE CONCENTRATION

Thank you for your interest in the Gifted, Talented, and Creative program. The department has developed a program designed to support the needs of the students, teachers, schools, and special education administrators in Kansas.

Application Process

All candidates, even those initially interested in licensure only, shall apply for the Master of Science degree progam in Special Education, Gifted, Talented, and Creative Concentration.   The Master's degree will be awarded to candidates who successfully complete 24 hours of approved endorsement course work, 6 hours of required core program course work, and 6 elective hours selected from approved graduate courses. Candidates may apply to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for licensure upon completion of 24 hours of approved Gifted Education licensure course work and demonstration of competency in meeting Kansas teaching standards for Gifted Special Education. The Gifted, Talented, and Creative curriculum meets the licensure standards for two levels: Early Childhood through Late Childhood (Grades K to 6) and Early Adolescence through Late Adolescence (Grades 6 to 12).

Acceptance into the Gifted, Talented, and Creative graduate program in the Department of Psychology and Special Education is a two-level process. At the first level, the candidate applies to be admitted to do graduate study. At the second level, the candidate applies for admission to degree candidacy after demonstrating program approved knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

Level 1: Admission to the Program
The candidate must:
1. Hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and be licensed as a teacher in Kansas or be eligible for Kansas licensure.
2. Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 based on a 4.0 scale or a 3.25 grade point average over the last 60 hours of baccalaureate course work.
3. Submit the following seven items to the Office of Graduate Studies, Box 4003, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial St., Emporia, KS 66801-5087:

    A. A completed application for admission to graduate studies. The Application Form is available at: www.emporia.edu/grad/load.htm. The form is submitted electronically. For item 19 on the application, please scroll to the bottom and select MS Special Education Gifted, Talented, and Creative.

    B. An application fee of $40.00

    C. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.

    D. Three letters of recommendation from professionals in the field of education, psychology, or related disciplines that support the candidate's request for admission, and address the candidate's academic skills and personal attributes, strengths and/or weaknesses.

    E. A personal letter that describes preparation, ability, interests, goals, and reasons  for applying to the program.

    F. After downloading and printing the Gifted Education Disposition Assessment file (this is a 4-page pdf file so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader): 

           1) the first two pages that you have signed indicating you have read and

            understood the Disposition Assessment Procedures AND

           2) three Disposition Assessments completed by professionals in the field of   
           education who are aware of your work with children in school settings.

4. Candidates with completed folders are then reviewed by the Gifted,  Talented, and Creative Special Education Admissions Committee.

Level 2: Admission to Degree Candidacy
Degree candidacy is granted when a candidate admitted to graduate study has:
1. Successfully completed a minimum of six semester hours of course work in the graduate program of study.
2. Filed a degree plan with the department no later than completion of the 12 hours of course work. The degree plan must be approved by the candidate's advisor and the department chair.
 

The 24-hour full licensure requires successful completion of the 9 hours for the provisional plus PY864 Creative Teaching and Learning, SD852 Social and Emotional Adjustment of Individuals with Gifts and Talents, SD800 Consultation/Collaboration, PY812 Individual Assessment, and SD856/SD858 Practicum II: Elementary or Secondary.

To qualify for the first, two-year provisional, the following requirements apply: Completion of three specific courses, PY850 Characteristics of Individuals with Gifts and Talents, SD851 Education of Individuals with Gifts and Talents, and SD855 or SD857 Practicum I: Elementary or Secondary AND an assignment in grades K-6 and/or 6-12 with the corresponding level of endorsement on the current teaching license.  If the level of the current license is K-9 elementary, the assignment must be in one or more of the grades K-6 because this is the new elementary level which corresponds to the new licensing system. A teacher who has a K-12 or PreK-12 level on his or her license can apply for a provisional at both K-6 and 6-12 levels. Please contact Shannon Hall, ESU Teacher Licensure Officer, with questions.

The 36-hour Master's degree requires successful completion of the above 24 hours plus ER752 Analysis of Research, SD802 Seminar in Behavior Management, and 6 hours of electives.

Thesis

Students have the option of completing a thesis. Completing a thesis requires PY520 Statistics 1 (or an approved substitute), ER851 Research Design and Writing, and PY800 Thesis.

All courses in the program are delivered via the Internet unless student selects thesis option. ER851 Research Design and Writing is a campus-based course only offered during the fall and spring semesters. PY800 Thesis is available fall, spring, and summer and is arranged by thesis advisor.

For specific program and course information, call or e-mail Dr. Connie Phelps, Gifted, Talented, and Creative Program Director, at 620-341-5817 or cphelps@emporia.edu.

Requirements for Provisional Licensure

Course Number

 
Courses

 

  Prerequisite

 

PY 850

 

Characteristics of Individuals with Gifts and Talents

 

none

 

SD 851

 

Education of Individuals with Gifts and Talents

 

PY850

SD 855/

SD 857

 

Practicum I: Elementary or Secondary

(can be completed while taking SD851)

PY850

Gifted Course Offerings by Semester

FALL

Course Number
Courses
Prerequisite
SD852 Social and Emotional Adjustment of Individuals with Gifts and Talents
none
PY850 Characteristics of Individuals with Gifts and Talents
none
SD800 Consultation/Collaboration
none
SD802 Seminar in Behavior Management
none
SD855/ SD857 Practicum I: Elementary of Secondary (Usually held on the job site; can be completed while taking SD851)

PY850

OR
SD856/ SD858 Practicum II: Elementary or Secondary (Usually held on the job site)
SD855
or
SD857
ER752
Analysis of Research
none

 

SPRING
Course Number
Courses
Prerequisite
SD851 Education of Individuals with Gifts and Talents
PY 850
PY864 Creative Teaching and Learning
none
SD800 Consultation/Collaboration
none
SD802 Seminar in Behavior Management
none
PY812 Individual Assessment
none
SD855/ SD857
Practicum I: Elementary or Secondary(Usually held on the job site; can be completed while taking SD851)

PY 850

OR
SD856/ SD858 Practicum II: Elementary or Secondary (Usually held on the job site)
SD855 or
SD857
ER752 Analysis of Research
none

 

SUMMER
Course Number
Courses
Prerequisite
PY850 Characteristics of Individuals with Gifts and Talents
none
SD851 Education of Individuals with Gifts and Talents (enroll with PY850)
PY850
SD800 Consultation/Collaboration
none
SD802 Seminar in Behavior Management
none
PY812 Individual Assessment
none
SD855/ SD857 Practicum I: Elementary or Secondary (Held at Johnson County Community College Talents Program)
PY850
SD856/ SD858 Practicum II: Elementary or Secondary (Held at Johnson County Community College Talents Program)

SD855

or

SD857

ER752 Analysis of Research
none
PY520 Statistics 1 none

Dr. Connie Phelps, Gifted, Talented, and Creative Program Director
Visser Hall 323
Emporia State University
Emporia, KS 66801-5087
620-341-5817
e-mail: cphelps@emporia.edu

 

Last Updated August 28, 2007

August 28, 2007