Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education Degree Programs and Certificates

The Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education degree prepares you to work with children, both with and without disabilities, from birth through age five in various settings such as First Steps, publicly funded Pre-K, Head Start, and kindergarten.

The Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (non-teacher certification) program prepares you to work with children from birth through age five in a variety of settings. You will learn to develop age-appropriate lesson plans, assess child behavior, plan and implement interventions, assist families, and collaborate with professionals from multiple disciplines. Additionally, you'll gain skills to serve in administrative roles while considering all aspects of a child’s environment—home, school, and neighborhood.

Broaden your career opportunities with certification in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE). The Graduate Certification Only program in IECE is a 33-credit-hour program leading to Rank III certification in Kentucky. The program is designed for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field but wish to teach in IECE settings requiring certification. These settings may include First Steps and publicly funded preschool and kindergarten classrooms. 

The IECE Master of Education program may be completed as an entirely online program, an entirely on-campus program, or as a hybrid program in which a combination of on-campus and online courses are taken. Students completing the program online will enroll in course sections designated for distance students, and students completing the program on-campus will enroll in course sections designated for on-campus students. Both on-campus and online students receive the same content and jointly attend class in technology-enhanced classrooms (i.e., online students participate in synchronous courses through Zoom technology).

The Special Education Leadership Personnel Preparation Program prepares students to assume positions as educators, researchers, and scholars in higher education settings. The program leads to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree (Ph.D.). 

The Special Education program prepares you to teach K–12 (ages 5–21) with a wide range of disabilities. This includes students with specific learning disabilities, other health impairments, emotional and behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities. You'll gain hands-on experience in various elementary, middle, and high school settings, both urban and rural. From the start, you'll immerse yourself in over 200 hours of classroom observations across various disability categories and grade levels, followed by a full semester of student teaching. 

The Master of Science degree in Special Education can be completed on a part-time basis over the course of five semesters (2.5 calendar years). Students taking the online version of the program attend courses virtually and interact with professors and classmates in real-time. All classes take place in the evenings to allow teachers to complete their work day prior to attending class. Taking the GRE is not required for entry. Admission is accepted for both Fall and Spring semesters, however the core courses begin in Fall semesters, therefore a Spring admission may not be appropriate unless the student requires some prerequisite coursework.

ABA graduates learn to become a competent and compassionate behavior analyst who is prepared to serve children with disabilities and their families in an authentic, individualized, and ethical way. You'll gain the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to effectively assess, design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based behavioral interventions, advocate for the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities, and promote positive social change.

The Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education offers a hybrid Master of Science degree program, with three graduate level certification options in Visual Impairments (VI). Candidates can combine the degree program with the appropriate certification option. When this occurs, the candidate should apply to the degree program.

The Master of Arts Program in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) prepares individuals to provide instruction related to knowledge and skills for independent travel for children and adults with visual impairments.

Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) programs are individually planned for an in-depth study in an area of special education. In addition to coursework, the program requires a research project with a written product for completion. On occasion, students seeking a doctorate elect to first earn a specialist degree to gain research experiences before conducting a dissertation. Other individuals use the specialist degree program to meet Rank I teacher certification requirements. 

The Special Education Leadership Personnel Preparation Program prepares students to assume positions as educators, researchers, and scholars in higher education settings.

The Interdisciplinary Disability Studies program prepares you for a rewarding career in community and social services, empowering individuals with disabilities to live independent, fulfilling lives. You’ll gain a deep understanding of various disabilities, their unique needs, and factors that influence quality of life, including independence and socioeconomic stability. The program equips you with skills to advocate for individuals, help them build resources, and navigate disability-related challenges, offering a holistic perspective that integrates Social Work, Gerontology, Sociology, Counseling, Special Education, and more. 

The University of Kentucky’s online Master in Counselor Education program prepares compassionate, skilled professionals to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Designed for working adults, our flexible online format allows you to balance your studies with personal and professional commitments while gaining the advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to guide others through life’s challenges. With a curriculum grounded in theory, ethics, and evidence-based practice, you’ll be ready to step confidently into counseling roles that promote growth, resilience, and well-being in diverse settings.

The Counselor Education doctoral program is a Ph.D. in Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling with a formal option in Counselor Education and Supervision. The program is accredited by CACREP until October 31, 2030. 

The mission of the University of Kentucky Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program is to promote professional excellence through personal development and the highest academic standards as we work with our students, persons with disabilities, and our state and community partners in rehabilitation counseling and clinical mental health counseling to achieve an environment devoted to welcoming all in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, nationally, and globally.