Future Graduate Students

Welcome future graduate student! We’re glad you are interested in learning more about graduate studies in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling at UK.

As you consider the decision to apply, we encourage you to reach out to our current graduate students to learn more about their research and the learning environment here at UK.

The Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling offers master’s and doctoral degrees in several different programs, all of which are listed on the Degrees & Certifications page.

Graduate admission is handled by each program area. Recommendations for admission are given by each program to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) who then works in collaboration with the Graduate School and the program coordinator to determine admission recommendations.

The admission process is entirely electronic. Please visit the UK Graduate School website to apply for admission, at which time you will indicate your program of interest. We no longer process paper applications, and you do not send any information directly to the program or department.

We recommend students contact the coordinator of the desired program prior to applying. Most programs require an application which should contain:

  • Basic information about the student
  • A personal statement
  • Reference letters
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores

The information contained in this packet is used to determine admission into our graduate programs and also eligibility for university fellowships or scholarships. It should be noted that, although the Graduate School requires a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average for admission, exceptions can be made based on the recommendation of your program.

Please contact your specific program for information regarding application deadlines. The Registrar’s Office also maintains a calendar with important dates for admission.

Future students should work with their program coordinator regarding available funding opportunities. Your program coordinator and academic advisor will help plan your program all the way to graduation, and they will assist you with program specific requirements.

Also, feel free to contact the Director of Graduate Studies for information about university fellowships and scholarships. Each program has different requirements and it is important to know and adhere to those requirements.

With the approval of your advisor or committee, you can transfer credits to your program so they appear on your transcript as long as you received a B or better and as long as the course was not part of another degree.

All forms regarding credit transfer should be submitted to the DGS.

 

Current Graduate Students

Faculty and staff in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling want to do everything we can to support the success of our graduate students.

This page contains important information for current students regarding university policy and frequently asked questions.

Communication: All communication with students must be done through the University email system using your UK email address. We cannot be responsible for lost or unread emails when a student uses a non-UK email address.

Funding: Please work with the coordinator of your program regarding potential funding available in your program. Your program coordinator and academic advisor will help plan your program all the way to graduation, and they will assist you with program specific requirements.

Also feel free to contact the DGS for information about university fellowships and scholarships. Each program has different requirements and it is important to know and adhere to those requirements.

Registration: Advance registration for continuing students is typically held during the first three weeks of November for the spring semester, and in March for the summer and fall semesters. You must see your advisor and register during these periods or you may be subject to a substantial late registration penalty. The university assesses a fee for late registrations. Check the Registrar’s website for specific registration dates and times.

Taking time off: If you plan to sit out a semester but eventually return, please contact the Graduate School as well as your advisor and the DGS to ensure proper procedures are followed for requesting a Leave of Absence. Failure to do so may result in the need to reapply and a new application fee.

Transfer Credit: With the approval of your advisor or committee, you can transfer credits to your program so they appear on your transcript as long as you received a B or better and as long as the course was not part of another degree.

All forms regarding credit transfer should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Repeats: You can use one Repeat Option if you received a C or lower in a course. The Repeat Option form should be submitted to the DGS after you have completed the course a second time. The initial grade is removed from your transcript.

Overloads: You can petition to take more than 15 hours of credits during the semester. The form to request this overload can be found on the Graduate School website. After completing this form it is submitted to the DGS.

Drops: If you need to add or drop courses please go to the Graduate School website for the appropriate forms. There are also tuition penalties for dropping a course.

Retroactive Withdrawals: Students can petition to retroactively withdraw from a class after the semester is over. In order to retroactively withdraw you must have a valid reason supported by medical or other documentation indicating the reason for your withdrawal request. This form is submitted to the Graduate School for consideration after it is approved by the course instructor and the Director of Graduate Studies. You can also withdraw from a course during the semester by following the procedures outlined on the Graduate School website.

The Graduate School website contains all forms for initiating the above processes. Please complete the appropriate forms and submit them to the Director of Graduate Studies for processing.

Doctoral Program

Please refer to the doctoral manual for specific doctoral information and candidate forms. The Graduate School website also contains information about forming an Advisory Committee, establishing and sitting for the Qualifying Examination, Notification of Intent to Schedule a Final Doctoral Examination, and requesting a final doctoral Examination.

Rehabilitation Counseling Program

The Rehabilitation Counseling program maintains a program manual and handbook specifically for rehabilitation counseling students. Please refer to that manual for specific program information and requirements.

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood & Special Education Programs

Master’s degree students in Early Childhood and Special Education are required to complete and submit a thesis to the Graduate School.

All doctoral students are required to complete and submit a dissertation to the Graduate School. The Graduate School has specific guidelines and deadlines for completing this process. Please refer to the Graduate Research website for information about submitting a thesis or dissertation electronically to the Graduate School.

All students are required to complete a two part application process (three parts for doctoral students) in order to graduate. Please follow these steps and refer to the Registrar’s calendar for specific dates.

All graduate students must adhere to the deadlines for filing a request to graduate and also a request to sit for a final examination.

Steps to Graduation:

      1. File an online graduation application with the Graduate School. Enter your user ID and password, and click on Student Services. Then, click myRecords and finally, Graduate Degree Application on the left hand side. If you are unsuccessful in your attempts to complete the online degree application, please contact Assistant Dean in the Graduate School at 859-257-2411. Typically the deadline is no later than the third week of the semester in which you plan to graduate.
      2. Request a Final Examination. Unless otherwise directed by your program this must be requested two weeks prior to the date in which you plan to sit for your final examination. To assure that you will be able to sit for your final examination, you must request that a final examination be established. Please check the Registrar’s website for the last day you can establish a date and the last date you can sit for a final examination. Typically a final examination cannot be scheduled after the next to last week of classes.
      3. Doctoral Students Must Complete an Intent to Schedule a Final Examination. This form must be completed eight weeks prior to the anticipated date on which you plan to sit for your final examination. Check the calendar on the Registrar’s website for the dates to complete these activities. In addition to completing an Intent to Sit for a Final Examination, you must also request a final examination following the procedures described in Step 2. The purpose of Step 2 is so that the Graduate School can identify an outside examiner.
      4. How to submit a thesis or dissertation: Master’s Students or Doctoral Students.

 

 

Contact

If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Melinda Ault, Dr. Jackie Rogers or your advisor. The faculty and staff will do the best we can to make sure you are successful in your program.