Severe Disabilities & Autism Spectrum Disorders Frequently Asked Questions
"What if I'm not sure about entering a graduate program or getting a teaching endorsement, can I still take classes?"
Yes, you can take classes. You could apply to graduate school as a non-degree, post-baccalaureate student. You could take either graduate or undergraduate level courses for more than one term or register as a full-time student (9 credits). Limited financial aid may be available to students needing undergraduate classes in preparation to apply to a graduate or professional program. (Contact Scholarships and Financial Aid for more information.) This admission is not available to applicants holding F-1 visas.
You could also apply as a non-degree, prompt admit student. An expedited application procedure is extended to applicants who plan to register for one term only and cannot be used again. No transcripts are required with this application and application fee. No financial aid is available with this admission status. International students may not apply in this admission category due to immigration and English proficiency constraints. Consult the current Graduate Bulletin for more information.
"So what can I do if I take these severe disabilities classes anyway?"
By taking as few as one or two courses, as a non-degree seeking student you could:
* Become a more informed paraeducator or parent and gain information about how to handle situations that stump you, when dealing with children with special needs. Work in a preschool or day care setting and feel comfortable with a child with severe disabilities or autism. You would learn ideas about what to teach them. Work directly with all different kinds of children, with all different kinds of abilities! By completing the endorsement in severe disabilities you may: Work as a teacher in a team, working closely with special educators, general educators, family members, speech-language clinicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and vision specialists.
* Provide services in both public and private schools, childcare centers, homes, hospitals, and other facilities which serve children with disabilities including those with severe disabilities and autism.
* Directly teach students with moderate/severe disabilities in general education buildings, community, and employment sites.
* Teach in NE, students with diverse disabilities and abilities anywhere from birth to age 21. Settings might be: home-based, preschools, elementary or secondary schools, private schools.
* Teach in any state of the nation in special education-moderate or severe disabilities and special education students with diverse disabilities (especially with a Masters degree too).
* You could become a parent education coordinator, social service coordinator, education coordinator, program administrator, vocational specialist, inclusion facilitator (especially if you have a Masters degree).
"Can I find a job in this field?"
Check with the UNL Career Services. They are eager to help you!
"What's the job outlook?"
The outlook for employment in almost all areas of special education is very strong. Teachers continue to be needed to serve students with disabilities in a variety of public school and other agency programs.
How do I apply?
For Masters degree:
You must apply to both the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders (application form) and the Graduate College as a "degree seeking" student. This entails a letter of intent, an application form, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores and three letters of recommendation. Contact Jill England for questions about application materials. It would be wise to get a program of study outlined and questions answered before applying. Contact Ellin Siegel.For 12 credit Autism/Severe Disabilities Graduate Certificate Program:
You must apply to both the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders and the UNL Graduate College. Submit a) Graduate Certificate Application Form, b) a letter of intent and c) three letters of recommendation for graduate study to the department. Submit college transcripts of your undergraduate degree and complete the online application to the Graduate Studies.You will apply to the Graduate College as a "non-degree" student.
I am an out-of-state student. Can I complete the program via distance education?
Out-of-state students are welcome. However, not all the required courses will be available from UNL via distance technologies. Depending upon your goals, and program of study, you may find necessary courses at a distance from other institutions or from a local campus. For the masters degree, 51% of the program MUST be completed with UNL courses. The rest can be transferred in.
Are all the courses online?
Yes and no. This term "online" is used to mean many things to students. Here at UNL the term refers to web-based courses. All our courses are organized on the web through Blackboard at: my.unl.edu and may utilize email, video-streaming, and web-casting broadcasts. However, some courses require additional technologies or contacts with instructors/classmates. For example, phone-based conferences, interactive TV, and periodic, weekend-on-campus class sessions may be required. Visit Distance Education Website for more information.
How can I get information about what courses I should register for first?
It helps to have a program of study outlined before you take any courses. Some courses may have prerequisites or infrequent schedules. Contact Ellin Siegel for an appointment (by phone or in person) to discuss your career goals. Forward a copy of your transcript to Dr. Siegel at 355 Barkley Memorial Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0732. She can outline both a program of study and a sequence of courses for you. Tell her if you want to attend classes part-time or full-time and she can show you what your academic life will look like for the next couple of years! Most full-time students (9 cr. per term, 6 cr. during summer) complete the program/degree in 2 years. Part-time students (3 cr. per term, 6 cr. during summer) complete the program in 4 years. Students must submit a department application and have an advising sheet on file before they can register for Sped 480/880, 881, 882, or 810.
Are there any scholarships or assistantships available to help me financially?
Scholarships and graduate assistantships and fellowships are sometimes available However, most are restricted for full-time, degree-oriented students. (See scholarship information on left webpage sidebar) For part-time and non-degree students , you might want to explore opportunities through UNL's Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Which Autism/Severe Disabilities Program should I / can I pursue?
The Nebraska Department of Education has one teaching endorsement that specify preparation for work with children with severe/multiple disabilities. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has programs that once completed, will permit students to apply for a degree (Masters, Educational Specialist, Doctorate), a 12 credit Autism/Severe Disabilities Graduate Certificate, a 12 credit Autism/Severe Disabilities degree specialization all at the graduate level.
1. 12 credit Graduate Certificate Autism/Severe Disabilities (non-degree).
2. Students interested in pursing study of severe disabilities and autism can apply for and complete the required courses for this non-degree certificate awarded by the UNL Graduate College. 3. Masters Degree: 36 graduate credits. Can be completed with or without pursuit of teaching endorsement severe disablities.
4. Educational Specialist Degree: at least 66 graduate credits beyond the Bachelor's degree and at least 24 graduate credits competed after admission to Ed.S. program
5. Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Education. 60-70 hours past the masters degree.
6. 12 credit Autism/Severe Disabilities specialization on a M.A./M.S. or Ed.S. degree: Students may declare a 'specialization" in autism/severe disabilities on a Special Education degree (MA./M.S., Ed.S.) if they complete the 12 credit courses of SpEd 881, 882, 809, and 810 in addition to other major and degree requirements.
Graduate/Post Baccalaureate Teaching Endorsements
Add-on EndorsementSevere/multiple Disabilities (Pre-12) (NDE Rule 24 sec 006.46): Additional Endorsement for the candidate with a valid teaching certificate and endorsement in Special Education. Required: 23 credits including practicum.
