What is the goal of Special Education Selective Admission Process?

  • To identify and select 30-35 highly committed and qualified undergraduates for admission to the junior MM/MI yearly Block sequence.
  • To mentor and track the high quality educational growth of potential Special Education undergraduates

Who and when should I apply?

  • If you have completed your freshman year, including courses that meet Teacher Candidacy requirements in the Patton College of Education and are eligible to enroll in Block 1, you should make application for Selective Admission by the last Friday of September FALL semester of your sophomore year.
  • If you have been admitted to Teacher Candidacy, you should make application for Selective Admission into Special Education Block 2 during the FALL semester prior to your junior year.
  • If you are a transfer student from another university or college within OU, you must first establish a GPA, meet Teacher Candidacy requirements, complete Block I, AND apply for Special Education Selective Admissions by the FALL semester deadline.
  • Applications for Teacher Candidacy should NOT be done simultaneously as you must have Teacher Candidacy standing and Block I (EDTE 2000, 2010, 2000) either completed or be currently enrolled to apply for Special Education Selective Admission.
  • You must have the necessary pre-requisites, Teacher Candidacy and Block I completed or in progress to be considered.

Where is the application packet? Where and when do I submit it?

  • The application packet for Sp. Ed. Selective Admission is located on the Patton College of Education website right under the area describing the undergraduate MM (Mild-Moderate) and MI (Moderate-Intensive) programs. It can also be found on the Student Affairs Forms webpage. Just click and download the forms.
  • Completed applications should be submitted to the lobby desk in Lindley Hall no later than 5:00pm on the last Friday of September. Deadline reminders are published weekly in the E-News.
  • If referencing your involvement in the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) on your application, you are expected to remain an active member after admission to the program.

What is required in the application packet and what criteria are used to evaluate my eligibility?

  • Submit no later than the 5:00pm deadline the following items:

1) fully completed application form;

2) yourdouble-spaced professional statement that addresses the three prompts; and

3) a copy of your most recent DARS report (be sure to update and “expand” the DARS so all information is visible before downloading and printing it out.

NOTE: Failure to submit an updated and expanded DARS, or an incomplete application will result in a denial of your application.

  • Your application packet will be evaluated using the rubricfound with the application materials.

What decisions can I expect and when?

  • Decisions of the Special Education Selective Admissions Committee are made before the end of Fall semester (before spring semester registration begins).
  • You will receive a formal letter regarding the decision sent to the permanent home address you provide on your application.
  • Decision options include:
  • you may be fully admitted for the Block 2 sequence,
  • you may be admitted conditionally based on successful completion of Block I if registered during fall semester, or
  • you may be denied admission. Reasons are explained in your letter and may include not having Teacher Candidacy status, not meeting pre-requisites courses for entry into Block 2 courses, a grade below a B in any Block course, your GPA (3.0 minimum), failure to fully address and/or quality of responses to the prompts in the professional statement, and/or poor writing skills.

Can I reapply if denied?

  • Yes, you may reapply for entry into the block the following if you can satisfy the reasons for denial or you may need to consider another major in education or outside of the college.

What is the composition of the Special Education Selective Admissions Review Committee?

  • The Selective Admissions Committee consists of 3 Special Education faculty members who will make recommendations that are approved by the full Special Education faculty.

Is an interview necessary?

  • The Selective Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview candidates if deemed necessary after reviewing the application packets.

Please contact your academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs with any questions or for additional information.