Gifted Program

The requirements for earning a Master's of Science in Special Education - Gifted degree, plus endorsement (Pre-Kindergarten - 12th grade), includes:

Entry GPA requirement is 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate hours. Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program.

Most students can complete this program in 2-3 years. We highly recommend that you only take 2 courses per semester (or less), based on your work and home obligations and needs. This program is designed to teach through practical application. As such, you will be required to observe in special education (gifted) settings across grade levels (Pre-K through 12th grade) and engage in case study applications of what you will be learning in courses with students identified as gifted. 

Please note: If you have been hired to be a gifted teacher/facilitator in the state of Kansas without having completed the gifted endorsement, see Teaching on a Waiver and follow the course plan determined on your QPA Waiver Plan of Study.  Upon completion of all endorsement requirement, apply for your Full Endorsement in Gifted.

Licensure Information: 

The Master of Science in Special Education - Gifted program is NOT a licensure program in the state of Kansas. If you want to teach Gifted Special Education, you will need to have an existing, initial valid teaching license. Completion of this program will grant you a Full Endorsement in Gifted Special Education (Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade). This full endorsement will then be added to your existing valid teaching license. If you plan to apply for the endorsement in a non-Kansas state, you will likely need to obtain an Institutional Verification Form from your state department of education.  That form will need to be sent to Kerry Schuckman (kschuckm@fhsu.edu or fax 785-628-4447), FHSU Licensure Officer, for completion. 

Graduate Course Credit:

Courses listed for this program of study (for the MS-SPED degree) cannot be used for another degree at FHSU. The time frame for completing your Master's of Science degree is 8 years starting with the first semester in which you enroll. If you already have graduate credit hours from another institution that have not been counted toward another degree, contact your adviser to see if they will transfer. Please note that courses eight years and older will not be considered.  You will need to send FHSU Graduate School an official transcript of your graduate courses. A maximum of nine (9) credits may be transferred.

Gifted Special Education Endorsement ONLY Course Requirements (15 graduate credit hours)

SPED 851* Theories/Models in Gifted Education (3 hours - summer)

SPED 852* Strategies in Gifted Education (3 hours - fall & spring)

SPED 853* Curriculum/Instruction for Gifted Education (3 hours - fall & spring)

SPED 855 Identification/Assessment for Gifted Education (3 hours - summer)

SPED 859 Practicum/Consultation & Collaboration Gifted (3 hours - fall & spring) [Prerequisites: SPED 851, SPED 852, SPED 853, SPED 855] * Requires 100 hours of practicum (including observations).

*Courses required for Teaching on a Waiver (provisional endorsement). 

The Gifted Comprehensive Portfolio is not required for endorsement  (but is required for the MS-SPED degree).  

Completion of all 5 courses in this program will grant you a Full Endorsement, either with or without a MS in Special Education - Gifted degree. This full endorsement will be added to your valid, initial teaching license.

Master's Degree Gifted Program of Study (36 graduate credit hours)

*Courses required for Teaching on a Waiver (provisional endorsement). 

Please note: Choose elective courses from approved options. See Course Descriptions and Rotations at the bottom of the page.