Frequently Asked Questions
For Prospective Students in Special Education LAMP
General LAMP Questions
Q. What is LAMP?
A. There are many ways to become a teacher. Some school districts will hire college
graduates with degrees in an arts and sciences content area as licensed teachers on
an emergency basis. But state licensure offers the best opportunity for long-term
stability in a teaching career. The Licensure and Masters Program (LAMP) is designed
for someone who has an undergraduate degree in an area other than education (or a
general education area) and would like to become a licensed Intervention Specialist.
Our program offers courses that will lead to teacher licensure by the State of Ohio
and a Master’s degree in education. Additional requirements for teacher licensure
include a criminal background check and successful completion of the Ohio Assessment
for Educators (OAE).
Q. What steps do I have to take to complete the LAMP in Special Education?
A. The program has three components:
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- Graduate courses in Special Education content and fieldwork required for teacher preparation and licensure by the State.
- Completion of supervised internship/student teaching and the passing of teacher licensure examinations (OAE)
Q: Do I have to take any education courses to enter the program?
A: There are 9 credits of courses in Reading and/or Literacy education that must be completed for the degree program. These reading courses must be completed prior to applying for your selected LAMP program. If you apply to LAMP without these courses your application will not move forward and may be reviewed for the next Fall semester when all reading courses are completed.
Q. When can I begin the program?
A. Students may begin courses in the Fall semester only.
Q. How long will it take to finish the program?
A. The completion of the program depends on how many courses are taken each term.
Based on course offerings, the quickest a student can complete the licensure requirements
is four semesters.
Q. I only want to take one course at a time. Is this possible?
A. It is possible to take one course per semester. However, you must complete the
all courses for the degree within a six year window.
Q. Is financial assistance available?
A. Information on Financial Aid is available from the Office of Financial Aid. In
addition to government assistance, the University and College have a limited number
of scholarships. Applicants should obtain scholarship applications from the Judith
Herb College of Education in the spring of each year.
Q. Who will be my advisor?
A. When you are admitted to the College of Graduate Studies, you are assigned a faculty
person to be your advisor. This person will be knowledgeable of the LAMP program
and will assist you with scheduling, planning, etc.
Q. How do I enroll in the program?
A. Applicants must apply to the College of Graduate Studies at UT. The application is completed online.
Q. How do I complete the application successfully?
A. There are several things which ensure a smooth application process:
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- Create a new application using the "Graduate App" from the application type drop-down menu
- Indicate the correct program of study, Master of Education in Special Education
- Worksheet: Course Review Worksheet
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education
- One Letter of Recommendation - from people who can speak to your ability to be successful with graduate level work
- Statement of Purpose – write a few paragraphs explaining your reasons for the degree and which teaching license area you are seeking. Discuss your bachelor’s degree and how you came to change your field/career.
- Resume
Q. Is there a minimum GPA for admission?
A. Students applying for LAMP must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 for all undergraduate
course work and a minimum GPA of 2.7 for their content area course work.
Q. How long does the application process take? How soon should I apply?
A. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. While applications are reviewed all year round, it takes several weeks for you to collect all the application materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.). The department will not receive your application materials from the College of Graduate Studies until the whole application package is complete.
Registration for a term begins 3-5 months before the first day of class. If you wait to apply and, in turn, are admitted a week or two before the term begins, many classes will already be full/closed.
Questions Regarding Courses/Expectations
Q. What time of day are the courses offered?
A. During Fall and Spring terms, courses are offered in the evening. Method courses have a field component that requires the student to be available during the day.
Q. I have worked for many years in parochial or private schools. Can I have my Field Experience waived?
A. No. Field Courses/experiences cannot be waived. Students will need to complete
applied assignments as an outcome of their learning. These assignments are linked
directly to the methods courses.
Q. If I am currently teaching, and you will not waive Field Courses, is there any way I can remain employed and take your program?
A. Maybe. Under certain circumstances your employer can request the College of Education
to use your current teaching placement as the location of your fieldwork. This arrangement
is at the discretion of your employer, the University, and other parties. You can
learn more about this possibility by contacting the Field Experience Office.
Q. Can I work a part-time job and study at the same time?
A. Successful students recommend working no more than a few hours per week, or they
recommend delaying enrollment until adequate financial resources have been secured.
Q. Will I be highly qualified when I complete the LAMP in Special Education?
A. A Special Education teacher (by law) must demonstrate they are knowledgeable of
academic content (e.g., English/LA; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies) to be “highly
qualified (HQT)”. If you have an academic major in one of these subjects in your Bachelor’s
degree, then you are HQT in that subject. If not, then you will need to pass the reading
Praxis II test (#0200) to be HQT in English/LA (along with completing BA degree, and
being fully licensed as an Intervention Specialist). When you are HQT in ONE subject
area, a school is able to hire you. Hence, it is highly recommended that UT special
education graduates take this test if they want to teach.
Q. How can I find out more?
A. To find out more you should:
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- Research programs in teacher education to make sure our program will best suit your needs.
- Read the University of Toledo catalog.
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