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Fort Hays State University

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Fort Hays State  Behavioral Analysis Degrees

Fort Hays State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Master’s in Educational Psychology.

Master of Science in High-Incidence Special Education

Fort Hays State University offers a Master of Science in High-Incident Special Education that is designed for the individual who wants to address the practical needs and challenges faced by today’s educators who work with special needs students. The program is available in a completely online format and requires 36-credit hours which students typically complete in 18-24 months. The program focuses on action research as well as best practice and a case study approach to learning how to manage special education teaching needs. High-incidence special education students are those who may have learning disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders or high-functioning autism. Courses required for the program include:

  • Assessment and Lab in Special Education
  • Behavior Management in Schools
  • Consultation and Collaboration in High Incidence
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Educational Research
  • Legal and Professional Issues in Special Education
  • Methods and Materials for Exceptional Students
  • Strategies and High Incidence Special Education
  • Technology in Special Education
  • Theories of Exceptionalities and Diversity
  • Transition in Special Education: Early Childhood to Adulthood

Students must also complete a practicum a part of the program. The degree adds an endorsement for Special Education to an existing teaching license. Students must also complete a Comprehensive Portfolio that must be submitted at the end of the program. It must consist of five sections related to Student Growth, Research and Inquiry, Collaboration, Leadership/Professionalism, and a Reflection Profile. The portfolio must meet Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Specialist Initial Preparation Standards as well as FHSU Special Education Program Learning Outcomes.

Master of Science in School Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling – School Counseling which requires 48-credit hours and a three-hour research methods course. Students must achieve a 3.25 GPA in order to be licensed in Kansas. School counselors help students set personal goals, improve their academics and plan for careers. The program provides students with instruction in the theory behind issues that arise in young people as well as tools that can be used to help address those issues. The program is available both online and on campus. Courses required for the program include:

  • Appraisal in Counseling
  • Counseling Skills Development
  • Educational Research
  • Foundations of Counseling
  • Group Counseling: Theories & Procedures
  • Lifespan Human Development
  • Lifestyle and Career Development
  • Management of Counseling Programs
  • Professional Counseling in Elementary Schools
  • Professional & Ethical Issues in Counseling
  • Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  • Social & Cultural Foundations of Counseling
  • Theories of Counseling

Students must also complete a practicum and internship in order to complete the degree.

About Fort Hays University

Fort Hays State University was first conceived in 1889 when the Kansas legislature decided to create an agricultural and normal school in Fort Hays that would also serve a reservation in the area. They wanted the school to replace an abandoned army post. However, it took ten more years before the Fort Hays Experiment Station along with the Western Branch of the Kansas Normal School. Normal schools were established throughout the country to educate teachers.

Classes were held in the old fort and the stone guardhouse that located in what is now Historic Fort Hays served as the gymnasium. There were 57 students enrolled that first year and they paid $5 for summer courses starting in 1902. The first leader of the school, William S. Picken, wanted to keep the school at the fort but townspeople, mostly encouraged by real estate interests, wanted the school to move closer to Hays, Kansas.

More than 4,000 acres of land were donated in the heart of Hays, which meant the little prairie dog town was basically absorbed by the new school. In 1914, the school became the Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School. In 1923, the name changed again to the Kansas State Teachers College. It became Fort Hays State College in 1931 and gained university status in 1977.

Today, approximately 15,000 students are enrolled at Fort Hays State University. Although tuition is no longer $5, it is still the lowest in the Kansas Board of Regents systems and it provides one of the best educational values in the country.

Fort Hays State University Accreditation Details

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Commission periodically reviews the University to confirm that they continue to offer the highest level of education, that they have the means to meet their goals and objectives and to identify any areas that may need improvement. Any area that is determined as needing improvement is addressed by the University as soon as possible. In addition, regional accreditation allows students to apply for federal financial aid program and it demonstrates to parents as well as employers that graduates are highly-qualified in their field of study. In addition, programs throughout the University are accredited by the following organizations:

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Association of Graduate Liberal Studies
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

Fort Hays State University Application Requirements

Applicants to the Master of Science in High-Incidence Special Education program must complete an application and provide a personal statement explaining their reasons for entering the program. Two outside personal recommendations and official transcripts from all colleges and universities must be provided. One transcript must display the conferring of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Licensed teachers must also provide a copy of their teaching license.

In order to apply to the Master of Science in School Counseling Program must complete an application as well as official MAT or GRE scores. They must also provide proof of a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Two letters of reference are required as well as a brief professional goal statement. Students must also provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. All students must also undergo a criminal background check prior to admission.

Fort Hays State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the Master of Science in High-Incidence Special Education, as well as the online Master of Science in School Counseling, is $287.75 per credit hour. The Master of Science in School Counseling on-campus program is $237 per credit hour for Kansas residents, $336.58 for residents of states contiguous to Kansas and $605.06 for non-residents.

Fort Hays provides more than $59 million each year in financial assistance. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and it must be renewed annually. Financial aid may be awarded in the form of loans, assistantships or fellowships for graduate students.

Fort Hays State University produces and provides opportunities for individuals to excel, both within the classroom and beyond. Fort Hays State University stands on the frontlines of innovation and education while remaining a close-knit community of engaged individuals.

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