The online student experience at KU

Erica Hankins:
The special education program at KU is the number one special education program in the nation, and that's where I wanted to be. I knew the best educators and the best instructors are right here, and I can get all of that online.

Jennifer Cady:
Learning from those who are actually writing and publishing the books and conducting the research is extremely powerful. It doesn't get any closer to the research that actually drives all the practice that we do out in the field.

Brittany Luzberg:
So my undergrad is in speech pathology, and through that, I've been working in special ed for four years, and I wanted to be able to help children more on academics and not just on articulation and language. Having a general understanding of more of what special education does for children, not only in the school setting but what it can accomplish for students outside of school, is very important. And having just a general skill set of being able to help those that do have intellectual disabilities or other disabilities, in general, really does make a better understanding of their community and how to help them in the outside world.

Jennifer Cady:
The practicum that we did with our field experience, absolutely my favorite. Dr. Elford was very helpful, always there for me, and just very encouraging. It was very easy to make those connections with the colleagues, with discussions every week and then just assignments where we had to do group work. Again, you just naturally connect to people, so I thought that was just a neat piece as well. The online was the best way to go for me because it was convenient. I was able to invest my time during my full-time job but then also work as late as I could into the hours, learning additional things that would help my students.

Erica Hankins:
Another great part of the online program is I can do it at my own pace in my own home, understand what I need to do throughout the entire week, and work on it at my pace throughout the entire week, around my work schedule, around my coaching schedule and get everything done on time.

Emily Yancey:
So when I'm done, I have my master's in education and special education. Will help me to move over on the pay scale but also helps me to then become a master teacher for future teachers who are coming in to do student teaching. I can be a mentor to teachers and future teachers as well, so it gives me more opportunities to be a leader within my building in my district.

Brittany Luzberg:
Opened up a lot more opportunities to work in a facility program and not just a public school setting, which has been amazing.

Jennifer Cady:
I think, with a KU degree, you're a lot more marketable. Those that are hiring, seeing KU on there, knowing that it's such a top program, especially in the field of special education. I just think it puts us in the forefront for being hired over other candidates.

Erica Hankins:
Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU.