Q: Can I begin the program anytime?
A: You may begin the program fall semester. Please contact the department to learn about spring admission.
 
Q: When are application deadlines?
A: Application deadline for fall: June 1; spring: November 1

Q: Must I ever come to the OUHSC campus?
A: Students are strongly encouraged to attend an orientation in Oklahoma City the summer before entering the program in the fall.  Students also are strongly encouraged to attend a five-day Summer Institute in Oklahoma City the summer of the first year in the program.  The Summer Institute provides hands-on experience with a variety of assistive technologies and other educational experiences. The grant supports travel, hotel, and other expenses.
Because not all leadership and scholarship experiences can be carried out online, the program has experiences up to a week long in Oklahoma City during each fall and spring semester.

Q: Can I waive taking the GRE?
A:  Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  Those who have previously taken the GRE as a requirement admission to a professional or postprofessional degree program from which they have graduated may request a GRE waiver by completing and submitting the GRE waiver request form.

Q: What GRE portions must I take?
A: Verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing.

Q: What is the minimum score accepted on the GRE?
A: Most of our applicants have a minimum of 500 verbal, 500 quantitative, and 4 writing scores. 

Q: How is a full-time student defined?
A: Full-time students take at least 18 credit hours per year. Within the constraints of the class schedule, student may choose when to take the 18 credits. You may, for example, take 6 in the fall, 6 in the spring, and 6 in the summer. Or, you may take 9 in the fall, 3 in the spring, and 6 in the summer. It is your choice. The 18 hours also include the credit hours you must obtain outside of this University.

Q: Which credit hours must be obtained outside of OUHSC?
A: Students must have 9 graduate credits in courses in an outside area. For students receiving grant support, the courses must be in either special education or early childhood. The program also requires 6 graduate credits in statistics. Students may take these classes at a local university or on-line.

Q: How do we find on-line courses?
A: We maintain a list of approved courses offered by other universities. Please e-mail Marsha Collier (marsha-collier@ouhsc.edu) for the most recent list. Because universities continuously develop new courses, students often find other courses by searching the Internet. If students find a class that has not been approved, they must obtain approval by sending the syllabus or other information to their advisors.

Q: May students transfer more than 25% of credits from another university?
A: No, OUHSC allows students to transfer up to 25% of credits from another university.

Q: Do students complete the web-based lessons on their own schedule or are there interactive classroom times?
A: All courses have interactive Web-based discussions, so students progress through the courses together. The discussions are asynchronous, however, so students can go to the virtual classroom whenever it is convenient for them and from where ever they have Internet access.

Updated January 9, 2009