Special Education

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The Special Education Program offers graduate degrees – the M.Ed. and the Ph.D. Graduate study at the master’s level provides a program for persons whose professional aspirations are oriented toward the instruction of children with disabilities and/or supervision of individuals who work with this student population. Emphasis is placed on advanced knowledge of collaboration, evidence-based instructional practices, instructional accommodations, behavior management, and assessment strategies. The master’s degree program also provides preparation for students wanting to pursue a post-master’s program at the education specialist or doctoral levels. All students in the master’s program participate in practicum experiences selected according to their needs and interests.

The Ph.D. program in special education is designed to prepare scholars in the field who are capable of (a) conducting high-quality research that informs the field of special education and meets the Institute of Educational Sciences’ (US Department of Education) criteria of scientifically-based educational research and (b) preparing preservice and inservice teachers in the use of in evidence-based strategies and practices for students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities. Students who pursue advanced studies in Special Education generally have one of two settings in mind for employment, one a university or college setting, the other a research-and-development center, agency, or organization. The PhD program in Special Education includes coursework, a research apprenticeship, and practical experiences to prepare graduates to produce original research that contributes to the knowledge base in Special Education and/or to teacher education in general; it also prepares graduates to provide effective leadership in this area. For those who plan to work in colleges and universities, the PhD program additionally prepares graduates to educate Special Education professionals with evidence-based practice as the base.

Special Education- General Curriculum

The general special education M.T. program prepares teachers to serve students from across the whole range of mild to moderate disabilities in a variety of settings including, for example, inclusion classrooms, modified resource rooms, and self-contained programs. Emphasis is placed on collaboration, evidence-based instructional practices, instructional accommodations, behavior management, and assessment strategies. Students in the Special Education- General Curriculum program must also complete all requirements for a second endorsement area in general education (elementary education, a secondary education content area, or ESL). Students may also elect to complete dual endorsements in Special Education – General Curriculum and Special Education – Adapted Curriculum.

Special Education- Adapted Curriculum

This program prepares teachers to serve students from across the whole range of moderate to severe disabilities in a variety of settings including inclusion classrooms, modified resource rooms, and self-contained programs. Emphasis is placed on collaboration, access to the general education curriculum and instructional accommodations, identifying and teaching functional skills, effective communication through multiple modalities, positive behavior support, transition to adulthood, and systematic instructional strategies with data-based decision making. Students in the Special Education – Adapted Curriculum BAMT program must also complete all requirements for a second endorsement area in general education; elementary education. Students may also select to complete dual endorsements in Special Education – General Curriculum and Special Education – Adapted Curriculum. Students in the Masters who enter with licensure need only complete the required coursework for the Special Education – Adapted Curriculum.

Early Childhood - Special Education (Birth to 5 years)

This program integrates psychology, early childhood education, and early childhood education, and early childhood education. The primary mission of the program is to produce high-quality graduates to staff and lead educational programs that serve young children birth through age five with a range of risk and disability conditions. Graduates of the program will be certified to teach children with a wide range of developmental delays including cognitive, communication, social, adaptive behavior, and/or motor skills. Graduates are likely to be employed by public schools, head start programs, early intervention programs, and a wide range of service providers serving young children and their families.