Department of Special Education

The Department of Special Education prepares students to serve as decision makers in instructional settings for exceptional learners. The Special Education faculty believe that a teacher preparation program should integrate the roles and responsibilities of learners, parents, general education teachers, special education teachers, related service professionals, and community members. A combination of learning opportunities that include a coordinated knowledge base, diverse school-based and community-based practicums, and internship experiences are designed to facilitate the development of a creative, critical and reflective professional acumen. 

The overarching goal of teacher education programs offered by the Department of Special Education is the development, validation, and use of techniques for maximizing student achievement, with and without exceptionalities.

The sequence of advanced study followed by the postgraduate student in special education is contingent on the skills and background brought to the program and noted on the student's career plans.
 
Special Education faculty are involved in a number of demonstration and research projects designed to develop and evaluate innovative procedures for training professionals, paraprofessionals, and parents who work with various types of exceptional children. These projects are also concerned with the development and evaluation of instructional programs and techniques for exceptional individuals. Students have access to an array of practicum and research opportunities.

The concerns of the department go beyond teacher preparation. It is also involved in preparing researchers, academic scholars, and school-based leaders. Faculty and students pursue the viability of interventions designed to improve the functioning and learning of individual students with the wider benefit of assisting families and communities. Graduate students pursue careers in higher education as well as employment as early intervention administrators, agency heads, and other leaders.

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