Mission

The Department of Special Education has been involved for more than two decades in the preparation of teachers of students with all disabilities at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels.

At the Undergraduate level, the Department of Special Education students may major in Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary Education and minor in Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate K-6 or 7-12, Instructional Strategist II: Mental Disabilities, K-12, Early Childhood Special Education, or Visual Impairments.

At the Graduate level, students can pursue a program of study leading to certification only in any of the disability areas as a non-degree graduate student or pursue a master's degree in one of the four emphasis areas: Field Specialization, Consultation Emphasis, Career/Vocational Programming and Transition, and Visual Impairments.

The Department of Special Education Faculty have achieved state, national and international recognition for their teaching and research. Faculty members are frequent contributors to the professional literature.

Objectives

The Department of Special Education has the following major objectives:

(1) To respond to the demand for qualified special education personnel to fill a wide range of teaching and human service positions.
(2) To provide inservice training and consultation to meet professional development needs in Iowa.
(3) To develop and maintain, in partnership with practicing professionals, model practicum sites used in undergraduate and graduate training programs.
(4) To continue to contribute to the scientific knowledge base in Special Education by disseminating the results of research and model demonstration projects through scholarly publications and professional conferences