Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education: Adapted Curriculum K-12 (Severe Disabilities) Endorsement Areas

The early childhood special education program is designed to prepare students to teach children from birth to age six who manifest disabilities or who are at risk of later school failure. Students endorsed in the area of early childhood special education will be eligible to teach in infant and preschool programs in both public and private settings. The program in special education: adapted curriculum (severe disabilities) is designed to prepare teachers to instruct individuals who are traditionally labeled with moderate, severe or profound disabilities and who may have disabiling conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, or sensory impairments. In addition to teaching in the public schools, students endorsed in special education: adapted curriculum will be eligible for positions in public, private, and residential settings that serve individuals with moderate and severe disabilities. This master's degree program, with endorsement, can be completed in approximately two years. Please refer to our program checklist for a detailed list of courses required.

The special education graduate program is committed to a philosophy of serving as a catalyst to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. The course work focuses on the improvement of the quality and scope of educational and related services available to individuals with disabilities from infancy to adulthood. The graduate programs in special education, in addition to meeting the Master of Science in Education degree requirements, satisfy Virginia state teacher endorsement in early childhood special education, and special education: adapted curriculum (severe disabilities).

Graduates are prepared to work effectively with children, adolescents, and adults who require special educational services. Classroom instruction is supplemented by field experiences with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings. Student interns have been placed in children's hospitals, special education classes in public and private facilities, and residential psychiatric hospitals, mental health centers, and community agencies. Graduates in special education serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address educational, emotional, and physical disabilities. They also find employment as educational therapists, psycho-educational diagnosticians, and special education teachers and staff members in public and private schools.