Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education (CHSE)

The Special Education Program is designed to prepare highly qualified teachers at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to prepare researchers, teacher educators, and leaders at the doctoral level in the field of special education. The EDSP program is ranked #11 in the most recent U.S. News & World Report survey (2015).

There are two full time undergraduate Special Education teacher preparation programs that lead to a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education:  Elementary/Middle Special Education and Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education. In addition, the Special Education program offers two options to receive teacher certification at the Master’s level. The course of study for all the special education certification programs prepares teachers to assume the increasingly complex and sophisticated responsibilities of a teacher of students with high and low incidence disabilities. Graduates will be eligible for special education teacher certification in the state of Maryland, with certification reciprocity in 49 states. All programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Students in the EDSP program receive an unparalleled education experience that emphasizes excellence in scholarship and professional practice within a diverse community. In addition, the university community, the state of Maryland, and the Washington, DC metropolitan area provide an unparalleled setting for undergraduate and graduate study.  The program’s proximity to the United States Congress, advocacy and professional organizations, and governmental agencies, including the US Department of Education - Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), provides opportunities for on-site experiences for prospective students.  Public and private schools in Maryland provide opportunities for students to gain experience with a culturally and linguistically diverse student population in urban, suburban, and rural settings.