Special Education (EDSP)
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. Upon successful completion of the program, our graduates are eligible for licensure and must submit an application to the Maryland State Department of Education. Maryland participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement, which can help facilitate licensure in other states. However, licensure requirements and application processes vary by state, and you should review the specific requirements of the state where you plan to teach. The program holds Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approval and maintains national accreditation through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
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.