Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education

College of Education
3214 Benjamin
Phone: 301-405-6515/4
http://education.umd.edu/academics/departments/chse/

The Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education (CHSE) incorporates three outstanding former departments, all with programs having top rankings in U.S. News and World Report, 2023: Counseling and Personnel Services (ranked #1), Higher Education (ranked #12), and Special Education (ranked #14). 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. We promote excellence in education and human services across the spectrum of abilities and individual differences, from birth to adulthood, in a wide range of settings.

Chair: William M. Liu (Prof & Chair)

Professors: Philip Burke, Susan De La Paz, Jade Wexler

Associate Professors: Kelli Cummings, Ana Taboada Barber, Gulnoza Yakubova 

Associate Clinical Professors: Leslie Page-Voth, Dawn Jacobs Martin

Assistant Professors: Veronica Kang, Sehrish Shikarpurya

Assistant Clinical Professors: Jennifer Amilivia, Katryna Andrusik, Yewon Lee, Seyma Intepe-Tingir

Research Assistant Professor: Agnesanne Danehey

Senior Lecturer: Stacey Williams

Professors Emeriti: A. Egel, J. Hebeler, P. Leone, S. Moon, D. Speece, P. Leone

Major

Minors

Certificate

Advising is mandatory for all special education majors. For more information or to schedule an advising appointment, contact the Office of Student Services, ed-advising@umd.edu (301-405-2364).

Fieldwork Opportunities

Candidates participate in a number of early field experiences during their junior year ranging from observation to tutoring. A two-semester internship is arranged for teacher candidates in their senior year. The internship and other field experiences allow teacher candidates to apply concepts and techniques presented in university-based courses in a field placement setting.

EDSP 425: Pre-Internship I: During fall of junior year, students have the opportunity to observe and participate in instructional experiences under the guidance of an assigned Host Teacher (HT) in multiple classroom settings. The purpose is to provide each special education pre-major with practical experiences aligned to field-based requirements and begin to meet the initial preparation standards. 

EDSP 426: Pre-Internship II: During the spring of junior year, teacher candidates assess and provide instruction for first grade students at a local public elementary school. The field experience is also supported through content delivered in EDSP 415/615 (Assessment in Special Education) and EDSP 416/616 (Reading and Writing Instruction in Special Education). The tutoring program is meant to provide an opportunity for teacher candidates to practice the assessment and instructional skills they are learning, while also providing a needed service to the community. Teacher candidates will work one-on-one with select first graders whose teachers have determined to be in need of extra support in reading and writing.

Internships

The yearlong, two-semester internship, which is the culminating experience in the teacher preparation program, takes place in a partner school or a Professional Development School (PDS) during the senior year of the program.

EDSP 452: Internship I: Elementary/Middle Special Education: During fall of senior year, Interns engage in a part-time field placement experience in a local public school with the supervision of a Mentor Teacher and University Supervisor. Interns will participate in seminars to support their progress in the field placement experience. 
 
EDSP 495: Internship II: Elementary/Middle Special Education: During spring of senior year, Internship II is a full-time 15 week eld-placement experience in a local school system working with students with disabilities in an elementary or middle school environment. Internship II allows the intern to apply and integrate teaching competencies and responsibilities by systematically increasing independence in conducting all aspects of the special education mentor teacher's role. The intern will incrementally assume responsibility for planning, instruction, management, collaboration, and other essential tasks assigned in their internship placement. The intern will be responsible for the successful completion of edTPA, seminar assignments, and self-evaluation using Live Text for Foundational Competencies (FCs) and the Performance Based Assessment (PBA). Interns will be asked to recall and integrate course content from their prerequisite coursework during seminar and their eld placement experience.
 

Student Societies and Professional Organizations

The Special Education program encourages student participation in extracurricular activities within and outside of the university. Opportunities include the Council for Exceptional Children. For more information, contact the Office of Student Services in 1204 Benjamin Building.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

The Special Education Endowed Fund in honor of Jean R. Hebeler is devoted to supporting candidates preparing to work with individuals with disabilities. Awards are competitive. Applications are accepted in the spring semester for the following academic year.

In addition, the College of Education offers a number of scholarships. Please visit http://education.umd.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/ for more information. The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.