Special Education and Rehabilitation

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Department Head: Benjamin Lignugaris/Kraft
Location: Emma Eccles Jones Education 313A
Phone: (435) 797-2382
FAX: (435) 797-3572
E-mail: ben.lig@usu.edu
WWW: http://sper.usu.edu/

Graduate Program Coordinators:

Special Education Master’s Programs:
Charles L. Salzberg, Education 326, (435) 797-3234, c.salzberg@usu.edu

Rehabilitation Counseling Program:
Jared Schultz, Education 303, (435) 797-3478, jared.schultz@usu.edu

Doctoral Program:
Timothy A. Slocum, Education 314, (435) 797-3212, tim.slocum@usu.edu

Multi-university Consortium in Sensory Impairments Coordinator:

Judith M. Holt, Center for Persons with Disabilities 196, (435) 797-7157, judith@cpd2.usu.edu

Advising:

On Campus Advising and Student Teaching Coordinator:
Darcie L. Peterson, Education 371, (435) 797-3252, darcie.peterson@usu.edu

Advisors:
Distance Mild Moderate - Becky Morgan, Human Services Research Center 304, (435) 797-7575, becky.morgan@usu.edu
Rehabilitation Counseling - Kris Wengreen, Education 313, (435) 797-3246, kris.wengreen@usu.edu

Distance Education and Extension Program Coordinator:
Nancy K. Glomb, Education 327, (435) 797-3911, nancy.glomb@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Education (MEd), and Educational Specialist (EdS) in Special Education; Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC); Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Disability Disciplines. The Special Education and Rehabilitation Department participates in the Doctorate of Education (EdD) administered by the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL).

Undergraduate emphases: BS, BA—Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Severe Disabilities, Early Childhood (Birth to age 5) Special Education

Graduate concentrations: MEd, MS, EdS—General Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis with Individuals with Disabilities, Administrative/Supervisory, Transition to work and post-secondary education with individuals with disabilities (Note: Graduate concentrations will not appear on student transcripts or diplomas.)

PhD specializations: Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis with Individuals with Disabilities, Rehabilitation Counseling, Disabilities Studies, Speech-Language Pathology

Licensure is available for teachers in early childhood (birth to age 5) special education, mild/moderate disabilities, and severe disabilities. At the postbachelor’s level, licensure is available for teachers in vision and hearing impairments. A Special Education composite licensure program is available with the Elementary Education Program in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL). A dual licensure program is available with secondary education content majors in the School of TEAL and with early childhood students pursuing a master’s in Deaf Education. www.comd.usu.edu/htm/graduate-programs/specialized-programs/auditory-learning

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

The undergraduate programs in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation offer educational and training opportunities for teachers and support personnel working with exceptional children and adults with disabilities. The programs prepare students to work with individuals with mild/moderate and severe disabilities and with early childhood (birth to age 5) special education. Students who are majoring in other teaching fields (i.e., elementary education, secondary education) are encouraged to pursue a second certification by taking those courses which lead to a special education license. Teacher education programs in the department are accredited by the State of Utah. These programs are also approved candidate members of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAL).

Areas of Emphasis

The Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation offers training programs for individuals who want to work with children and adults with disabilities. A student fulfilling the undergraduate course requirements will qualify for a BS or BA degree in special education and be eligible for a license to teach students with mild/moderate disabilities, students with severe disabilities, or young children with disabilities. The severe and mild/moderate licenses allow graduates to teach pupils with disabilities from kindergarten through 12th grades. The early childhood special education license allows graduates to teach children with disabilities from birth to five years old. In addition, the department offers composite teaching majors with the Elementary Education Program and dual teaching majors with the Secondary Education Program, both of which are part of the School of TEAL. Students completing the dual major requirements in secondary education will be eligible for teacher licensure in one of the special education areas and the secondary education content major. Students completing the composite major requirements in elementary education will be eligible for teacher licensure in one of the special education areas and elementary education. Students interested in teaching preschool children with disabilities may receive an early childhood special education license for ages 0-5, in addition to a K-12 special education license in severe or mild/moderate disabilities. A Birth to Age 3 minor is available for Family, Consumer, and Human Development majors.

Requirements

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation as Pre-Special Education majors by meeting the Utah State University minimum requirements . To become a Special Education major, a student must make written application to the department after meeting the following prerequisites: (1) completion of at least 40 attempted semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher; (2) completion of admission requirements to the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services  Teacher Education Program; and (3) passing score on the Special Education Math exam. Students should apply to the department during fall semester of their sophomore year (October 1 deadline). Admission to the department is competitive based on several factors. These include: (1) the student’s current GPA; (2) the number of credit hours completed by the end of fall semester; (3) completion of premajor classes (such as STAT 1040  and FCHD 1500 ); and (4) the student’s career goals and experiences.

GPA Requirement

A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required to apply for admission, to remain in good standing, and to graduate from the program. All required special education classes must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Suggested Four-year Plans

Suggested semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward bachelor’s degrees offered are available in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Assessment and Accreditation

Information about assessment within the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation, as well as information about TEAL and CORE accreditation, can be found at: http://sper.usu.edu/assessment/

Departmental Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in departmental honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://www.usu.edu/honors/

Additional Information

For more information concerning Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts requirements and the sequence in which courses should be taken, see major planning guide available from the Special Education Advising Office (Education 371). 

Financial Support

Scholarships, assistantships, grants-in-aid, and work-study programs are available through the University. In addition, there are some endowed scholarships available through the department and, sometimes, there are stipends available from federal grants.

Graduate Programs

Admission Requirements

Admission decisions are made by the department’s Graduate Program Committees: Disability Disciplines Doctoral Committee, Special Education Master’s Committee, and Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Committee. Admission requirements  are based upon those of the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, the committees consider experience, academic record and curriculum, formal recommendations, and test scores. Special Education master’s and doctoral program admission requires GRE scores. Rehabilitation Counseling master’s program admission requires GRE or MAT scores. Students applying for admission to special education graduate programs, who do not have an undergraduate special education background, may be required to complete selected undergraduate courses prior to admission as fully-matriculated graduate students.

Deadlines for application to the Special Education master’s program and the Rehabilitation Counseling master’s program are March 15, June 15, and October 15. The deadline for application to the Disabilities Disciplines Doctoral program is February 1. Only complete files will be reviewed. Applications received after these dates will be considered, but opportunities for financial assistance may be limited. No applications will be considered until all required information arrives at the School of Graduate Studies office.

Teaching Licenses

The department prepares students for licensure as teachers of students with mild/moderate disabilities, students with severe disabilities, and preschool-age students with disabilities. Licensure may also be obtained in visual and/or hearing impairments through a multi university consortium program. Licensure may be obtained as part of the graduate degree program or without a graduate degree.

Doctorate of Education (EdD)

The department participates in the Doctorate of Education (EdD) degree program administered by the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL). The general purpose of the special education emphasis area of the EdD program is to prepare leadership personnel for positions in administration, supervision, curriculum development, and teacher training. For information about admission requirements, procedures to follow, and research sponsored, as well as other information, see the Department of Curriculum and Instruction 

Financial Assistance

Scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available for qualified doctoral students. Scholarships are also available to qualified students in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling program.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding the Special Education and Rehabilitation graduate programs, check the departmental website at: http://sper.usu.edu/

Special Education and Rehabilitation Faculty

Professors
Benjamin Lignugaris/Kraft, personnel preparation, secondary special education, social/vocational skill training, behavioral analysis, instructional design and program development
Robert L. Morgan, behavior analysis/transition
Charles L. Salzberg, applied behavioral analysis, single-subject research design, research on teacher training, employment preparation for persons with disabilities, video assisted training programs, paraeducator training, and students with disabilities in higher education
Julie F. Smart, rehabilitation counseling, disability studies, Hispanics with disabilities, Spanish translation of rehabilitation instruments, multicultural rehabilitation
Richard P. West, behavior analysis in education, computer based decision making, parent training, school organization and administration

Research Professors
Ron Gillam, language development, language assessment and intervention, narrative development, memory, phonological representation
Stephanie Peterson, applied behavior analysis, problem behavior, functional analysis, choice making, concurrent operants, functional communication training, teacher training, developmental disabilities

Professors Emeritus
Garth M. Eldredge, rehabilitation counseling
Alan M. Hofmeister, technology, school reform, reading and math instruction
Sarah Rule, early intervention, developmental disabilities, technology and teacher education

Associate Professors
Thomas S. Higbee, early childhood, severe disabilities, autism
Judith M. Holt, early childhood and visually impaired
Ronda R. Menlove, special education, educational leadership, special education law, distance education
Jared Schultz, rehabilitation counseling
Timothy A. Slocum, reading, mild/moderate disabilities, behavior analysis, research methods

Research Associate Professor
Sandy Gillam, language and literacy acquisition, assessment and intervention of multicultural school age children
Marilyn Likins, paraeducators, mild/moderate disabilities, alternative teacher preparation

Adjunct Associate Professor
Ann Miller, legal issues in special education
Daniel P. Morgan, behavior disorders, social skills, legal issues in special education, personnel development in special education

Associate Professors Emeritus
Hyrum S. Henderson, teacher training
Devoe C. Rickert, vocational training

Assistant Professors
Sarah Bloom, applied behavior analysis, functional analysis of severe behavior disorders, assessment and treatment of problem behavior, verbal behavior, early childhood, single-subject research design
Lillian Duran, early childhood special education, evidence-based practices with English Language Learners (ELLs), language and literacy development of Spanish-speaking children learning English as a second language
Nancy K. Glomb, mild/moderate disabilities, distance education
Scott W. Ross, school-wide positive behavior supports, systems change, bully prevention and intervention
James Soldner, rehabilitation counseling

Research Assistant Professors
Michael J. Millington, rehabilitation counseling
Cynthia J. Rowland, distance education, speech and language development, naturalistic instructional methods, early literacy, assistive technology
Julie Wolter, school age language and literacy

Adjunct Assistant Professors
Melina Alexander, mild/moderate special education, math education, distance education
Martin E. Blair, special education policy, assistive technology, disability policy research, disability and health
Norman Corson, job placement of persons with disabilities
Janice Neibaur Day, educational issues for children with visual impairments including early literacy, family issues and needs, and assistive technology
David E. Forbush, mild/moderate disabilities, reading, behavior analysis in schools, assessment, educational systems change, educational leadership
Karen T. Kowalski, special education law, behavior, issues in social justice
Lowell K. Oswald, response to intervention, behavior and emotional problems in school settings, assistive technology, school district administration
Randyl Schelble, mild/moderate disabilities
Bruce Schroeder, collaboration, special education administration, special education personnel development

Clinical Instructors
Marlene Deer, preschool special education, naturalistic instruction disorders, effective classroom instruction
Barbara J. Fiechtl, preschool and infant service delivery
Tami W. Pyfer, severe and preschool special education, development
Kimberly H. Snow, curriculum development

Adjunct Clinical Instructors
Kirk Allen, emotionally disturbed, special education administration
Deanna Avis, paraeducators, curriculum and assessment
Debbie Ballard, early childhood disabilities
Deb Bowen, vocational rehabilitation and transition
Alma Brown, classroom/behavior management and emotional behavior disorders, effective classroom instruction
Valisa Dillworth, early childhood disabilities
Cindy Myers, moderate and severe disabilities, alternative teacher preparation
Bradie Ormond, mild-moderate disabilities
Tammy Pettigrew, mild/moderate disabilities, direct instruction, new special education teacher induction, effective classroom instruction/classroom management

Adjunct Lecturers
Gayle Baker, severe disabilities
Glenn Dyke, behavior disorders, mild/moderate disabilities
Jeri Rigby, mild/moderate disabilities

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