Master of Education - Special Education - Behavioral Disorders/Positive Behavior Supports

• Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis (Au/ABA) - for teachers and therapists wishing to work with students with autism in school or clinical settings

• Behavioral Disorders/Positive Behavior Supports (BD/PBS) - for teachers and specialists pursuing careers as behavior specialists or PBS specialists in schools, alternative settings or residential settings

• Learning Disabilities/Inclusion (LD/1) - for educators seeking to instruct students with learning disabilities in school settings and/or interested in becoming academic intervention experts

The mission of the special education program is to prepare educators and specialists who apply current, evidence-based practices in special education for the purpose of preparing individuals with disabilities to live independent, responsible and personally satisfying lives in a diverse, global society. Graduates engage in practitioner inquiry and research, serve as leaders in special education policy and classroom practice, and apply their knowledge and skills to positively influence the inclusion of, and support for, persons who require the best professional practices of special education.

Graduates of our special education program pursue careers as teachers, behavior specialists and learning interventionists. The program provides a verified course sequence required to be certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Graduates work in public and charter school programs, clinic settings and alternative education settings, including residential programs. Many graduates choose to pursue doctoral studies and have been successful in receiving prestigious doctoral scholarships.