Special Education

The emphasis of the special education program is to prepare pre-service personnel to educate students with special needs. The program provides coursework and extensive field experience to guide pre-service personnel toward mastery of the following competencies:

• Professional knowledge - including Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Individual Educational Planning (IEP), free and appropriate education, and collaboration with general educators and families.
• Human growth and development
• Assessment and evaluation
• Curriculum development - including strategies, materials, technology, diversity, classroom management and teaching of reading.

View the New Mexico Public Education Department's regulations for the above listed competencies.

The Special Education program will provide students with opportunities to use their education skills to hold leadership positions by becoming involved members of the Student Council for Exceptional Children chapter.

All instructors have a wealth of public school and preschool experience that blends theory and practice in providing positive student learning experiences.

All advisors are full-time faculty in their area of expertise. They check student progress using multiple methods to assess student work. Students are required to meet with their appointed advisor each semester.

Courses focus on the individual and developmental needs of all children. The program incorporates use of technology in classroom instruction.

Students must choose at least one minor field from the following programs:

• Bilingual Education
• Biology
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
• Language Arts
• Math
• Modern Languages
• Music
• Performing Arts
• Physical Education
• Reading
• Social Studies

Special education majors have the opportunity to complete dual certification in Elementary and/or Secondary Education.

View the Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree plan.
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Art in Education or Bachelor of Science in Education
Available as a major only
New Mexico Licensure: K–12

Advisors

Kathie Good
Michael Shaughnessy
Robin Wells