The mission of the Department of Special Education and Child Development is to prepare highly effective and ethical professionals who have a positive impact on children, youth, families, community, and schools and who are successful in urban and other diverse settings. This mission is accomplished through teaching, research, and community engagement that lead to improved practice and by working in partnership with schools, communities, and university colleagues.

The goals of the Special Education and Child and Family Development programs are to:

• Provide instruction at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels that models research-validated best practice and challenges learners to aspire to excellence.
• Generate and synthesize knowledge through quality research that informs the preparation programs of the Department.
• Provide genuine and meaningful service to the public schools and other service providers that informs the preparation programs of the Department.

Programs

• Child and Family Development, B.A.
• Special Education General Curriculum and Elementary Education K-6, B.A. Dual Program
• Special Education, B.A.

• Child and Family Development, Minor