Special Education

Vision and Mission

The mission of the Department of Special Education is to prepare highly effective practitioners whose work is grounded in current research, theory and evidence-based practice. This is accomplished through close faculty mentorship, rigorous coursework and supervised fieldwork. Candidates develop professional skills and dispositions to effect positive change in students with specialized learning needs.

Undergraduate Minor

Disability Studies Minor  

Undergraduate Major

Special Education, B.S. with Teacher Licensure  

Graduate Programs

Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.T.  

With teaching certification

Special Education, M.A.  

• Advanced Teaching
• Cross-endorsement

 Special Education - Comprehensive, M.A.T.  

With teaching certification

Special Education Literacy, M.A.  

Other Opportunities

Cross-Endorsement

Licensed teachers who wish to add an additional area of endorsement to their teaching credentials have several options. Only the Connecticut State Department of Education can determine required coursework. To pursue cross-endorsement, please contact the Connecticut Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Preparation and Licensure, to obtain a list of required courses for the desired cross-endorsement.

Laboratory Schools

The School of Education benefits from two laboratory schools. The Gengras Center, an on campus school for students with significant disabilities, and the School for Young Children, an early childhood school nearby, offer opportunities for on-site observations, field work, practicum, internships and course-related applications.

Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society

Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education has been active at USJ since 2009. The society has a long-standing commitment to “recognizing excellence and fostering mutual cooperative, support, and professional growth for educational professionals.” Letters of invitation are sent in February to students eligible for membership informing them of a March orientation meeting and an initiation ceremony in the spring.

Partnerships

The School of Education has partnerships with several school districts and agencies, which provide candidates the opportunity to interact with K-12 students under faculty supervision. Longstanding partnerships include: Bloomfield School District, Hartford and West Hartford public schools. Candidates are provided authentic opportunities to assess, teach and collaborate with others.

Internships

 Pre K-12 Schools

The University of Saint Joseph provides opportunities for students completing graduate studies or licensure courses to serve as interns in public school classrooms during the school year. The participating schools provide 18 graduate credits that the intern may apply to tuition costs at the University of Saint Joseph. In addition, a small stipend is provided for books and materials each semester. Contact the director of student teaching and clinical experiences for more information.