Welcome to Department of Special Education!

The Mission of the Department of Special Education is to develop quality teachers who value lifelong learning. We offer credential programs for teachers specializing in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and Early Childhood Special Education. Programs are designed to train educational generalists in inclusive non-categorical approaches for children with heterogeneous special needs. We believe in collaborations with general education, special education, all service providers, parents, and the community. We train teachers in pedagogy that is multi-paradigmatic and provides a variety of theoretical perspectives related to teaching. The primary teacher focus should be to meet the individual needs of the child and family. The instructional curricula provides credential and graduate candidates with a broad background in the physiological, environmental and social aspects of exceptionality. Candidates learn effective research based teaching strategies, interdisciplinary approaches, collaboration and communication skills, plus transition and positive behavior support, as they establish a conceptual base of understanding of persons with disabilities.

What does the Department of SPECIAL Education Offer?

The Department of Special Education offers the Masters of Science in Education with a Concentration in Special Education. For additional information, click on the "Graduate Program" link above.

The Education Specialist Credential Programs at California State University, Fullerton include teaching credentials in Mild/Moderate, Moderate/Severe, and Early Childhood Special Education. For additional information, click on the “Credential Programs" links above. You may also want to review information under the "Education Specialist Credential Programs Handbook.”

The Department of Special Education offers an Internship Program for all three credentials as well as an undergraduate degree option for credential completion, known as the STEP Program. For more information, click on the appropriate links above.

What other information is provided on this web site?

Discover the latest information about our programs and projects under “Announcements.”

Click on the “Contact List” and “”FAQs” to see who might best answer your questions about Department of Special Education credential and graduate programs.

We pride ourselves on our partnerships with local districts and agencies.  Click on “Professional Development Schools” to read more about this innovative structure.

Department faculty members are very engaged in scholarship and special projects. Click on “Faculty” and “Grants and Projects” to read more about our activities. “Faculty” also provides information on Department part-time instructor opportunities.

Click on “Resource Links” for a wonderful webliography of content area and educational resources for secondary teachers and students. In addition, click on the CSUF links below for information on resources within the University and College of Education.

The College of Education will be undergoing an accreditation visit in Fall 2007. Click on “Accreditation” to review Department program documents and support materials.