Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education
College of Education
3214 Benjamin
Phone: 301-405-6515/4
http://education.umd.edu/academics/departments/chse/
The Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education (CHSE) incorporates three outstanding former departments, all with programs having top rankings in U.S. News and World Report, 2023: Counseling and Personnel Services (ranked #1), Higher Education (ranked #12), and Special Education (ranked #14). The Special Education Program is designed to prepare highly qualified teachers at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to prepare researchers, teacher educators, and leaders at the doctoral level in the field of special education. We promote excellence in education and human services across the spectrum of abilities and individual differences, from birth to adulthood, in a wide range of settings.
Chair: William M. Liu (Prof & Chair)
Director Teacher Certification: D. Martin (Asst. Clin. Prof)
Professors: P. Burke, S. De La Paz, J. Lieber
Associate Professors: K. Cummings, F. Kohl, A. Taboada Barber, J. Wexler
Assistant Professors: J. Chow, G. Yakubova
Assistant Clinical Professors: J. Amilivia, Y. Lee
Professors Emeriti: A. Egel, J. Hebeler, P. Leone, S. Moon, D. Speece
Advising is mandatory for all special education majors. For more information or to schedule an advising appointment, contact the Office of Student Services, ed-advising@umd.edu (301-405-2364).
Fieldwork Opportunities
Candidates participate in a number of early field experiences during their junior year. A two-semester internship is arranged for teacher candidates in their senior year. The internship and other field experiences allow teacher candidates to apply concepts and techniques presented in university-based courses in a field placement setting.
Internships
The yearlong, two-semester internship, which is the culminating experience in the teacher preparation program, takes place in a partner school or a Professional Development School (PDS) during the senior year of the program.
Student Societies and Professional Organizations
The Special Education program encourages student participation in extracurricular activities within and outside of the university. Opportunities include the Council for Exceptional Children. For more information, contact the Office of Student Services in 1204 Benjamin Building.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
The Special Education Endowed Fund in honor of Jean R. Hebeler is devoted to supporting candidates preparing to work with individuals with disabilities. Awards are competitive. Applications are accepted in the spring semester for the following academic year.
In addition, the College of Education offers a number of scholarships. Please visit http://education.umd.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/ for more information. The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.