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Coordinator
Dr. Kathy Cooter
412B Ball Hall
Memphis, TN 38152
901 678-3449 P
901-678-3881 F
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Welcome to the Special Education Program at the University of Memphis. We are a part of the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Department in the College of Education. The Special Education teacher education program is designed to prepare educational leaders who are able to maximize the development and learning of individuals with diverse and exceptional needs in a variety of program settings. We offer the following degrees:
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Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed. Licensure)
At the University of Memphis, the Bachelor of Science in Education consists of both courses taken by all persons planning careers as educators and specialized studies (related to specific professional practice settings). All teacher education students study knowledge and skills in human development, basic instruction, technology, foundations, cultural diversity and children with special needs.
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Master of Arts in Teaching Degree (M.A.T. Licensure)
The Master of Arts in teaching degree is designated for people who are seeking initial teacher licensure at the graduate level. Specific courses are also available to those already licensed who seek additional licensure in one or more areas. Students may pursue licensure in modified special education, comprehensive, or early childhood.
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Master of Science Degree (M.S.)
The Master of Science degree is available to individuals who are already licensed and want to expand their work in their teaching areas. The M.S. degree is also appropriate for individuals without licensure who desire to work in education-related settings but do not need teacher licensure. This degree is directed toward the development of competencies necessary for leadership and advancement in K-12 settings and fields related to education.
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Ed.D. Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education Emphasis
NOTE: All applications for Ed. D. in ICL Special Education Emphasis should be submitted by April 1 and November 1 so there is time to conduct interviews before the May 1 and December 1 deadline. Summer applications are not considered until the following semester. Additionally, please submit an updated vita or resume with your application materials.
Licensure options
Special education encompasses a wide variety of children and thus two licensure programs are available. Students may choose to pursue both licenses.
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Early Childhood
Teachers are licensed to teach infants and young children from birth through age 6. Programs may be delivered in the children’s homes or in special or integrated preschool environments.
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Modified Licensure
This licensure is designed for students interested in teaching children with mild disabilities such as learning disabilities or mild developmental delays. The training is much like a traditional teaching program with additional emphases on behavior management, inclusion of children with disabilities in the regular classroom and the role of the special educator as consultant and co teacher with regular educators.
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Comprehensive Licensure
This licensure is designed for student interested in working with children whose disabilities are more severe in nature such as mental retardation, autism or orthopedically handicapped. The training emphasizes inclusion but also offers classes which consist of highly specialized skill sets in behavior management, medical issues, and curriculum.
Mission Statement
The central mission and vision of the College of Education, the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, and the Special Education undergraduate and graduate programs are consistent: the preparation of Educational Leaders who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the learning process, skill in instructional planning and delivery, and a disposition to create dynamic learning environments that incorporate multicultural knowledge into instructional design and delivery. The primary goal of teacher education programs in the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership is to prepare educational leaders who will, through knowledge, skills and disposition, conduct themselves in ways that command respect for themselves and the profession and inspire others to take positive action. Similarly, the Special Education teacher education program is designed to prepare educational leaders who are able to maximize the development and learning of individuals with diverse and exceptional needs in a variety of multicultural program settings.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating from the Department's Special Education undergraduate and graduate degree programs will find themselves well prepared for a variety of careers in the field of disability services especially teaching. State licensed preK-12 teachers will typically deliver special education curricula in public and private schools while many will take on school leadership roles. There are also careers available in the technical support and adult service fields. There is an extreme shortage of licensed special educators in the field today. Students graduating from the Special Education Program at the University of Memphis are highly sought after and typically have little problem securing teaching positions in area schools. For students interested in career choices in supervision or higher education, the advanced masters and doctoral programs will provide the stepping stones for such undertakings.
Research Projects, Grants, Scholarships & Service
The faculty of the Special Education Program conducts research initiatives that target community outreach, cutting edge teaching methodologies, and teaching with technology. The faculty averages about eight externally funded grants per year that bring in over $4,500,000. Most of these research endeavors focus on community outreach in areas such as inclusion, positive behavior supports, paraprofessional training, early intervention, literacy, assistive technology, and teacher recruitment/retention. The faculty and graduate assistants involved in these projects are committed to improving the conditions for persons with disabilities and their families in the Mid-South region. There is also a commitment to carry out research and publish the highest quality research. Special Education faculty members are key national contributors in the areas of applied behavior analysis, cultural diversity, video self-modeling, preschool inclusion, teacher recruitment and retention, family involvement. The program faculty members have developed a history of securing external sponsorship to support a variety of significant research agendas that is second to none. Students leaving our doctoral program have filled professorship positions at colleges across the country as well as becoming leaders in the local special education community.
Special Education Faculty
David Bicard, Ph.D.
416D, Ball Hall
(901) 678-1680
dbicard@memphis.edu |
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Dr. Bicard is Co-Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Program. Prior to coming to the University of Memphis he was an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Florida International University. He has been a preschool teacher at The Fred S. Keller School and Research and Staff Development Coordinator at The Hawthorne Country Day School in New York. He has published four studies in The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and behavior management articles in The Middle School Journal and Preventing School Failure. His research interests include the effects of rules on the behavior of students with ADHD and language development of young children with Autism. He has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2001.
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Sara Bicard, Ph.D., BCBA
The Ohio State University (2002)
Assistant Professor
412D, Ball Hall
(901) 678-4872
sbicard@memphis.edu |
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| Program Director and Principal Investigator of the RISE Project and West Tennessee Positive Behavior Support Initiative. Dr. Bicard¹s research interests include reading instruction and materials for students with reading difficulties, active student responding, instructional pacing, and inclusive practices. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2001. |
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Sandra Cooley-Nichols, Ph.D.
The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg (1998)
Assistant Professor
413C, Ball Hall
(901) 678-2862
smcooley@memphis.edu
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Director of the Special Education Institute and ATTAIN. Co-Principal Investigator of MATR. Dr. Cooley-Nichols research interests include families of students with special needs, students with emotional/behavior disorders, diversity issues in special education, and retention and recruitment of special educators.
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Kathleen S. Cooter, Ph.D.
Texas Womans University (1996)
Associate Professor
409C, Ball Hall
(901) 678-3449
kcooter@memphis.edu
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Outreach coordinator for New Teacher Center and Principal Investigator /Executive Director of Mid South Reads, a 501c3 devoted to greater Memphis reading issues. Dr. Cooter’s research focuses upon children and adults with special needs, especially autism spectrum, dyslexia and diminished cognitive levels. Principal investigator for Tennessee Early Intervention Systems.
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Kay C. Reeves, Ed.D.
The University of Memphis, Memphis (2004)
Instructor
417B, Ball Hall
(901) 678-3859
kcreeves@memphis.edu |
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Janna Siegel Robertson, Ph.D.
The University of California, Los Angeles (1992)
Associate Professor
413C, Ball Hall
(901) 678-5047
jsiegel@memphis.edu
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Janna Siegel Robertson, Ph. D. has worked in the field of special education for over 20 years. She has been an associate professor of special education at The University of Memphis since 1997. Currently, she has over 20 publications in peer reviewed journals or book chapters. Dr. Robertson has conducted over a hundred presentations for local, state, regional, national, and international audiences. Her research focuses are in the areas of mild disabilities, instructional technology, program evaluation, at-risk students, inclusion/transition, arts education, and urban populations. She recently has been involved with developing innovative urban teacher preparation programs with dual licensure in general and special education.
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Jacques Singleton, Ed.D.
The University of Memphis
Instructor
412, Ball Hall
(901) 678-2365
jdsngltn@memphis.edu |
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