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This program is designed for graduate students seeking to develop the skills and knowledge required to provide administrative leadership in educational settings that serve individuals with disabilities. The completion of this program, in addition to select criteria identified by the PA Department of Education, will qualify an individual for certification as a Supervisor of Special Education.

It is designed to prepare entry-level leaders in the field of special education administration. Graduates may be found in leadership roles in state departments of education, school districts, intermediate units, approved private schools, detention centers, colleges and universities, social service agencies, and consulting firms.

The focus of this program is directed toward the practical application of administrative theory and school governance. This program is unique in that it will extend beyond the limits of the university classroom, into the interdisciplinary realm of the public school. A collaborative instructional design will be utilized during the summer course offerings to provide for a collegial and cooperative educational experience.

This program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Exceptionality Programs and the Department of Educational Studies and Secondary Education at Bloomsburg University. This integrated approach to instruction between regular and general educators is highly useful for professionals entering the public school domain where similar collaboration is central to success.

Design

This program was redesigned to address the evolving role of the special education supervisor within the public school setting. The core content and instructional design are based upon the recommendations of practicing administrators from across Pennsylvania, as well as state and national professional standards.

The program involves a one-calendar year design for those individuals who have completed their graduate coursework. It also may be integrated into a graduate student’s current course of study, for those completing their graduate requirements. Students must have completed, or plan to complete, all Pennsylvania certification requirements for Special Education.

Course Requirements

This program consists of five (5) courses and a six-credit internship. The sequence of courses required for completion of this program includes:

Administration
EDFOUND 573 – Intro to Educ Admin.
SPECED 501 – Admin/Supv of Special Education

School Law

SPECED 502 – Prin of Special Education Law

Curriculum Development

SPECED 503 – Curricular Design & Inclusive Educ

Current Knowledge

SPECED 575 – Current Issues in Special Educ

Practicum Field Experience

SPECED 595 – Internship

Students who have completed select courses within this sequence during previous graduate work will be provided with an adapted course sequence as appropriate. To determine the course of study you must complete, see the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Note: The supervisory program (21 credits) can be imbedded within the program of study of the Master of Science in Special Education.

Pennsylvania Requirements for Certification

To be eligible for certification as a Supervisor of Special Education in Pennsylvania, candidates must:

1. … have completed five years of successful teaching experience as a special educator,
2. … have completed an accredited graduate program of study in Special Education Supervision, and be recommended for certification by the authorized certification officer of the institution where such education was obtained,
3. … have passed the PRAXIS Specialty Area Test: 0411 – Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (qualifying score 143),
4. … have completed forms PDE 338G, PDE 338C, PDE 338 V (one 338 V for each employer).

Application Requirements

This program sequence may begin at any time. Application may be made through the Department of Exceptionality Programs and the Graduate School of Education. Admission requirements are specified on the graduate school website. Interested students who are currently enrolled in the graduate program must submit a letter of intent to the graduate program coordinator prior to enrollment.

Please contact Darlene Perner, Ed.D., graduate program coordinator at (570) 389-4075 for more information on this program.