The special education department at Slippery Rock University has been preparing professionals to serve persons with disabilities since 1963.   Our programs have earned national recognition for the quality performance of entry-level teachers who graduated and became part of professional education across the country in the past 35 years.

   The faculty in special education is committed to the belief that the department includes faculty, students, the curriculum, and the learning experiences we create for one another.  Our mission is to prepare entry-level teachers who will join the world of education with depth of knowledge, effective skills, and a professional disposition that qualify as excellent.

   Today, children with disabilities receive special education services in a variety of settings within the school system.  Thus, special educators need to develop a solid professional knowledge base that includes a foundation in the liberal arts as well as a through orientation to pedagogical theory and practice.

   Performance in class and active participation in student organizations and community-service activities are the means by which students demonstrate their academic abilities and develop their leadership potential.  Faculty members are continuously alert to the quality of student involvement in study and practical experiences.  It is on the basis of academic performance and involvement in the teacher preparation program that the faculty offers professional support and recommendation for future teacher candidates.

   Our curriculum follows the standards recommended by the Council For Exceptional Children, our professional education society.  In addition, course goals, objectives and activities are cross-referenced with the Framework for Teaching as adopted by the SRU College of Education.