Education Specialist Program Mission Statement

CSULB is a large, urban, comprehensive university situated on the border between Los Angeles and Orange Counties.The communities and school districts that surround CSULB are representative of the rich and diverse demographics of California.

The educational mission of the University is to "...prepare students for lifelong learning as well as preparing them to succeed in a variety of professional endeavors and to function as informed contributing members of the community." (University Catalog, 2000)

College of Education

The College of Education's primary purpose is "Teaching for Life-Long Learning, Professional Growth, and Social Responsibility". The CED's mission is to foster a learning and teaching community committed to educational excellence. Our community:

• Promotes intellectual, personal, and interpersonal growth for all students;
• Prepares socially responsible leaders for a rapidly changing, technologically-rich world;
• Values diversity and prepares students for a diverse world;
• Serves and collaborates with other educators and the community;
• Promotes school improvement for all students; and
• Engages in research, scholarly activity, and ongoing evaluation.
  (College of Education Mission Statement, 2000)

College of Education Conceptual Framework

• Summary
• Complete Document

Education Specialist Program

The Education Specialist Credential Program, formerly known as "Special Education," is one of nine program areas in the Department of Educational Psychology, Administration and Counseling (EDPAC).

The term, "Education Specialist," reflects the new credential title in California. The program area includes credential (mild/moderate and moderate/severe), internship, and masters degree programs. Taught by fulltime and adjunct faculty, classes are offered on-campus and in community locations.Care is given to meet the needs of working professionals; day and evening class times are scheduled.

Goals of the Education Specialist Credential Program

The Education Specialist Credential Program faculty are committed to teaching and supporting students in becoming highly effective professionals. To this end, there are a number of goals that drive the program. These goals are to assist candidates in becoming:

Effective and caring teachers
Individuals and their families are at the heart of special education.Effective teachers learn about best practices and then apply those best practices in their daily teaching duties to assist individuals with special needs in developing to their optimal level. The Education Specialist Credential Program at CSULB is designed to assist teachers in developing competence in applying these best practices.As teachers assist students in achieving these optimal outcomes through applying best practices, they must also care about the individual and remember to value and respect his or her own background, abilities, needs, and preferences.The program is designed to facilitate and nurture a sense of caring for all.

Partners with parents and others in the development of high quality educational programs
To be effective, a teacher must work in partnership with parents of the children they serve as well as with other professionals.Such partnerships require mutual respect for the expertise that all participants bring to the task of developing high quality educational programs for individuals with special needs.The Education Specialist Credential Program at CSULB is therefore designed to give future teachers knowledge and experience in collaborative partnerships so they can effectively function in the increasingly collaborative roles of Education Specialists.

Life-long learners engaged in program development reflective of best practices in special education
The Education Specialist Credential Program is designed to be a rigorous program.The rigor is an essential preparatory experience for professionals in the field of special education.The knowledge base of best practices in special education is continually growing and evolving.Legislation and litigation often change and guide our understanding of current best practices.This makes a career in special education exciting and dynamic.Students must be prepared for this constant growth and change. The Education Specialist Credential Program is designed to assist students in gaining needed competencies.

Among other characteristics, we also expect our students to become leaders in the field by:

• developing programs that reflect best practices,
• joining and participating in local, state, and national professional organizations,
• advocating for individual learners and their families,
• engaging in action research,
• reading current professional literature and attending conferences.

Key Program Areas

The Education Specialist Credential program is organized with competencies “spiraled” throughout the curriculum. Key program areas are:

Collaboration -- Education Specialists work in a variety of settings and in collaboration with other professional and paraprofessional staff. Teamwork with families and community agencies is also emphasized.

Diversity -- Our schools are heterogeneous environments with students and families from a variety of cultural, linguistic, economic, and other backgrounds and characteristics.Education Specialists are aware of the contribution of this diversity and demonstrate respect for diversity in their teaching.

Literacy -- Reading and the related literacy skills in writing, speaking, and all language areas are critically important in schools today. Education Specialists are skilled in developing varied levels of literacy through a great number of techniques appropriate to the needs of individual students.

Technology -- Computers and other technical devices can be very effective in the education of individuals with disabilities, and often play an important role in these individuals’ lives and careers. Coursework for Education Specialists incorporates techniques for instructional support, assistive technology, and teacher utility.

Transition -- Movement from one setting to another often requires planning and other support for students with disabilities; i.e., toddler services to preschool, preschool to elementary, intermediate to secondary schools, school to community and postsecondary education, adolescence to adulthood. Education Specialists are especially concerned with the transition from school to a quality adult life and the preparation of individuals with disabilities for this transition.

Last update: 3/23/06