Dr. Dennis Williams, Interim Department Chair and
Assistant Professor
P.O. Box 17870
Telephone: (601) 979-2439
E-mail: dennis.d.williams@jsums.edu

Faculty

Dr. Doreen N. Myrie, Assistant Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Dennis Williams, MAT Program Coordinator

Mission

Special Education is located in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in the Department of Educational, Multicultural, and Exceptional Studies.  The Special Education program offers the Master of Science in Education Degree (M.S.Ed.) in Mild/Moderate Disabilities and a Concentration in Visual Impairment.  The Specialist in Education Degree (Ed.S.) with a concentration in Mild/Moderate Disabilities is offered.  Special Education also offers courses for add-on endorsements in Mild/Moderate K-12, Visually Impaired K-12, Gifted K-12 and Emotional Disabilities K-12.  These programs are designed to prepare personnel to work with individuals eligible for special education services, professionals in school settings and other service provider agencies. Typically, graduates of these programs select careers as special education teachers, administrators, and practitioners at alternate placement agencies that serve individuals with special needs.

Accreditation

The Special Education Master’s and Specialist’s Programs at Jackson State University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Additionally, the program’s standards are in compliance with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Department of Special Education Goals and Objectives

The mission of Special Education supports the broad mission of the University and the College of Education and Human Development. The mission of the College of Education and Human Development is to employ teaching, research and service within an urban learning community, and to the preparation of practitioners from diverse backgrounds for outstanding professional service through the development of solutions to potential or existing challenges facing urban institutions.

The Special Education program seeks to encourage and facilitate the efforts of candidates to acquire knowledge, skills, understandings, appreciations and attitudes necessary for effective interaction and instruction of individuals with disabilities. The instructional curriculum and learning experiences provide opportunities for candidates to develop competencies and attitudes that promote and actualize excellence in teaching and outcomes.

The objectives of the Special Education program are as follows:

1. To prepare personnel for staffing special education positions in schools and other related human resource agencies.
2. To offer candidates a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates a variety of experiences including: campus-based experiences (i.e. microteaching clinics, case studies, computer-assisted instruction) as well as field-based experiences (i.e. internships and tutoring).
3. To facilitate candidates’ professional development by broadening the knowledge base as set forth in the curriculum by attending conferences, workshops, seminars and participating in collaborative activities with other community agencies (e.g. public schools, human resource agencies, and so forth).
4. To enhance candidates’ ability to work with culturally, linguistically, and exceptionally distinctive populations through selected research, teaching, and field-based experiences.
5. To accommodate candidates from various ethnic backgrounds and exceptionalities through an open, multicultural approach to special education personnel preparation.

Specialist Degree in Education

Students applying for admission to the Specialist program must obtain general admission to the Division of Graduate Studies; however, this does not guarantee admission to the College of Education Specialist program in the specific area of concentration. Students must also complete an application to the specific department. 

Admission Requirements

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university
• An overall GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) on the master’s degree
• A completed Specialist program application
• Three letters of recommendation
• Acceptable evidence of the applicant’s writing ability as determined by a writing sample completed under the supervision of the screening committee
• A successful interview with the program screening committee
• A recommendation for admission by the screening committee
• Student must hold a valid teaching license
• Deadline for applications for summer/fall admission is January 15th

The Special Education Specialist Program is a 36-semester hour program, which includes the development of a thesis or project.  All candidates for this degree must have an AA certificate from an accredited institution of higher learning.  Approval for a thesis or a project must be granted by a Department Thesis Advisor or a Project Advisor.  The Specialist Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).  This degree program qualifies a graduate to receive Mississippi AAA Certification (Graduates are capable of leadership roles in school and non-school settings for exceptional learners K-12).

Course Requirements

The curriculum offerings in the current catalog meet the new standards required by our accrediting agencies.

Notes

1. Required forms must be developed in consultation with the designated department advisor.
2. All students must be approved by the departmental advisor to take the Graduate English Competency Examination and Graduate Area Comprehensive Examination.