Psychology and Special Education

Henley (Head), Ball, Carlson, Fullwood, Green, Harader, Hutton, Johnson, Lu, Masten, Pierce, Roberts, Robertson, Schroeder, Stephens, Tochkov, Williams, Zelhart

Henderson Hall, Room 201, 201A/201B, 903-886-5594 or 5940

Psychology

The Department of Psychology and Special Education offers the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees with a major in psychology. This major prepares students for graduate study in psychology and for careers in psychology-related fields. A graduate with a major in psychology should possess the following competencies: (1) knowledge of scientific method, research design and statistics, and their application in the study of human behavior; (2) understanding of basic psychological principles, critical thinking skills, and the nature of cognitive processing.

The department offers the following graduate degrees and majors: the Master of Arts and Science with a major in psychology and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in educational psychology. For information about all graduate programs, refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Special Education

The Department of Psychology and Special Education offers an all-level generic special education certification program. Students pursuing teaching careers at the Elementary (EC-4), intermediate/middle school (4-8) and high school levels (8-12) may also select special education as a supplemental certification area. The certificate in special education provides the teacher with a knowledge of disabling conditions and their effects on learning, as well as adaptations, accommodations and modifications for providing instruction in the least restrictive setting. The generic special education program prepares graduates for careers as special education teachers or related service personnel.

A graduate with all-level Generic Special Education certification should possess the following competencies: knowledge of disabling conditions; knowledge of professional roles, strategies for promoting learning and development; and techniques to promote achievement in English language arts, reading and math. Academic advisement for programs in Special Education teacher education should be obtained from the Advising Center located in Binnion 212.

The department offers the following master’s degrees and majors: the Master of Arts, Master of Education or Master of Science degree with a major in special education; and, the Master of Education or Master of Science degree in special education with the educational diagnostician professional certification or provisional certification/ endorsement in generic special education. For further information about graduate programs, refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree with generic special education as either a supplemental area or an interdisciplinary studies major must complete: (1) general requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree (refer to the bachelor’s degree requirements section of this catalog); (2) University Studies requirements (refer to that section of this catalog); (3) requirements for admission to and retention in the Teacher Education Program (refer to Center for Educator Certification and Academic Services section of this catalog); and (4) professional development courses (refer to the Secondary Education section or interdisciplinary studies major of this catalog). In addition, courses in the major must be completed as shown below.

Students interested in special education should seek early academic advisement for developing degree plans. Courses in the undergraduate curriculum are offered on a schedule rather than every term.

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