This specialization prepares special educators to teach children and youth with a range of disabilities and emphasizes educational needs rather than categorical labels. Individuals are prepared as teachers with eligibility for Pennsylvania non-categorical certification in teaching children and youth with mental and/or physical disabilities.
Graduate work in Mental and Physical Disabilities Specialization is available to persons interested in working towards Pennsylvania non-categorical certification in the Mental and Physical Disabilities Specialization and individuals interested in working towards certification and a Master of Education in the Mental and Physical Disabilities Specialization.
Important Certification Changes
For all perspective students interested in obtaining Special Education certification (K-12), there are important changes about which you need to know.
- Due to new Statewide PA Department of Education regulations, we will no longer offer the K-12 Special Education certification as of January 1, 2013, and there will no longer be an option to obtain a first certification in MPD.
- The 2011 -2012 academic year will be the last time that the K-12 Special Education certification will be offered.
- The K-12 certification will be replaced with a newly approved dual certification (PreK-4 and PreK-8 Special Education) program called the CASE program (Combined Accelerated Studies in Education).