Special Education

La’teisha Jackson MASTER’s STUDENT Specializing in Transition

“The knowledge that I have gained from the ESE program has exceeded my expectations. With the experience that I have in the classroom, I am confident that I have the skills necessary to be an effective teacher and run a productive classroom.”

Aimee Bardelang Master’s STUDENT Specializing in Autism

Education of Students with Exceptionalities (ESE)

Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined

The ESE Program requires a total of 93 semester hours taken in the junior and senior years of undergraduate study and in a year of master’s degree work that affords the student an opportunity to specialize in one of the following areas: High incidence disabilities, Early childhood special education, Autism, Transition, or Severe/profound disabilities. Graduates receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously and are eligible for Florida teaching certification in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and for the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement.

Special Education Graduate

Master’s

The Master of Science in Special Education Program is most appropriate for individuals who are already certified in an area of special or general education or for individuals wishing to update or increase their knowledge of special education.

While not a teacher certification program, this program provides opportunities for students to develop leadership and research skills, as well as expand knowledge in a student-selected area of special education.

Master’s (Online)

The Master of Science in Special Education Studies Program is not designed to meet teacher certification requirements of any state. The program provides for specialization in severe disabilities, early childhood, special education and high incidence disabilities. Graduates of distance learning programs at The Florida State University receive the same diploma and transcripts as students who graduate from traditional on-campus programs.

Specialist

The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) is an advanced degree with admission requirements identical to the master’s degree. The purpose of earning the Ed.S. is to expand skills and knowledge in a current area of expertise or to extend skills and knowledge to another area of special education.

Doctoral

The Program in Special Education leading to a Doctor of Philosophy is a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare selected individuals to serve in leadership roles in the education of individuals with disabilities. The program’s primary purpose is to prepare graduates for university faculty positions in special education. Program graduates sometimes choose other leadership positions in special education and related fields such as program administration, policy development and analysis, and research coordination.

“The program’s small class sizes and dedicated faculty has helped maximize my potential for success in my future teaching career. Being involved in practicums has given me the experience and confidence needed to be a successful teacher.”

MAJOR AREAS OF STUDY

Committed to Helping

All special education programs at FSU are committed to high quality personnel preparation, service to the State of Florida, and nationally recognized research leading to improved outcomes for and understanding of children, youth and adults with disabilities.

Special education offers several degrees including Doctoral, Specialist, and Master’s with specializations in a variety of areas depending on the degree: high incidence disabilities/response to intervention, autism spectrum disorders, severe or profound disabilities, transition, visual disabilities, and early childhood special education. The program also offers FSU certificates in Early Childhood and Family Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education. Coursework meeting the state of Florida’s requirements for the Pre-Kindergarten Disabilities, Severe/Profound Disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorders Endorsements and the Infant/ Toddler Developmental Specialist Certificate is available and can be taken within the context of coursework for a degree. The 3-year Education of Students with Exceptionalities Program is a stateapproved program for initial teacher certification in ESE. Master’s degrees may be earned by attending courses on campus or taking courses on-line.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider one of the many excellent special education programs available at The Florida State University.

Are you searching for a major that will prepare you to teach students with disabilities? Are you an experienced teacher wishing to learn advanced skills and conduct research in special education and related areas? Or are you someone wanting to change careers and looking for a profession dedicated to helping students become successful and achieve their life goals?

achieve their life goals .

A profession helping students with disabilities

Youth.

At the Florida State College of Education, we cultivate educational leaders with the strength, skill, and character necessary to lead in the field of Education.

It’s no accident that we hold the Carnegie Foundation’s highest designation – Doctoral/Research University-Extensive. We offer a distinctive academic environment built on cherished values and a unique heritage. Among the stately Live Oaks of Tallahassee, you’ll find Florida’s oldest continually operating house of higher education, championship athletics, and the best that the Sunshine State has to offer.

With award-winning faculty and programs, our research makes huge contributions in the field of education. And, because we’re located in Florida’s state capital, you have access to the policymakers who effect change.

On our beautiful and historic campus, you’ll find a nurturing environment filled with professionals with a wide range of interests.

We value active, close-working relationships and want nothing more than to see our students succeed. Our programs prepare a variety of professional personnel – including administrators, teachers, researchers, policymakers and human-service specialists – for educational careers in the public and private sector.

With access to a wide range of resources, you’ll be entering your career with the ability to make a difference – both in the field of education and the lives of others. We provide advanced instructional technology, student-services support staff, and an accessible faculty that actively contributes to research in the field. Add to that the ever-growing list of alumni who accomplish positive change across the globe, and you start to get a better understanding of the difference that Florida State makes.

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE of EDUCATION

SCHOOL of TEACHER EDUCATION

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Second Floor, Stone Building Room 2204

You’ll look great in Garnet & Gold.

www.coe.fsu.edu/se

G107 Stone Building 1114 W. Call Street Tallahassee, FL 32306-4459

School of Teacher Education

COLLEGE of EDUCATION

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE of EDUCATION

Award-Winning Faculty Barbara Foorman, Ph.D.

Bruce M. Menchetti, Ph.D.

Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research

Dr. Menchetti coordinates the special education teacher education program and specializes in the transition of students with disabilities from school to adult life in the community. He is currently the associate dean for student affairs in the College of Education at Florida State University. Dr. Menchetti’s research interests include the use of person-centered planning for career assessment, supported employment, and the community inclusion of individuals with severe disabilities. Dr. Menchetti has received and directed federal grants to prepare personnel to work effectively with individuals with disabilities as well as grants to demonstrate best practices in supported employment and transition systems change.

Francis Eppes Professor of Education Dr. Barbara Foorman is the Francis Eppes Professor of Education and Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University. During 2005, Dr. Foorman served as the Commissioner of Education Research in the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Foorman has over 140 publications in the area of reading and language development. She is co-editor of the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, serves on national advisory committees and national consensus committees on reading, and has been principal investigator of several federally-funded grants concerning early reading interventions, scaling assessment-driven instruction, and literacy development in Spanish-speaking children.

Associate Professor

Mary Frances Hanline, Ph.D.

Jeanne Wanzek, Ph.D.

Doctoral Program Coordinator

Dr. Jeanne Wanzek is an assistant professor at Florida State University and on the research faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research. She is a former special educator and elementary teacher. Dr. Wanzek conducts research examining effective reading instruction and intervention. Her focus is on prevention and remediation for students with reading difficulties and disabilities. She has worked with several elementary and middle schools conducting research to improve core classroom instruction and intervention implementation. In addition, she has consulted with several schools and districts across the country on the implementation effective reading instruction.

Professor

Dr. Mary Frances Hanline is a Professor in the School of Teacher Education at Florida State.. Her graduate training was at Columbia University, NYC, and the University of California, Berkley. She has over 25 years of experience with university teaching and research in early childhood special education. She coordinates the Early Childhood Special Education and distance learning Special Education Studies Master’s degree programs.

Research interests include play-based intervention, inclusion, and supports to young learners with severe disabilities in high quality inclusive early childhood programs. She has directed/co-directed multiple OSEP personnel preparation grants, a project of national significance, a model demonstration project, and two research grants totally over $7,800,000.

Assistant Professor

Barbara Edwards, Ed.D.

Melanie Presnell

ESE Program Coordinator

Melanie Presnell is an Associate In Special Education at Florida State University. She earned a Masters in Science in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders with a specialization in Early Childhood Special Education. She is a former Pre-Kindergarten teacher. She returned to Florida State University for a Masters in Science in Information Studies.

She went on to teach computer technology courses at Tallahassee Community College. Currently, she is collaborating with administration and faculty at a local elementary school to implement a S.T.E.M. club.

She is interested in the inclusion of children with special needs and the advancement of children’s learning through the use of technology. She teaches inclusion, assessment, science and social studies methods courses.

Also, she supervises students in field experiences.

Associate Professor

Dr. Barbara Edwards is an associate professor of special education in the School of Teacher Education. She has been at FSU since 1989. Among her many distinguished professional positions Dr. Edwards has been a consultant to state departments of education, the U. S. Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education in Costa Rica. She has published articles in numerous journals, including Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Journal of Learning Disabilities and Educational Technology. She has also served as the associate dean for student affairs in the College of Education at Florida State University.

Associate In Special Education

Program Contacts OASIS

Office of Academic Services and Intern Support

850.644.3760 coe.fsu.edu/OASIS

Jeanne McDowell Academic Support Assistant

850.645.8316 jmcdowell@fsu.edu

www.coe.fsu.edu/se