Special Education

The philosophy of the Special Education Program at Baylor School of Education is guided by the belief that: “All children can learn, if they are carefully taught.”

Careful instruction is understood in two ways:

• Instruction that is “full of care,” provide in an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance
• Instruction that is “careful” in its attention to evidence-based practices, including assessment-driven instruction that produces learning success

Careful instruction can only be learned by experience coupled with supervision and feedback to guide the development of essential teacher skills. Therefore, the program includes varied supervised field experiences throughout the course sequence.

There is an acute shortage of Special Education teachers nationwide, and Baylor offers a high-quality program for students to obtain an undergraduate teacher certification in Special Education and also offers a PhD specialization in Special Education.

All-Level Special Education (BSEd)

This program prepares a candidate to teach only students with exceptional learning needs, from early childhood through 12^th grade. Field experiences focus on students with varying levels of disability ranging from mild to severe. Most Special Education courses at Baylor have 15 or fewer students, so professors get to know students and provide individual assistance as needed. The program is rich in faculty-supervised field experiences designed to give students opportunities in a variety of special education settings.

Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education (MAT)

Special Education is a certification option through the SOE’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), a School-wide residential program offering initial teacher certification. The MAT in special education provides certification to teach students with disabilities in self-contained or inclusive settings from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is ideal for students who are pursuing or have earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field, but discover a love for serving others and wish to become a certified teacher. Baylor undergraduates may pursue the MAT by taking approved courses before graduation and then receiving the bachelor's degree and MAT simultaneously. The MAT is also available to graduates of Baylor and other universities as a stand-alone master's program.

PhD Specialization in Special Education

Baylor uses a competency-based approach to ensure doctoral students gain knowledge and skills in research, teaching, and supervision while our coursework offers a blend of theory and practice for serving individuals with high-incidence disabilities.