Through the Department of Education and Professional Education Unit, the University offers a variety of nationally accredited and 

All undergraduate Education majors are enrolled, full or part-time, in a four (4) year , accredited by NCATE and approved by MSDE, program of study. Each education major selects a specific area of specialization within a general program area. The specialization curriculum offers the students the opportunity to become competent, confident, and effective educational practitioners in a highly specialized content area. Students may not minor in Education.

About Specialty Education

Specialty Education majors may major in Music Education, Art Education, or Special Education, and  are enrolled in both the Department of Education and the specialized academic department. Students must complete the curriculum that is required by the Department of Education and the curriculum that is required by their respective academic department.

The Art and Music (Instrumental and Choral) Education programs, located in the Department of Fine Arts, prepare teachers to work with students in all age groups from Pre-Kindergarten through Twelfth (P-12) grade, inclusively.The Special Education program, located in the Department of Education, prepares teachers to work with students with mild and moderate disabilities, including those with learning disabilities, mental retardation and emotional disturbance, and prepares teachers to work with students from first through eighth grade (1-8) and sixth through twelfth (6-12) grades, inclusively.

About Secondary Education

Education majors enrolled in the Secondary Education Program must complete the curriculum that is required by the Department of Education, and the curriculum that is required by the respective academic department. Successful completion of the prescribed course of study in the content area in an approved Secondary Education Program, will prepare candidates to become certified and to teach at the middle and/or high school level.

Education majors enrolled in the Secondary Education Program must complete the curriculum that is required by the Department of Education, and the curriculum that is required by the respective academic department.

Program Description:

The Upper Division Certificate (UDC) in Special Education is an 18-credit, standards-based professional certificate that is strongly oriented towards preparing individuals to serve students enrolled in elementary middle and/or high grades (K-12) who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate exceptionalities and their families through understanding direct experiences in schools with diverse populations. It emphasizes critical thinking as well as breadth and depth of theoretical methods of inquiry in education. The curriculum meets the standards for special education dictated by the Council for Exceptional Children and Maryland State Department of Education for certification.

Coursework in the UDC is designed to prepare individuals to effectively assess, teach and manage learners with mild to moderate disabilities in the elementary, middle or high grades. Additionally, this certificate is meant to provide regular classroom teachers with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to work effectively with learners with special learning needs in all classrooms while enriching their overall instructional, management, and diagnostic competencies. Moreover, this certificate places a strong emphasis on viewing the family as a partner in education. Finally, the UDC is generic and prepares teachers to work with learners who are learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, intellectually impaired, or physically challenged.

The UDC is ideal for persons pursing an undergraduate degree in any discipline of education, health profession or related service who wish to obtain a certificate in special education while earning a bachelor's degree. 

Students who complete the UDC in Special Education and are accepted into the B.S. in Special Education program can apply the credits earned from the UDC toward the bachelor's program.

Requirements for Admission:

• Current pursuit of first bachelor's degree in a field of Education, Health Profession or Related service, or completion of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree
• Official transcript from the 4-year college or university where bachelor's degree is being pursued and 2-year college where A.A.T. was earned, if applicable
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Completion of the Undergraduate Admissions Application
• Payment of associated Undergraduate Admissions application fee
• Pass a criminal background check. This is required in order to complete clinical experiences in the public school. Criminal background checks are required for all students admitted to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore programs that require field placements (e.g., practicum, student teaching, or clinical field experience). Applicants are responsible for the cost of the background check.

Curriculum:

Students pursuing the UDC in Special Education will complete the requisite coursework listed below during the summer and winter terms.

EDSP 200: Introduction to Special Education
EDSP 414: Psycho-educational Assessment I
EDSP 416: Program Development and Instructional Delivery for Students with Disabilities
EDSP 422: Psycho-educational Assessment II
EDSP 428: Communication and Collaboration in Special Education
EDSP 430: Technology in Special Education

Suggested course sequence

Summer Session - Year 1

• EDSP 200
• EDSP 428

Winter Session - Year 1

• EDSP 414

Summer Session - Year 2

• EDSP 416
• EDSP 422
• EDSP 430