Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education

The Department of Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education prepares teachers for effective classroom practice of diverse students in urban settings. Our work is driven by a commitment to social justice and beliefs that all children can learn; that education is necessary for all humans to realize their full potential; and that a quality education is a right not a privilege. Our goal is the development of knowledgeable, skilled teacher candidates who are well versed in research, theory, and practice. We emphasize the preparation of candidates for effective practice with emerging bilinguals and students with special needs. Our program supports teacher candidates to value and possess culturally relevant pedagogies, and to develop the ability to be self-reflective and sensitive to the needs and challenges of their students and families and knowledgeable of the communities in which they teach. We promote the role of creative arts in schools and acknowledge the importance of using new and emerging technologies in instruction, thus enabling teacher candidates to collaborate on a global platform.