Special and Early Education (SEEC, SESE, SEVI)

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 Admission to the major in elementary education and to the interdisciplinary major in early childhood studies is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in this catalog.

The Department of Special and Early Education offers the B.S. degree with an interdisciplinary major in early childhood studies, the B.S.Ed. degree with a major in special education, and undergraduate course work in early education and special education. State of Illinois approved and CAEP accredited programs leading to licensure are offered in early childhood education and special education. Viewing teaching both as an art and a science, learning as a reciprocal process, and service as a responsibility, the department provides curriculum and instruction grounded in theory, research, and best practice.

The B.S. degree in early childhood studies is offered jointly by the Department of Special and Early Education and the School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences.

The B.S.Ed. degree in special education is designed for those who plan to teach students with disabilities at the elementary, intermediate, and secondary level, leading to Type 10 Standard Special licensure. Completion of department and appropriate emphasis requirements leads to licensure by entitlement for teaching individuals with disabilities, either as Emphasis 1. Learning Behavior Specialist I, or Emphasis 2. Vision Impairments.

As part of educator licensure, students must pass two competency examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education, one in basic skills and one in the subject-matter knowledge that corresponds most closely to the Illinois field for which they are seeking certification (e.g., early childhood education, special education). Additional tests may be required before applying for Illinois educator licensure.

Advisement services are provided the student from freshman year through graduation. Students are responsible for utilizing these services by responding to the periodic posted notices of deadlines for professional semester applications and schedules for advance registration advisement.

S/U Grading

In those courses in which the S/U grading basis is applicable, the use of S and U will apply to all students registered in any class section in which the S/U grading basis is employed. Individual students may not elect S and U grading. Educator licensure requirements are deemed to be met only by obtaining a grade of C or better in courses using traditional letter grading or an S in those professional or clinical courses in which S/U grading is used. An S is the equivalent to a C or better and a U is equivalent to a D or lower in educator licensure courses using S/U grading.

Special and Early Education Faculty

Barbara Schwartz-Bechet, Ed.D., Columbia University: Teachers College, professor, chair
Erika Blood, Ph.D., University of Washington, assistant professor
Jeffrey Chan, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, assistant professor
Lynette K. Chandler, Ph.D., University of Kansas, professor
Gregory Conderman, Ed.D., University of Northern Colorado, professor
Gaylan G. Kapperman, Ed.D., University of Northern Colorado, professor emeritus
Stacy Kelly, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University, assistant professor
Maylan Dunn-Kenney, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, associate professor
Laura Hedin, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, associate professor
Jesse W. Johnson, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University, associate professor
Sarah Johnston-Rodriguez, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin at Madison, associate professor
Myoungwhon Jung, Ph.D., Indiana University, associate professor
William Penrod, Ed.D., University of Louisville, associate professor
La Vonne I. Neal, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, professor
Toni VanLaarhoven, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University, associate professor 

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