Special education teacher reviewing an assignment with high school student

Academic Program

Special Education

Apply a person-centered approach to education, including all people with disabilities in school and society.

Our Special Education program prepares highly-qualified and competent special education teachers, behavior analysts, and researchers who contribute to positive outcomes for individuals with diverse needs. Students learn effective methods for supporting and advocating for individuals with disabilities through their work with faculty who are noted experts in autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, multilingual learners with disabilities, and emotional behavioral disorders.

Guiding Principles

The philosophy that underlies the program curriculum and faculty activities includes the following:

Data-driven Approach 

The program offers a data-driven approach to teacher education with an emphasis on using data to individualize and monitor instruction. Graduate students in the program gain expertise in using student data for curriculum development, selecting instructional strategies, and planning behavioral support that are applicable to students with a variety of needs, including those with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, intellectual disability, physical disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury and other disabilities.

Experiential Learning

The best way to learn how to teach and support individuals with disabilities is through a combination of course work and direct experience. All course work in special education involves fieldwork experiences. The program is affiliated with university-operated programs and local schools that provide opportunities for student funding and fieldwork.

Preventive and Proactive Strategies 

The most successful approaches for individuals with disabilities focus on prevention. Programming should focus on early identification and intervention to avoid the development of serious challenges. Interventions should build supportive environments that are instructive and maximize positive learning opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Person-centered

Programs and educational experiences for individuals with disabilities should encourage self-determination and competence. Skills that facilitate autonomy and personal freedom are critical. Our faculty are committed to the enhancement of quality of life for people with disabilities.

Innovative

Our faculty are uniquely involved in the development of research-supported and innovative practices. As researchers, they investigate new instructional methods and ways of supporting students with disabilities. All of our students learn to design instruction and other forms of support based on research and best practices. Opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research endeavors are available to doctoral students.

Accreditation

The Special Education programs have met the rigorous criteria and standards designed by the following governing boards to provide a top education for our students.

Centennial School teacher working with Student

Centennial School

Many of our current master’s students who are pursuing their Special Education master’s degree and/or certification work at our highly acclaimed and nationally recognized lab school, Centennial School. Centennial School offers our graduate students optimal opportunities to be engaged in hands-on learning and immersed in evidence-based practices including positive behavior support strategies and data-based explicit instruction. Learn more.

Learn More

Special Education Spotlight

  • George DuPaul and Lee Kern

    Behavioral Interventions Effective Tool in ADHD Treatment

    A recent op ed by COE professors George DuPaul and Lee Kern published in Penn Live suggests that the role of behavioral parent training [BPT] may be underutilized. For young children, especially those under six, leading health authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommend that parents pursue behavioral interventions (specifically BPT] before turning to medication.

  • Dr. Brandi Simonsen

    2025 Stoops Lecture Celebrates Centennial School

    Dr. Brandi Simonsen will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 John A. Stoops Lecture on May 6, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Iacocca Hall. Established in tribute to Lehigh’s first dean of education and founder of Centennial School, this year’s lecture marks Centennial’s sixtieth anniversary. Simonsen's remarks, titled Celebrating Centennial School and the Promise of Positive Practice, will examine the contributions of Centennial, and the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

  • 2025 COE Student Research Colloquium

    COE Grad Students Present at 2025 Colloquium

    What a great event! Thirty-three COE graduate students shared their high-impact research at the Inaugural College of Education Student Research Colloquium last Friday. Students from the Counseling Psychology, Educational Leadership, School Psychology, Special Education and Teaching, Learning and Technology programs participated in the Mountaintop campus poster session.

    Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support.

  • Giving Day + March Mania

    Your Support Makes a Difference

    On March 25th and 26th, Giving Day + March Mania: Combined Challenge for Lehigh takes place. This 48-hour event impacts all areas of the student experience and challenges all members of the Lehigh family to demonstrate their support for the campus initiatives and causes they are most passionate about. Please visit the COE Giving Day + March Mania page to participate:

Faculty & Staff