Special Education
Bachelor of Science and Teacher Licensure
"The learning process is something you can incite, literally incite, like a riot."
Audre Lorde
Students who graduate from Saint Joseph College's Special Education teacher preparation programs are recognized throughout Connecticut as exceptionally well-prepared, current in best practice, and a voice for justice for all children. They have been effectively guided by faculty who are experts in a wide variety of special education areas, master teachers in the classroom, and individuals passionate about serving the needs of all students.
The special education major with teacher licensure, including cross endorsement in elementary teacher licensure, features coursework and field experiences using research-based assessments and interventions to address the needs of students with diverse abilities and needs. Programs lead to students' eligibility to teach students with disabilities in learning, language, communication, attention, social/behavioral disorders, and cognitive delays, grades K-12, in Connecticut public schools and private special education accredited facilities.
Saint Joseph College teacher candidates have many options for gaining experience in educational settings through academic observations and fieldwork. In addition to public school classrooms, SJC students may access Saint Joseph College lab schools: The Gengras Center, The School for Young Children, and the School for Young Children on Asylum Hill and The Charter School for Young Children for field placements, offering the opportunity to apply lessons to a diverse population of students.
The Gengras Center is a state approved, private special education facility located on campus. Opened in 1965, it is the first on-campus laboratory school of its kind in Connecticut. The Gengras Center serves as a practicum experience for all departments interested in having their students interact with children and youth with disabilities. As a community resource, The Gengras Center serves the educational needs of children and young adults (ages 3-21) with intellectual delays for more than 50 surrounding school districts in Greater Hartford. An extensive vocational program is provided which includes campus and community worksites. Other programs include an Integrated Pre-School Program, Academic, and LIFE Skills curriculum.
The School for Young Children, established in 1936 as a laboratory setting, provides a model preschool and kindergarten educational program for children three to six years of age. The school serves as a resource for the purpose of observation, research and field experiences with young children. Accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and recognized by the Connecticut State Board of Education, the school demonstrates current educational practices.
Candidates' experiences lead them to meet the needs of all students in today's contemporary classrooms by building strong collaborative partnerships among schools, families, and communities. With multiple approaches, extensive skills, and a deep appreciation of individual learning needs, candidates are prepared to enhance the lives and learning of all students.
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Bachelor of Science in Special Education |
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| General Academic Background | Special Education Major | Additional Teacher Preparation Courses Special Education with Elementary Cross Endorsement |
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Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
No additional course work may be taken during student teaching. Written Comprehensive Examination must be successfully passed senior year, in conjunction with SPEC 499. |
Sophomore Year
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Junior Year
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Senior Year
Beyond EDUC 430, no additional course work may be taken during student teaching. All requirements must be fulfilled before student teaching. Praxis II exams must be passed to complete the teacher license application. |
Special Education Course Descriptions
Contacts
Special Education Teacher Licensure
- Licensure Officer, Jill Mack: 860.231.5335
- Licensure Office Assistant: 860.231.5330
Special Education Faculty
- Dr. Lydia Conca, Special Education; Urban Education, lconca@sjc.edu
- Dr. Joan Hofmann, Special Education; Academy for Young Writers, jhofmann@sjc.edu
- Dr. Jule McCombes-Tolis, Special Education, jmccombes-tolis@sjc.edu
- Dr. Kathleen Whitbread, Special Education; Autism Spectrum Disorders, kwhitbread@sjc.edu
Executive Assistant to the Dean of Education
- Lisa Sandstrom, 860.231.5331, lsandstrom@sjc.edu
