Special Education Supervisory Certification Program

Bloomsburg University's program is designed for graduate students seeking to develop the skills and knowledge required to provide administrative leadership in educational settings that serve individuals with disabilities. The completion of this program, in addition to select criteria identified by the PA Department of Education, will qualify an individual for certification as a Supervisor of Special Education.

It is designed to prepare entry-level leaders in the field of special education administration. Graduates may be found in leadership roles in state departments of education, school districts, intermediate units, approved private schools, detention centers, colleges and universities, social service agencies, and consulting firms.

The focus of this program is directed toward the practical application of administrative theory and school governance. This program is unique in that it will extend beyond the limits of the university classroom, into the interdisciplinary realm of the public school. A collaborative instructional design will be utilized during the summer course offerings to provide for a collegial and cooperative educational experience.

This program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Exceptionality Programs and the Department of Educational Studies and Secondary Education at Bloomsburg University. This integrated approach to instruction between regular and general educators is highly useful for professionals entering the public school domain where similar collaboration is central to success.

Design

This program was redesigned to address the evolving role of the special education supervisor within the public school setting. The core content and instructional design are based upon the recommendations of practicing administrators from across Pennsylvania, as well as state and national professional standards.

The program involves a one-calendar year design for completion. It also may be integrated into a graduate student’s current course of study. Students must have completed, or plan to complete, all Pennsylvania certification requirements for Special Education.

Course Requirements

This program consists of five (5) courses and a six-credit internship. The sequence of courses required for completion of this program includes:

    Administration
      EDFOUND 573 – Introduction to Educational Administration
      SPECED 501 – Administration and Supervision of Special Education

    School Law

      SPECED 502 – Principles of Special Education Law

    Curriculum Development

      SPECED 503 – Curricular Design and Instruction for Inclusive Education

    Current Knowledge

      SPECED 575 – Seminar in Current Issues in Special Education

    Practicum Field Experience

      SPECED 595 – Internship in Special Education Administration

    Note: PROFSTUD 500 Graduate Professional Seminar is required at the beginning of any COE Graduate Program of Study (0 credits; no fee).

    Students who have completed select courses within this sequence during previous graduate work will be provided with an adapted course sequence as appropriate. To determine the course of study you must complete, see the graduate program advisor.

    Note: The supervisory program (21 credits) can be imbedded within the program of study of the Master of Science in Special Education.

Pennsylvania Requirements for Certification

(As taken from the PDE website *)

Issuance of the Single Area Supervisory Certificate requires a minimum of five years of professional school experience in the area for which the certificate is sought (i.e., Special Education). Preparation for this professional certificate is at the graduate level and presumes in-depth study in the area of supervision. A person prepared as a Single Area Supervisor may be eligible for certification provided the applicant:

    1. Has completed an approved program of graduate study preparing him/her for the responsibilities of supervising in the specified single program area and of directing the activities of certificated professional employees. (Preparation completed out-of-state must meet Pennsylvania standards for certification.)
    2. Is recommended for certification by the authorized certification officer of the institution where such education was obtained, or holds a comparable certificate from another state (for out-of-state graduates only).
    3. Provides a chief school administrator's verification of the completion of five years of satisfactory professional school experience as mentioned above. (22 PA Code Section 49.111).
    4. Has provided evidence of satisfactory achievement on assessments prescribed by the Department under Section 49.18(a). [PRAXIS Specialty Area Test: 0411 (Paper) and 5411 (Computer); Qualifying Score of 143]
    5. Is able to meet all other requirements provided by law.

(*) Please see the PDE website for additional requirements for PDE certification and for any updates as certification requirements may change over time.

Application Requirements

This program sequence may begin at any time. Application is made through the School of Graduate Studies. General admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and the Special Education Program include:

  • A one-page, handwritten letter of intent stating professional background, experience and rationale for wanting to be admitted to the department
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A resume
  • An interview with the chair or program advisor
  • A copy of a valid PA teacher certificate
  • An official transcript(s)

Interested students who are currently enrolled in a BU graduate program must notify the School of Graduate Studies and submit a letter of intent to the graduate program advisor prior to enrollment.

Please contact Alma George, secretary, Department of Exceptionality Programs at 570-389-4074 for more information.

 

Out-of-state Licensure and Certification

Bloomsburg University is approved to offer Education programs that lead to certification in Pennsylvania. While we regularly monitor licensure/certification laws in each state, state requirements are subject to change without notice. If you are interested in certification outside of Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact the appropriate state licensing agency to seek guidance and verify requirements before beginning a program and during your program of study. Please visit http://intranet.bloomu.edu/state-authorization and https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html for more information. If you are planning to teach in New Jersey, please note that you may be required to complete the edTPA, a performance based assessment. It is strongly recommended that you contact the school district(s) of interest and the New Jersey Department of Education for more information specific to New Jersey.