Special Education

World-Improving Research and Creativity

Special Education trains undergraduate and graduate-level teachers in working with students with a variety of disabilities. Prepare to be a special educator or disability specialist or to earn endorsements in new areas of specialization. Program concentrations are available in mild to moderate disabilities, autism, early childhood/early intervention, behavioral disorders, studies in behavior analytic interventions, and severe disabilities.

Special Education Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Integrated Elementary Teaching

This innovative program prepares you to be an elementary teacher in Nevada for grades K-8. In addition, you earn a special education additional license or endorsement that enables you to be effective and prepared for today's diverse classrooms..

Integrated Elementary Teaching

Master of Special Education

The Master of Education in Special Education focuses on the preparation of teachers to work with students with disabilities in PK-12 schools.

Master of Special Education

Ph.D. in Education

Study in this area of emphasis on issues of disability as they apply to education and human service agencies. Students may focus broadly across disability areas and age ranges, or they may focus more narrowly.

Ph.D. in Education

Alternate Route to Licensure Program

We are offering a newly state of Nevada approved ARL Program for special education teachers who need licensure in Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Generalist and Early Childhood Special Education.

ARL

Alternate Route to Licensure Program (ARL)

We are offering a newly approved ARL Program for special education teachers who need licensure in Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Generalist and Early Childhood Special Education. Learn about our fully online, hybrid, and face to face options offered through our ARL program and see how our high-quality program can help you change the world.

Why Special Education at the University of Nevada, Reno?

IETP Students Principals across the state prefer to hire fully licensed teachers with strong skill sets. Principals show a preference for hiring dual licensed elementary/special education teachers (Diamond, Demchak & Abernathy, 2019).

Doctoral Students In 2018-2019 doctoral students in special education published 10 journal articles and presented 15 papers at national and international conferences.

BCBA We are proud to announce our new approved Board Certified Behavior Analysis M.Ed. program. This degree prepares teachers to sit for the BCBA exam.

Group of students standing in front of class

ARL The University of Nevada, Reno is now a state sponsored Alternate Route for Licensure Program. We are offering ARL programs in Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education and the Generalist License.