Welcome!

The need for highly qualified special teachers to work in the diverse and changing landscapes of today’s classrooms has come to the forefront in the last decade. For this reason, Indiana University-Bloomington has redesigned and refocused our preparation program for current and future special educators.

Special Education for Indiana Schools Today (SPEDFIST) provides initial and additional certification in special education and/or a masters degree in special education. In addition, the program offers advanced courses in special education areas such as autism, instructional strategies, and behavior. 

Program Highlights:

• Accommodates the needs of students by offering all the programs in a hybrid format with both online and on-campus requirements
• Incorporates an ongoing apprenticeship so that students can practice skills in actual classrooms and develop an extensive relationship with a mentor teacher.
• Fosters a sense of community among fellow teachers and faculty through seminar activities.
• Completion of a professional portfolio based on CEC standards and personal experiences.
• Individualized course curriculum for elementary and secondary level teachers.
• Exposure to the latest research on evidence-based instruction.