Special Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Special Education

Make a difference in the lives of all learners, with and without disabilities.

The special education program prepares teachers and researchers to work with all kinds of learners.

You'll develop individualized programs and adapt instruction for students with a range of disabilities, including students with learning disabilities, communication impairments, autism, behavioral disorders, and others.

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Our faculty

Current Offerings

B.S.Ed. in Special Education/Elementary Education

Teaching All Learners

B.S.Ed. in Secondary Special Education

Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (Grades 5-12)

Graduate-Level Initial License in Secondary Special Education

Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (Grades 5-12)

Fast-Track Special Education License – Transition to Teach (Online)

Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention (P-12)

Graduate License Addition in Special Education

Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention (Grades P-12, K-6, or 5-12)

Certificate in Dyslexia (Online)

Certificate in Preparing Educators of Students with Autism (Online)

Certificate in Disability Rights, Policy, and Services

M.S.Ed. in Special Education (Online)

Ph.D. in Special Education

Ph.D. Minor in Special Education

The Special Education team. Back row: Assistant Professor Kelly Williams, Associate Professor Theresa Ochoa, Administrative Assistant Aimee Polk, Associate Professor Hannah Schertz, Associate Professor Ana Maria Brannan, Professor Gretchen Butera, Professor Jeff Anderson. Front row: Associate Professor Derek Nord, Clinical Assistant Professor Tina O'Neal, Assistant Professor Sarah Hurwitz

Through fieldwork, collaborative coursework, and engaging projects, you will gain the experience and confidence to implement well-designed teaching approaches and behavioral interventions that are supported by research.

Our graduates are highly sought after by school districts and universities across the United States and beyond.

Our faculty

Jeffrey Anderson

Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Research Areas:: Interagency collaboration in public schools and communities; improving educational and social outcomes, especially for young people with emotional and behavioral challenges
Email:: jander2@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8155

Ana Maria Brannan

Associate Professor

Email:: brannana@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8119

Gretchen Butera

Professor, Edward A. and Mary Lou Otting Chair in Special Education

Email:: gbutera@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8153

Teresa Grossi

Associate Research Scientist

Email:: tgrossi@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 855-4070

Sarah Hurwitz

Associate Professor

Research Areas:: Special Education, Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, Autism, Students with Disabilities
Email:: shurwitz@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8134

Derek Nord

Professor, Director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Research Areas:: Disability, Adult Services, Policy, Employment, Community Living, Transition, Survey Research
Email:: dnord@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 855-7102

Theresa Ochoa

Associate Professor

Research Areas:: Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Email:: tochoa@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8135

Susan Roberts

Visiting Assistant Professor

Research Areas:: Education and Recidivism, Education and Incarcerated Youth
Email:: srr3@iu.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8251

Hannah Schertz

Professor

Email:: hschertz@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8146

Kelly Williams

Assistant Professor

Research Areas:: Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Reading Disabilities, K-12 Reading and Spelling Interventions, Dropout Prevention Interventions, Student Engagement
Email:: kjwilli@indiana.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-8103

Affiliated Faculty

John Andresen

Assistant Research Scientist, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Research Areas:: Transition and postsecondary programs for students with Intellectual disabilities (TPSID), employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities, teacher education disability policy advocacy
Email:: andresjm@iu.edu

Kristin Hamre

Assistant Professor, IU School of Social Work

Research Areas:: Disability policy and services; guardianship issues; family experiences; autism; intersections of disability with culture, health and human rights
Email:: khamre@iu.edu
Phone:: (812) 856-7896

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School of Education

Resources for Special Educators Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Special Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction