Education

Special education graduate program scholarships now available

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is offering scholarships to support graduate-level study in special education in response to the continuing national demand for special education teachers. The program in the College of Education includes scholarships in the amount of at least $19,000 for as many as 15 months of study with an emphasis on infants, toddlers and preschoolers who have disabilities and their families.

Participants can earn both a master’s degree in special education and special education certification concurrently, with an emphasis in early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE).

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, funds the program, known as Preparing 21st Century Early Childhood Intervention Professionals at Penn State University to Serve Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families. This is the fifth year of the grant and final year this scholarship support will be available.

“The support provided for students gives an excellent opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in an area where the federal government recognizes the need for more trained teachers; so jobs are out there,” said Kate McKinnon, director of the training grant. “Previous graduates have had great success getting jobs in early intervention programs, preschools or primary grade inclusive classrooms.”

McKinnon, an associate professor of special education, received her doctorate training in EI/ECSE. She has practiced in the field and currently conducts research in that area.

Applications are currently being accepted for the upcoming program, which begins in summer 2013 and runs through summer 2014. For more information, contact McKinnon at kmm25@psu.edu.

Last Updated February 5, 2013

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