Preparing the Next Generation of Higher Education Faculty in Special Education

Abstract

There is a shortage in the number of funded doctoral programs in the field of special education. As a result the number of higher education faculty who are trained in the knowledge and skills necessary to train the next generation of special education teachers is critically low. This article describes a doctoral program funded by the Office of Special Education that is currently in its third of four years. Several key goals of the program address the skills needed by the next generation of special education higher education teacher educators. The goals cover teacher preparation, professional development, and academic research. The objectives of each goal concentrate on the relationships between research and practice related to the development of teacher educators within the special education field. The program of study including the coursework and internships is detailed as it was developed to build the competencies needed by the doctoral students.