Special Education

Welcome to our Degree Programs

Special Education Program


Welcome


Dr. John Wheeler, Interim Department Chair, Professor, and Graduate Program Coordinator; Dr. Pamela Mims, Professor, Associate Dean of Research and Grant; Dr. Dawn Rowe, James H. Quillen Chair of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Professor; Dr. Arnold Nyarambi, Professor and SPED Minor Advisor;  Dr. Luann Ley Davis, SPED Program Coordinator, Associate Professor; Dr. Jingyuan Zhang, Assistant Professor; Dr. Kristie Calvin, Clinical Professor. Not pictured: Dr. Cynthia Chambers, Professor and Associate Dean of Educator Preparation.

 

The Special Education Program offers undergraduate and graduate programs that meet teacher licensure requirements in the state of Tennessee. A non-licensure track is also available to graduate level students who want to work in areas of developmental disabilities and related human services positions that do not require a teaching license (please see our Advanced Studies program).

In addition, we offer three add-on graduate certificates that are available completely online (SPED Early Childhood Add-On, SPED High Incidence Disabilities Add-On, SPED Low Incidence Disabilities Add-On).At the undergraduate level the course of study earns a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. Successful completion of the graduate program earns a Master of Education in Special Education. Prospective students may get information about teacher licensure and non-licensure programs by clicking on the Programs & Degree Requirements link on the left. 

 

After a year of hard work, undergraduate and graduate students in the Special Education program uploaded their edTPA files to Pearson!



Photo of ETSU students celebrating their edTPA file submission to Pearson



Front Row (L to R): Tiarra Slover, Abigail Combs, Caitlin Conner, Hannah Hawk, Ashlyn Peace, McKenzie Martin, Daniela Sanchez (graduate), Mackenzie Sanders. Back Row (L to R) Olivia Watson, Joseph Hendrick, Destinee Jarnagin, Haven Corey, Abigail Butler, Nathan Mossholder. Not Pictured: Clare Crist (graduate).




 

Meet our Interim Chair, Dr. Wheeler.

John Wheeler, PhD

Photo for John Wheeler, PhD

Dr. John Wheeler is currently a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Special Education at East Tennessee State University and Professor of Special Education. He earned his Ph.D. in Special Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1989, since that time he has established himself as a university administrator, educator and applied researcher.  His research interests include designing instructional and behavioral supports for children with autism and their families.  His most recent research has been aimed at building capacity in underserved areas to address the expanded service delivery needs of children and families impacted by autism.  Additionally he has co-authored several textbooks in these areas as well as numerous research studies and international and national presentations.

He has had extensive administrative experiences as having served as both dean and associate dean in prior appointments and as principal investigator and director on numerous federal and state funded grant projects in excess of $6- million dollars in external funding over the past 28-years.

For all undergraduate students advisement questions, please contact Wendy Sutherland at sutherla@etsu.edu