By Emily Haleck
The BYU School of Education has announced the return of a special education major next fall.
The major will return after an absence of seven years and will allow the enrollment of 32 students each year.
Special education was canceled in the mid-1990s for a variety of reasons but was mostly caused by a lack of faculty, said Gordon Gibb, assistant professor for special education.
Mary Anne Prater, department chair for counseling psychology and special education, said there was also a trend for special education courses to move to a graduate level, which happened at BYU. This trend led to a shortage in special education teachers on a national and local level, Prater said.
'Special education teachers are usually among the top three nationwide for shortage of teachers,' Prater said. 'There''s high turnover because it''s one of the more demanding jobs in education.'
For the past several years, special education at BYU has only been available to undergraduates as a minor or an add-on to certain education majors. Now, the incorporation of a new major will help alleviate the critical need for teachers to work with students with disabilities, Gibb said.
Students will enter the program as juniors and will be required to stay in school during the Spring and Summer Terms between their junior and senior years. The requirement is necessary so education students can work with elementary-aged disabled students when public school is out of session.
'We have a summer program with Alpine, Provo and Nebo school districts that gives our students the opportunity to have the practical experience teaching, in preparation for their student teaching,' Gibb said.
Administrators at the school of education anticipate a good response.
'We''ve always had people come and inquire about a major in special education,' Gibb said. 'And now, even without formal advertising, some people have heard and have inquired about it. They''re just waiting for our application forms, which are ready now.'
Applications are available in 340 MCKB and are due March 14.
Mindy Bowman, a recent elementary education graduate of BYU, said she wishes a special education major were in place when she was studying to be a teacher. Bowman, who teaches special education at Orem Junior High School, said such a major would have helped her better prepare for her job.
'I''m glad that I have the elementary education to back me up because there is such high burnout in special education, but I think it''s great for anybody that wants to do it,' Bowman said. 'I probably would''ve done it if they did have the major.'
Prater said they will be looking for applicants with good grade point averages, a commitment to the field and strong collaboration skills. Gibb also said they will also be looking for students who have had some experience working with disabled people.
'We get a lot of people who were peer tutors in high school, folks that have relatives with disabilities, kids that work in summer programs,' Gibb said. 'That''s not an absolute requirement, but it''s good because they are familiar with students with disabilities. It''s not new to them.'
Students accepted into the major will take the same classes together as they go through the major requirements, Prater said.
Rachel Woodall, 21, from Fairport, N.Y., majoring in elementary education, said she thinks it''s a great idea.
'There have been a lot of complaints because there was no special education major,' Woodall said. 'I know students will be interested.'