Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Special Education] From University of Nebraska Omaha

The mission of the Special Education and Communication Disorders department is to prepare dedicated practitioners, reflective scholars, and responsible citizens who are unique in their ability to facilitate, design, implement, and evaluate programs for individuals with disabilities. This is accomplished by creating opportunities for the acquisition and maintenance of knowledge, skills, and dispositions as prescribed by the Council for Exceptional Children, the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (for graduate program only), and state and federal regulations.

Undergraduate candidates follow a course of study with accompanying practical experiences that are grounded in theory, research, evidence-based practice, and experience. Our candidates develop essential interpersonal skills that make them valued members of collaborative, interdisciplinary teams in a variety of settings. Thus, each program of study is designed to promote problem solving skills that enable candidates to continue to broaden their skills and enhance their expertise throughout their professional career. These skills facilitate the recognition and integration of professional ethics with the individual needs and values of the communities they serve.

The Special Education and Communication Disorders programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Nebraska State Department for Education.The undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology provides the fundamental prerequisite knowledge necessary for pursuing a graduate degree. The graduate degree is the minimal requirement for employment as a speech-language pathologist in Nebraska. The speech-language pathology graduate program provides candidates with the opportunity to acquire and maintain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions as prescribed by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC), by the Nebraska Department of Education, by Nebraska Health and Human Services, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).