Penn State Offers $12,500 Scholarships for Special Education Master’s and Certification Program

by Joe Savrock (February 2011)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In response to a growing national demand for special education teachers, Penn State is again offering scholarships in the amount of $12,500 for 15 months of study in early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE).

Participants can earn both a master’s degree in early childhood special education and special education certification concurrently. The program is designed to prepare graduates to fulfill employment roles related to working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have disabilities and their families.

The program, titled “Preparing 21st Century Early Childhood Intervention Professionals at Penn State University to Serve Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families,” is entering its third year of funding. It is supported by an $800,000 grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, an arm of the U.S. Department of Education.

“This is a great opportunity for teachers to earn a master’s degree, certification in special education and receive some financial support,” said Kathleen McKinnon, associate professor of special education and director of the EI/ECSE training grant. “The program is designed to enhance their skills for working with young children with exceptional learning needs in all settings.”

Student applications are now being accepted for the next available session, which begins this summer and runs through summer 2012. Any person with field experience in early childhood and school-age classrooms serving children who have exceptional learning needs is encouraged to apply.

For applicants whose undergraduate degree is not in an education field, the coursework may take longer than 15 months.

More information about the application process is available online or from McKinnon by e-mail.