Department of Special Education and Counseling

Office

Location:: King Hall C1064
Phone: (323) 343-4400
Website: Department of Special Education and Counseling

Administrator

Chair: Elina Saeki
Email: esaeki@calstatela.edu
Phone: (323) 343-4400

The Faculty

Professors: Ya-Chih Chang, Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, Christina Kimm, Leila Ricci, Jennifer Symon, Michele Wallace, Lois Weinberg
Associate Professors: Michael J. Carter, Margaret D. Clark, Robin Dodds, Emily Hernandez, Jiwon Hwang, Anna Osipova, Elina Saeki (Chair)
Assistant Professors: Nicholas Casias, Kezia Gopaul-Knights, Ramar Henderson, Yunzhen Huang, Sarah Manchanda, Denice Rios Mojica, Bryan Thornton, Jennifer Weyman, Natalie Williams Awodeha
FERP: Heidi Paul
Emeriti: Martin G. Brodwin, Gary Best, Sherwood Best, Philip Chinn, Barbara Clark, Mary A. Falvey, Christine Givner, Diane Haager, George Hong, Nancy Hunt, Collen Jamison, Diane Klein, Holly Menzies, Pauline Mercado, David Peterson, Marcel Soriano, Kathryn Reilly, Rose-Marie Swallow, Annette Tessier, Alice Watkins, Andrea Zetlin

Overview

The Department of Special Education and Counseling, in alignment with the College of Education’s vision and mission, offers a wide range of programs for students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees, credentials, and certificates. The department’s primary focus is on developing professionals who have the expertise and dedication to support the academic, social, and psychological development of diverse learners in urban schools and related agencies.

Our program offerings include a joint doctoral program in Special Education in collaboration with UCLA, master’s degrees in Special Education and Counseling, and an undergraduate program in Rehabilitation Services. These programs are designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to excel in their respective fields and make a positive impact.

Choosing the Department of Special Education and Counseling means becoming part of a community of dedicated educators, counselors, researchers, and advocates who are committed to transforming lives through education. Together, we strive to create a lasting impact in the field of special education and counseling, making a meaningful difference for learners of all backgrounds and abilities.

For students interested in pursuing the intern pathway to complete their credential programs, Jennifer Revilla is the contact person to reach out to for any inquiries or information.

Jennifer Revilla

Office of Student Services

King Hall D2078

Phone: (323) 343-4320

Clinics

The Counseling and Assessment Clinic: operated by the Division of Special Education and Counseling, and is located in King Hall C1067. It is an instructional laboratory that provides both training for counselors and counseling services to the community. Students working toward a master’s degree or credential in counseling serve as student clinicians under direct faculty supervision.

C. Lamar Mayer Learning Center: operated by the Division of Special Education and Counseling as a Saturday enrichment center for children and youth with and without disabilities from the community. The Learning Center serves as a field experience laboratory for the special education credential candidates working toward their preliminary credentials and counselor candidates from the School-based Family Counseling program under faculty supervision.

The Diagnostic Resource Center (DRC): located in King Hall KHC 2092A, it provides a lending service for psychological and educational assessment materials to qualified students for class and internship related activities.

Mission Statement

The COE mission is to develop in students the professional knowledge, skills, end dispositions to promote the academic, social, end psychological development of diverse learners in urban schools and related agencies. COE graduates become teachers, special educators, school administrators, educational technologists, researchers, program evaluators, school psychologists, counselors, rehabilitation professionals, higher education faculty, and other education specialists. Within an environment as shared governance, COE professional preparation programs utilize data-driven decision-making, technology-integrated instruction, meaningful curricula, and outcome-based assessments to ensure high-quality educational opportunities for all students..

Accreditation

All credential programs in the Department of Special Education and Counseling are approved and accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Programs in the department are also nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).