Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families by developing and disseminating essential skills, knowledge, and values through research, teaching, and service.
Contact Us for Additional Information
Academic Advising can help!
- Create a career plan in Special Education
- Pursue the program that speaks to you
- Find funding to reach your goal
Kaitlin Lindsey
Academic Advising Coordinator
Freshman & Transfer 2020-21 New Student Orientation
Spring 2023 permission code request forms for:
Current Grant Funding
For other funding and scholarship opportunities, see COST above.
TRIMM Scholarships for Students Specializing in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
TRIMM Scholarships are supported with IDEA funds from the Utah State Board of Education to address the critical shortage of teachers serving students with mild/moderate disabilities in Utah
Project ASSIST
Funding available for graduate students pursuing a degree/licensure in teaching children who are deaf and hard of hearing and students in audiology.
Project ISAACC
Funding available in a collaboration between students pursuing a graduate degree in adapted physical education and students pursuing a graduate degree in speed-language pathology.
Project TSDBOT
Funding available in a collaboration between students pursuing a graduate degree/licensure in teaching children who are deafblind and students pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy.
Project TVISP
Funding available in a collaboration between students pursuing a graduate degree/licensure in visual impairments and students pursuing a graduate degree in school psychology.
Project IPEP
RECRUITING NOW! Apply by March 1, 2023 for Fall 2023 start - $$ available.
Project IPEP (Interdisciplinary Preparation of Early Childhood Professionals for Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention) is a project funded through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Interdisciplinary Training Grant and provides funded training (scholarships) for early intervention/early childhood special education students at the University of Utah while also advancing their skills in interdisciplinary collaboration through coordinated coursework and field experiences with social worker students. Scholars in Project IPEP will also gain specialized knowledge in infant mental health, the impacts of trauma, and supporting young children with high intensity social emotional needs in early intervention and educational settings
Project IPEP
Scholars in Project IPEP will receive $14,500 per year for two years in scholarships (Total of $29,000) plus up to 75% tuition waiver to qualified scholars. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and be willing to obtain their Master’s in Education. This is a competitive grant opportunity with four EI/ECSE scholars funded in each of the cohort years starting Fall 2023, Fall 2024, and Fall 2025. Applications are due March 1.
This grant is managed by principal investigator Dr. Sondra M. Stegenga. Interested individuals may contact her at sondra.stegenga@utah.edu
For more information: CLICK HERE!
Minor in Special Education
For undergraduate students who are not pursuing a career in special education to better understand and support the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families
Bachelor’s Programs
(with licensure)
- Severe Disabilities
- Visual Impairments
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Preschool Special Education & Early Intervention
Master’s Programs
(with or without licensure)
- Severe Disabilities
- Visual Impairments
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Preschool Special Education & Early Intervention
- Deafblind
- BCBA
- Adapted Physical Education (APE)
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Options
(endorsement/licensure only)
- Severe Disabilities
- Visual Impairments
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Preschool Special Education & Early Intervention
- Deafblind
- BCBA
Ph.D. Degree in Special Education
A research-oriented program with an interdisiplinary focus that prepares students for leadership positions in special education.
What Special Education is all about at the University of Utah
Department of Special Education
Sensory Impairment Programs
What's Happening in SPED
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Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Ivy on Deafblind collaboration Grant Award
Dr. Sarah Ivy (PI) and Dr. Lori Richards (co-PI) were awarded $1,000,000 for Project TSDBOT: Special Education Teachers with Endorsement in Deafblindness and Occupational Therapists Collaborating through an Interdisciplinary Program to Improve Services from the United States Department of Education
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Congratulations to Dr. Wesley Wilson on collaborative Grant Award in Adapted PE
The Adapted Physical Education (APE) Program in the Department of Special Education and the Speech-Language Pathology Program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) have recently been awarded a five-year, $1 million U.S. Department of Education grant.
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Alta High School to Pilot U of U College of Education Intro to Special Education
Shamby Polychronis met with high school students to learn about the pilot class offered at their school next term.
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VSA Intersections Conference
Special Education faculty held a morning workshop at the recent VSA Intersections Conference: Arts and Special Education in Irvine, CA.
Upcoming Events
Please check back!
Safety and Wellness
The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will recieve important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.
Project ASSIST: Advancing Student Success Through Interdisciplinary Scholar Training: Preparation Program for Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Audiologists
Project ASSIST is an interdisciplinary personnel preparation grant that will provide financial support to students pursuing a graduate degree and teacher license in special education (DHH K-12 program). Project ASSIST aims to reduce the critical shortage of deaf educators and educational audiologists. Scholars will receive $20,000 in grant funding, $2,000 for travel to a national conference, and may be eligible for a partial tuition waiver.
Application deadline: March 1st of each year through 2024
For more information: CLICK HERE!
Contact Nicole Pilling at nicole.pilling@utah.edu or 801-649-7293
Project TVISP
The Department of Special Education/Multi University Consortium's Visual Impairments Program and the Department of Educational Psychology's School Psychology Program have been awarded a Teacher Preparation Grant from the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs. This five-year project will provide $1,242,384 to support the preparation of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and School Psychologists. Graduate level scholars will receive $13,500 per year for up to two years. Graduate scholars may be eligible for a tuition waiver.
The grant is managed by principal investigator Dr. Chris Bischke. Interested persons may contact Dr. Bischke at chris.bischke@utah.edu.
For more information: CLICK HERE!
Project ISAACC
The Adapted Physical Education (APE) Program in the Department of Special Education and the Speech-Language Pathology Program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) have been awarded a five-year, $1 million U.S. Department of Education grant to prepare graduate-level adapted physical educators and speech-language pathologists. The grant, Project ISAACC (Interdisciplinary Scholarship for Advancing APE and CSD Collaboration), will prepare highly qualified candidates to serve students with disabilities through an interdisciplinary program of study in which they will learn alongside and from members in the other program en route to their master's degrees.
Admitted scholars on this grant will receive $20,000 each year of the two-year APE Program. Applicants will be considered for tuition waivers on a competitive basis.
Applicants must have undergraduate concentrations in physical education from an accredited institution and be eligible for physical education licensure upon entry into the APE Program at the University of Utah.
This grant is managed by principal investigator Dr. Wesley J. Wilson. Interested persons may contact Dr. Wilson at wesley.wilson@utah.edu.
Project TSDBOT
The Department of Special Education’s Deafblind Program and the College of Health’s Occupational Therapy Program have been awarded a $997,423.41 teacher preparation grant from the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs. The majority of funds will go to student scholarships for graduate students. Individuals interested in completing a master’s degree in deafblindness, must hold or be pursuing a teaching license in another area of special education. These scholars will receive $6,406 for up to 4 semesters or up to a total of $25,625. Scholars may also be eligible for a tuition waiver.
For more information, CLICK HERE!
The grant is managed by principal investigator Dr. Sarah Ivy. Interested persons may contact Dr. Ivy at sarah.ivy@utah.edu.
Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Deadlines to submit applications:
Summer or Fall Admissions is March 11th
Fall Admissions is May 16th
The Teacher Recruiting in Mild/Moderate (TRIMM) Licensure project has scholarships available for undergraduate and graduate students seeking initial licensure in Special Education with Mild/Moderate specialization.
Candidates must be on track to complete their program requirements for their initial teaching license with a Bachelor's degree, teaching license with a Master's degree, or a teaching license only.
TRIMM Scholarships are made on a competitive basis and provide up to 2 years of funding for the following students:
- Up to $9,000 for graduate students each year
- Up to $5,000 for undergraduate students each year
- Up to $5,000 for students seeking Licensure Only
| Undergraduate Admissions | Teaching License Only Admissions | |
| Graduate Admissions |
If you are planning to start in Summer or Fall of 2022, please contact
Dr. Breda O’Keeffe (breda.okeeffe@utah.edu) or Dr. Sharlene Kiuhara (s.kiuhara@utah.edu).
TRIMM Scholarships are supported with IDEA funds from the Utah State Board of Education to address the critical shortage of teachers serving students with mild/moderate disabilities in Utah.
For more information CLICK HERE!
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