Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education. Our programs include Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (bachelor, master’s, and doctoral); Special Education (bachelor, master’s, and doctoral); including focus areas in moderate and severe disability, learning and behavior disorders, assistive technology, applied behavior analysis, visual impairments, and orientation and mobility; and Counselor Education (master’s and doctoral programs). Our programs meet national accreditation standards, and our faculty are fully qualified and credentialed in the areas they teach.

Graduates are employed as teachers, counselors, educators, and program administrators. Our teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. Our Counselor Education master’s and doctoral programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Graduates of our teacher education programs become certified as teachers in their respective areas. Graduates of our Applied Behavior Analysis program are eligible for certification and licensure as Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Graduates of our Counselor Education programs are eligible for certification and licensure as professional counselors.

As a Research 1 University, we are committed to conducting research in our areas of expertise. Faculty in all disciplines are leaders in their fields and conduct studies and investigations in Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education. We publish in scholarly journals and publish books in our fields. Frequently students are part of faculty research studies and serve as Teaching, Research, and Graduate Assistants. Faculty have received numerous national awards for research excellence.

I invite you to visit and explore our website where information about programs and application procedures can be found. Specific questions should be directed to faculty in your area of interest. You will find our faculty and staff to be welcoming and helpful. I certainly welcome general questions and inquiries and look forward to meeting with potential and current students.

Dr. Melinda Ault

Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Acting Department Chair