School of Education and Leadership

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential

NDNU's Education Specialist Credential program prepares students to teach in special education settings in public and private schools. Mild/Moderate credential holders teach students in Resource Specialist Program classes (K-12) and students in special day classes for learning disabilities. Moderate/Severe credential holders will be able to teach students in grades K-12 whose needs are more severe. Students may pursue an Education Specialist credential whether or not they have a regular education credential.

See the NDNU General Catalog for program requirements and course desciptions.

Autism Authorization Add-On

Notre Dame de Namur University offers an add-on teaching authorization for teaching students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This authorization can be added to an existing special education teaching credential to expand the scope of instruction for current teachers. It can also be added on to any base credential, whether it was obtained at NDNU or somewhere else. Additionally, there may be general education teachers or related service personnel who may choose to enroll in this course sequence to better their understanding of ASD. Request more information.

Distinctions

  • By taking additional coursework (which must include the Capstone course), students may qualify for the Master’s degree after earning 47 units. Many of these units are met by completing the Preliminary Credential.
  • As part of their credential program, it is sometimes possible for education specialist students to complete their fieldwork as a paid intern teacher. Prerequisite coursework and other state and NDNU requirements need to be met in order to secure a California University Internship Credential before beginning any internship in a public school.
  • Each course in the program meets once per week in the late afternoons and evenings. Summer courses meet two times per week.
  • A program plan is arranged for each student when he or she meets with the program director.

Admission Process

NDNU admits students throughout the year for fall, spring and summer semesters. Please review the NDNU General Catalog for complete admission requirements.

Faculty

Lu Chang, Professor of Education and Director, Single Subject Credential Program, at NDNU since 1994.
BA, University of International Business and Economics; MA, California State University, Northridge; Ed.D., University of the Pacific.

Judy Doktor, Associate Professor, Director Education Specialist Credential Program, at NDNU since 2009.
MA, University of Hawaii; MA, SUNY Binghamton; Ph.D. Vanderbilt University.

Janet Fox, Part-Time Instructor, Special Education Credential Program, at NDNU since 2010.
BA, Stanford; MA, Santa Clara University; MA, San Francisco State.

Irvin Rollins, Core Faculty in Education, at NDNU since 1979.
BA, MA, San Francisco State University; Ed.D., University of San Francisco.

Lisa Simpson, Full-Time Instructor, Special Education Credential Program, at NDNU since 2012.
BS, Texas Tech University; MA, Texas Tech University, Ed.D., University of San Francisco.

Fred Thompson, Part-Time Instructor, Special Education Credential Program, at NDNU since 2002.
BA, Humboldt State University; MA, San Francisco State University.

Jude Wolf, Part-Time Instructor, Special Education Credential Program, at NDNU since 2007.
BS, San Francisco State University; MA, Notre Dame de Namur University; Ed.D., University of San Francisco.

Contact

Judy Doktor, Ph.D., Program Director
(650) 508-3627, jdoktor@ndnu.edu

Graduate Admissions
Tel: 1 (800) 263-0545 or
(650) 508-3600
Fax: (650) 508-3426
E-mail: grad.admit@ndnu.edu
M-Th 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.