Students in Loyola's secondary special education program are prepared to provide effective services to adolescents with disabilities, and to take leadership roles in the field of special education. The program emphasizes research-validated intervention techniques, specialized methods, comprehensive assessment, transition planning, and advanced professional skills necessary for providing quality services to adolescents with special needs, particularly those with high-incidence disabilities such as language or learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/ behavioral disorders, and mild mental retardation.

This program meets Maryland requirements for initial certification in special education for adolescents in grades 6-12. The program attracts students from a variety of academic backgrounds and careers. Once accepted, students meet with an academic advisor to develop a personalized program plan of prerequisites (if needed), courses, and experiences based upon prior academic, teaching, and volunteer history. Program graduates are prepared to support the comprehensive needs of students in a variety of educational settings across the elementary and middle grades and to take leadership roles in the field of special education.