Research and Projects

Learn about research and projects in the Department of Special Education.

The Special Education Department has obtained federal grant funding designed to increase the number of highly qualified special education teachers and school counselors who are prepared to meet the educational needs of the diverse student population of the Southern California region.

The grants provide scholarship support to students pursuing a Preliminary or Clear Education Specialist special education teaching credential, or an M.A. in Special Education at San Diego State University.

Each grant focuses on cultural and linguistic diversity as well as an additional specialized emphasis. Each grant provides significant scholarship support to students who are admitted to the grant cohort. 

Descriptions of the grants are provided below:

• CAPTAIN San Diego/Imperial County
  The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) is a cross-agency network developed to support the understanding and use of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the state of California. CAPTAIN San Diego/ Imperial Counties is the regional branch of the statewide organization.
• CSESA
  The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA) is a research and development project funded by the U.S. Department of Education that focuses on developing, adapting, and studying a comprehensive school and community-based education program for high school students on the autism spectrum.
• LEAPS
  LEAPS: Leadership for Evidence-Based Autism Programs in Schools. This project explores leadership and other organizational factors related to implementation of educational programs for students with ASD.
• Project BEAMS
  Project BEAMS works to improve preservice preparation of school psychologists and special educators to serve diverse students with behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges in California's public schools. Project BEAMS is a collaborative project of the Counseling and School Psychology Department and the Department of Special Education.
• Project MAINSAIL
  Project MAINSAIL (M.A. degree Interdisciplinary preparatioN for Speech-language And early Intervention Leaders) is an interdisciplinary program for 16 early childhood special educators (ECSE) and 16 speech-language pathologists (SLP) with a focus on children with significant autism who are dual language learners. ECSEs will graduate with a Professional Clear Education Specialist credential and SLPs with a Speech-language Pathology Services Credential both enabling work in schools.
• Project PIPELINES
  Project PIPELINES (Preparing Intervention Personnel as Early LearnIng Navigators using Evidence-based Strategies) provides professional development and support to community college faculty who are preparing early childhood educators so that they have the knowledge and skills to teach students enrolled in their courses how to maximize the potential of young children with disabilities, including dual language learners, and provide support to families living in the diverse communities served by the college. 
• US PREP

Past Projects - Archive

Learn about past projects of the Department of Special Education.