Online Bachelor of Science Exceptional Student Education (ESE): Special Education, Educational Foundations, and Policy Major

Working with individuals with disabilities is both challenging and incredibly rewarding for those who have a passion for helping. No individual is exactly like the last, and every situation will present with different factors, which makes the profession needed and extremely valuable to schools, families, and the communities who are assisted. For example, some professionals will help students develop study skills, such as highlighting text and using flashcards. Others may work with individuals who are employed and need assistance developing work related skills.  Employment may also include working with those who have physical disabilities and may use a wheelchair or other adaptive devices. Still others work with individuals who have sensory disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments. They also may work with those who have autism spectrum disorders or emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Individuals with disabilities who attend secondary institutions need assistance from a coordinator. Duties will vary according to work setting, the individuals’ disabilities, and specialties, but are essential in helping to address disparities in education, work environments, and the community. This program is the only fully online degree program in Florida that provides you with the Special Education and Educational Foundation content and knowledge to pursue employment and/or a pathway to advanced degrees working with individuals with disabilities.

Graduates with a BS in Exceptional Student Education may find careers in the following professions:

•       Advocate for Individuals with Disabilities
•       Lawyer Specializing in Disability Law
•       Speech/Language Pathologist
•       Occupational or Physical Therapist
•       Art or Music Therapist
•       Transition Specialist/Job Coach
•       Employment in Not for Profit Agencies (e.g., Vocational Rehabilitation)
•       ADA Compliance Officer
•       University Coordinator for Disability Services
•        Exceptional Student Education Teacher (via alternative certification)

For more information on the B.S. in Exceptional Student Education program please visit the FIU Course Catalog. If you would like to view the specific courses related to the program, please use the breadcrumbs on the Course Catalog to go back and select the “Courses” tab.

For more information on the admissions process and how to apply please visit the FIU Admissions website.

Dr. Patricia M. Barbetta, Faculty

Dr. Patricia Barbetta, Ed.D. earned her doctorate in special education at The Ohio State University and followed that with post-doctoral studies at a research facility in Kansas, Prior to this, she served as a special-education teacher, program supervisor, and education director at a school for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. She became an Assistant Professor at FIU in 1992 and in 1997, she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. The following year, she was selected as a Department Chairperson, and she served in that position for four years. She has numerous professional presentations, publications in special education journals, and she has been awarded multiple federal, state, and local grants (over $10.8 million as of Spring 2019). Amongst other professional recognitions, in 1996 and again in 2019, she was awarded the FIU University Excellence in Teaching Award. Her professional interest include using instructional and assistive technology in teaching, classroom and student behavior management, applied behavior analysis, and instructional with active student responding.

Dr. Kyle D. Bennett, Faculty

Kyle D. Bennett, EdD, BCBA-D, is an associate professor in special education at Florida International University. He has over twenty-five years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Dr. Bennett has worked as a paraprofessional, lead classroom teacher, autism specialist, behavior analyst, and program administrator. Dr. Bennett’s current work focuses on preparing teachers and related services providers to educate students with disabilities, and his current research interests include combining behavior analytic strategies with mobile technology to increase the independence of people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Dr. Michelle Cumming

Dr. Michelle Cumming is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Florida International University. Her research focuses on improving the social, emotional, and academic outcomes of students with disabilities, with a particular focus on students with or at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), through three distinct yet interrelated areas: (1) better understanding the underlying variables that contribute to and escalate students’ academic and behavior problems through an interdisciplinary approach; (2) developing and testing prevention/intervention programs that improve students’ self-regulatory abilities; and (3) gaining a greater knowledge of how working conditions contribute to special educators’ use of evidenced-based practices and intent to continue teaching. Dr. Cumming has received funding from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and the Spencer Foundation in support of her work. Her research has been published in top journals (e.g., Review of Educational Research, Exceptional Children) and has been presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Cumming is the elected secretary of the CEC, Division for Research, serves as a voting member on the Superintendent's District Advisory Panel for Exceptional Student Education, and serves on the Editorial Board of TEACHING Exceptional Children.

Dr. Elizabeth Cramer, Faculty

Elizabeth D. Cramer, Ed.D. is Professor and Online Graduate Program Director of Special Education and Graduate Program Director of the Department of Teaching and Learning at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. She is Past President of the Division of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners of the Council for Exceptional Children and Past President of the Florida Council for Exceptional Children. A recipient of 16 grants totaling approximately $20 million, her grants and research focus on preparing teachers to be highly effective in educating culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities in inclusive urban settings and the intersection of culture and disabilities. Her research is primarily focused on the education of high-need children in inclusive urban settings. Her work explores opportunity and achievement gaps; the intersection of race, culture, language, poverty, and ability; collaboration with diverse family and faculty; data-based decision making; and placement issues and educational outcomes for diverse learners. 

Dr. Liana Gonzalez, Faculty

Dr. Liana Gonzalez, Ed.D. is a proud FIU graduate and has worked with students with disabilities for over 20 years. She is currently a Senior Instructor at FIU and teaches disability-focused courses following both in-person and fully online formats. Further extending the impact of her research interests to the community, Dr. Gonzalez is the co-recipient of two grant awards Project TEACH LAB (Training Educators for Advanced Challenges in Learning and Behavior) and Project SPECIAL (School Psychologists and Educators: Collaborative Interventions for All Learners) from the U.S. Department of Education. Project TEACH LAB provides a specialized Master's degree in special education and focuses on intense, individualized supports for diverse students with severe and persistent learning and behavior challenges. Project SPECIAL will prepare 20 scholars from the Ed.S in School Psychology program and 40 scholars from the MS in Special Education program over five years of funding, starting in Summer 2020. In addition to the two graduate programs, this collaboration includes partnerships with the Center for Children and Families and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Melanie Morales, Ed.S.

Melanie Morales is an instructor professor and program leader for the BS Special Education Programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning.  Additionally, she is the Undergraduate Program Leader for the Department. In 2019, Ms. Morales was recognized for Excellence in Teaching and was a University Faculty Convocation Awardee for Advising and Mentorship.  Ms. Morales' work focuses on assisting undergraduate students who wish to pursue a degree in special education. Additionally, as co-PI recipient of annual grants totaling approximately $10 million since 2001, her grants focus on preparing teachers to be highly effective in educating students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Severe and Profound, and Pre-K Disabilities.

Dr. Rosalia F. Gallo, Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Rosalia F. Gallo is an Adjunct Faculty in the undergraduate and graduate special education programs within Department of Teaching and Learning. She has instructed online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses at FIU and at many local universities. She is also currently a consultant for the Center for Children and Families, an FIU Preeminent Program. She has collaborated in securing multi-year grant awards from the U. S. Office of Special Education Programs such as Project TEACH LAB and Project SPECIAL on behalf of FIU. In collaboration with department colleagues, she has conducted research and published in the area of parental involvement and inclusion.   Prior to her work with FIU, she worked for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools for over 35 years, many of those years in the capacity of District Supervisor for exceptional student education (ESE) programs such as Programs for Specific Learning Disabilities, Inclusion, Bilingual/ESOL ESE Program, IDEA Private School Obligations serving on numerous District committees, presenting at the national, state and local levels, and securing federal grant awards related to ESE in her tenure. 

Dr. Ruba Monem, Adjunct Faculty and Academic Coach

Dr. Ruba Monem joined FIU’s School of Education and Human Development in 2012.  She has published research in the areas of educational technology and learning disabilities. Her academic interests include urban education, cultural and linguistic diversity, and classroom action research. Dr. Monem has over 15 years of practical teaching experience across various K-12 settings.