Vision and Mission
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services (EPSS) is to prepare effective special education teachers, community/agency counselors and school counselors, and educational diagnosticians who can successfully address the needs of schools and other youth-serving agencies, especially those in our multicultural communities. Our undergraduate and graduate programs are based on established educational research and essential knowledge of sound professional practice.
In conjunction with the College of Education's goals, our department works in collaboration with local school districts and community agencies to provide quality professional training. Our faculty strives to support lifelong learning and professional development among our students and graduates. We believe it is highly important to review, revise and update our programs to assure we continue to meet the highest quality of developmental standards for licensure and certification requirements of our educational professionals.
The department, like UTEP, has adopted goals to produce top graduates.
Learning and Teaching
We will prepare our students to meet lifelong intellectual, ethical, and career challenges and to be the leaders of the 21st century.
Research, Scholarship, and Artistic Production
We will create, interpret, evaluate, apply, and disseminate knowledge; encourage the addition of perspectives based on UTEP's geographic and social setting; and contribute to the formation of a broader intellectual and artistic foundation for the 21st century.
Administration
We will provide infrastructure support for the achievement of our mission in learning, teaching, research, scholarship, and public service through responsive, effective and efficient administrative and staff services.
Public Service
We will work in partnership with public and private agencies to improve the quality of life from our region to around the world by providing appropriate University expertise and leadership.
The Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services offers programs at the master's level in special education, educational diagnostics, and clinical mental health and school counseling. The department also provides the content courses for the generic special education specialization in the Bachelor of Independent Studies (BIS) degree program. In addition, the department provides three "service" courses (EDPC 2300, EDPC 3300 and SPED 3310) to all education majors. The department offers a core course (EDPC 1301) that focuses on career development for incoming students.
Vision Statement
The Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services, in collaboration with local school districts and community agencies, is committed to providing our educational professionals the highest level of quality training through degree programs that meet state certification and licensure standards.