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Human Development & School Services College of Education and P-16 Integration

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Dr. John Lowdermilk III
Department Chair/Professor
Department of Human Development and School Services
Edinburg Campus: EEDUC 1.302
Email: hdss@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3466
Phone Alt: (956) 665-3358

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Department Profile

Vision

In Human Development and School Services, students will have the opportunity to learn how to develop healthy knowledge across cultures and lifespans, and how to apply these skills in schools and other settings. HDSS students acquire the practical knowledge, skill set, and flexible way of thinking. They also receive the understanding of working with people, students with their development in social and school environments.

Mission

Our faculty work closely with all different types of learners, helping them gather the knowledge and skills that are necessary for working with students in the 21st Century. For all of our students they find the knowledge to measure achievements through education and technology. From our programs in Early Care to Special Education, all of our students leave with the knowledge needed to achieve success. For those wishing to continue their Education we offer Master degrees in Early Childhood and Special Education. We also offer programs leading to certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. Depending on individual interests, these programs prepare students to become professionals prepared to work in diverse and inclusive environments.


Profile

Download PDF - Department Profile

Revised: December 4, 2019

Undergraduate Programs

  • Early Care and Early Childhood Studies, BS (Certified and Non-Certified Programs)
  • Minor in Early Care, Non- Certified
  • Elementary Education with Special Education (Certified program)
  • Minor in Special Education, Non-Certified

Graduate Programs

  • Special Education, Ed. (accelerated online program)
  • School Psychology, A., leads to Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP)
  • Early Childhood, Ed.

Certification

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Post-Masters)

Students

  • Undergraduate Programs:
    • ECEC (non-certified): 57
    • ECEC (Certified): 169
    • Special Education: 94

  • Graduate Programs:
    • Special Education: 130
    • School Psychology: 69
    • Early Childhood: 27
    • BCBA: 11

Total Students Enrolled in HDSS programs: 557

Faculty

  • Number of Faculty: 13
  • Ranks:
    • Professors: 6  
    • Associate Professor: 4 
    • Assistant Professor: 2 
    • Lecturers: 1

Campus Program Offering

100% of undergraduate program/courses are available at both campuses (face-to-face, online, hybrid, or ITV)

100% of undergraduate program/courses in the first 2 years of study per major map are available at both campuses (face-to-face, online, hybrid, ITV)

100% of undergraduate program/courses in the upper division are available at both campuses (face-to-face, online, hybrid, ITV)

75% of graduate program/courses are available at both campuses (face-to-face, online, hybrid, ITV)

Note: You may include details of availability by campus and any other related information that would be helpful.

Statistics and Highlights

  • Within the last several years the School Psychology Program has increased in This year, there are 13 interns that will graduate in Spring 2020. Next Fall, we are projecting to have 15 interns. This is the largest intern class UTRGV has had.
  • Undergraduate Special Education Highlights:
    • Continuous & steady recruitment and retention for elementary program, special education specialization
    • 93% pass rate for SPED TEXES EX-12 in 2019
    • Steady growth in course section offering
    • Approximately 90% of Clinical Teachers get hired within a year of graduating
    • Approximately 95% get fully certified during Clinical Teaching or immediately after graduating

Success Stories

  • $85.8 Million in Grants, Donations, & Endowments since Fall 2015
  • 100% of School Psychology students pass their national licensing exam
  • The UTRGV Chess Club is housed in our department – Nancy Razo is the faculty advisor
  • We house the UTCARES (United Together Caring Adults Reaching Early Childhood Students) student organization in our department. We also branched the organization to the Brownsville campus. UTCARES is an organization that advocates for the well-being of young children in the RGV community. Some of our yearly events include:
    • Celebrate “Dia del Nino” by hosting a variety of play-based educational activities to children at the UTRGV Head Start Center.
    • Participate in the “Week of the Young Child” celebration where literacy activities are organized for over 35 Hidalgo County Head Start Centers.
    • Organize “Giving Elves Project” where over 40 under-privileged children in the community receive clothing, shoes, and toys from the organization and they get to participate in a literacy event revolving around the story of the Elves and the Shoemaker.
    • Help during the “Friendship Dance” event planned for children with disabilities (about 1,000 in 2019)
  • Team Mario Summer Camp
  • Sponsor for SCEC (Student Council for Exceptional Children) a club that promotes advocacy and awareness for children with disabilities. Some projects are:
    • Special Olympics events: 2 Fall and Spring
    • Team Mario: year-round events
    • Sponsored a visit from CLASS: an organization of young adults with disabilities to a UTRGV Vaquero Basketball game
    • Sponsored PTI Pathways Towards Independence: a PSJA district program that assists secondary students with special needs: Made a monetary contribution towards a Bird Sanctuary
    • Sponsored ADS Dance Academy: an inclusive dance program and made monetary donation for a dance scholarship
    • Adopt 2 SPED Classrooms per semester: take Thanksgiving Feast or Spring Picnic and assist with feeding, socializing and teaching the students
    • SCEC works with the Health & Kinesiology club to host an annual Friendship Dance each February 14th. This is an annual ball for RGV students with disabilities – Approx. 700 students participate each year

Traditions

  • All undergraduate Early Care non-certification students collaborate with the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville to participate in the Wild Tales Literacy event
  • All undergraduate Early Care students collaborate with the Children’s Museum of Brownsville to organize a community play day.
  • Hooding Ceremony: School Psychology and Early Childhood
  • Annual Childhood Conference

Mantra/Slogan

Knowledge Lights the Way (modo cognitionis lumine)



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