UHV special education program receives national ranking
The University of Houston-Victoria’s graduate special education program has been named one of the most affordable in the nation by the national website Top Education Degrees.
The website ranked the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development’s Master of Education in special education program 23rd in its 50 Most Affordable Online Masters in Special Education Degree Programs 2018 list.
“This ranking is a welcome acknowledgement of our special education program,” said Fred Litton, dean of the school. “There is a growing need for qualified educators and professionals in special education, and UHV is working to meet that need.”
When determining its ranking, the website looked at factors including tuition, student-to-faculty ratios and national recognition. Each factor was given a point value, and rankings were determined by schools with the highest scores.
UHV’s program received high marks for its low tuition and student-to-faculty ratio for the program. Each of those factors are important elements in how the university serves the needs of its students, said Andria Young, a UHV professor of education.
“Small class sizes allow our faculty members to personalize their lessons to better serve each student,” Young said. “Students like that they are not just a number in a large classroom. That, paired with the affordable tuition, allows them to pursue their studies with greater confidence and less stress.”
Many of the program’s students already are working as special education professionals or are teaching in general classrooms and want to move into special education or become diagnosticians. The online program is a good option for them because it allows them to take classes around their schedules, Young said.
In addition, the program encourages students to learn the importance of being an advocate for children receiving special education services. The students are taught the legal rights of those in special education programs and are encouraged to partner with parents to better serve their children.
“There’s a real need to raise awareness about children with disabilities and provide support for their families,” Young said.
To learn more about the master’s in special education program, contact the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development at 361-570-4371 or education@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
