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College of Education

Certification Programs

Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling

Certification in Community Counseling

Dual Preparation in Elementary Education/Special Education; Secondary Education; and Elementary Education/Early Childhood

See the “Special Education” section within the College of Education for more details.

Research Units

Center on Disability Studies

1776 University Avenue, UA4-6
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-2653
Fax: (808) 956-3162
Email: cds@hawaii.edu
Web: www.cds.hawaii.edu

The Center on Disability Studies (CDS) is a UH Board of Regents recognized Center focused on interdisciplinary education, community service and technical assistance, research and evaluation, and information dissemination. The CDS was established in 1988 as the Hawai‘i University Affiliated Program, and is a charter member of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD). This national network of university centers focuses on education, research, and service activities which impact upon the quality of life of persons with disabilities across the nation. Beginning in 1988 with core funding of only $250,000 and a staff of four, the CDS has leveraged resources to its current level of funding of over seventeen million dollars and 50 projects, with more than 100 faculty and staff.

The CDS receives core funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to operate a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The mission of the CDS is to support the quality of life, community inclusion, and self-determination of all persons with disabilities and their families. The major activities of the CDS program focus on improving the programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities and their families in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Basin through interdisciplinary training, research, technical assistance, dissemination, and community service. The center consists of core centers, training programs, and publications that reflect the mission of the Center on Disability Studies.

Additionally, the CDS is one of three organizations in Hawai‘i funded by the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) focused on improving future choices for persons with disabilities through systems change. The other two organizations are the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawai‘i Disability Rights Center. This strategic partnership works together for systems-change to create more choices for persons with disabilities. This collaboration is accomplished through annual retreats, sharing membership on advisory groups, and projects focused on common issues.

The CDS conducts a wide range of education, research, and service activities in collaboration with other disciplines. These activities are centered around several initiative areas: school and community inclusion; special health needs; transition, postsecondary education, and employment; mental health; and Pacific outreach. These initiative areas reflect a commitment to evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary cooperation within an academic, community, and family context. Activities strive to be culturally sensitive and demonstrate honor and respect for individual differences in behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and interpersonal styles. CDS activities reflect an organizational commitment to excellence and evidence-based practices. Faculty and staff are mentored, supported, and encouraged to excel.

CDS offers an interdisciplinary Certificate in Disability and Diversity Studies, a 15-credit coursework grounded in the interdisciplinary process to promote effective, efficient, and culturally sensitive services for persons with disabilities of all ages. This program enables graduate students to acquire the skills needed to collaborate through joint planning, decision-making, and goal setting, gaining the perspective of mutual understanding and respect for persons with disabilities and the contributions of other disciplines.

The CDS has two external councils to create community and university partnerships to assure that programs and services are responsive to national initiatives, priorities of advocacy groups and state agencies, and the university’s academic program objectives. The Community Advisory Council (CAC) is comprised of persons with disabilities, family members of persons with disabilities, and representatives of key community agencies. The CAC meets at least twice a year to review the work of the CDS, and provide input for strategic planning and agenda setting. The University Coordinating Council (UCC) is an interdisciplinary university partnership that assures CDS programs are responsive to national initiatives and university’s academic program objectives. UCC members consists of representatives from departments, colleges, and programs at UH Manoa, which interface with training and research activities focused on health education, and human service needs of persons with disabilities and their families.

Each year, the CDS sponsors the Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities (Pac Rim), to promote collaboration and to impact future choices for persons with disabilities. Pac Rim focuses on disseminating information on promising practices, evidence-based research, and emerging issues with the communities it serves. This conference has been held annually for the past two decades, with an attendance of approximately 1,000 from the state, region, nation, and international communities. Special efforts are made to provide support to enable persons with disabilities, self-advocates, and parents and family members of persons with disabilities to attend.

CDS publishes an international scholarly publication in the field of disability studies, The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal (RDS). The late Dr. David Pfeiffer served as the founding editor of the journal, initiated in 2003. RDS is an internationally-focused academic journal in the field of Disability Studies, containing research articles, essays, bibliographies, and reviews of materials relating to the culture of disability and people with disabilities. It also publishes forums on disability topics brought together by forum editors of international stature. Poetry, short stories, creative essays, photographs, and art works related to disability are also published. RDS is published four times a year, in both print and electronic format.

Curriculum Research & Development Group

Castle Memorial 132
1776 University Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7961
Fax: (808) 956-9486
E-mail: crdg@hawaii.edu
Web: www.hawaii.edu/crdg

The Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG), including the University Laboratory School, conducts systematic research, design, development, publication, staff development, and related in-service support for the elementary and secondary schools of Hawai‘i and other schools in the university’s broad service area.

CRDG has curriculum development and teacher professional development projects in science, mathematics, English, Pacific and Asian studies, marine studies, environmental studies, Hawaiian and Polynesian studies, Japanese language and culture, music, nutrition, art, drama, technology, health, kindergarten, early education, and computer education. Research and school service projects focus on educational policy research, standards-based education, educational evaluation, teacher development, instructional use of technology, reduction of in-school segregation of students, and programs for students educationally at risk.

The University Laboratory School, with its culturally diverse student body, provides an essential experimental ground for developing and testing educational ideas and programs. CRDG draws upon the scholarly resources of relevant UH Manoa fields. Its own production department currently publishes 600 titles.

Student Organizations

The College of Education Student Association (CESA) is open to all persons interested in teacher education. CESA members participate in college committees and projects and sponsor various activities for education students. CESA is an affiliate of the Student National Education Association. For more information, call (808) 956-7849 or e-mail cesa@hawaii.edu.

All doctoral students are eligible to participate in the College of Education Doctoral Student Association (COEDSA). COEDSA sponsors activities and workshops on matters of concern to doctoral students. For more information, visit COEDSA’s website at: www.hawaii.edu/coedsa/.

Honors and Scholarships

Each semester, the College of Education recognizes the scholastic performance of students who achieve a GPA of 3.5 or better by placing them on the dean’s list. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must successfully complete at least 15 credits during the semester. Additionally, the college awards the distinction of being student marshals at commencement exercises to those students who demonstrate high scholastic achievement, outstanding character, and extraordinary potential for teaching. Exemplary students are also invited to join the College of Education’s chapter of Pi Lambda Theta, a national education honorary society.

The College of Education makes scholarship support available to classified undergraduate and graduate students. In 2007-2008, students received scholarships totaling over $175,000. For information, contact the Office of Student Academic Services at (808) 956-7849.