Project PANGEA

Master's/Licensure Specialization

The focus of this personnel preparation grant, Project PANGEA, (Preparing A New Generation of Early Autism educators) is the interdisciplinary training of Early Intervention (EI) / Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) service providers and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to serve young children (i.e., birth through kindergarten) with disabilities, with a specific emphasis on providing services to young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

During this interdisciplinary training program, students will enroll in additional coursework to strengthen their knowledge and skills related to EI/ECSE and ASD. They will also participate in additional field placement experiences with children and families specific to Project PANGEA.

Project PANGEA core competencies include:

  • Typical and atypical development of core early childhood skills
  • Assessment of core skill domains
  • Implementation, evaluation and communication of evidence based intervention practices
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

Additional courses include ‘Language Disorders in Young Children’, ‘Autism and Early Intervention’, ‘Building on Opportunities for Student Teaching (BOOST) Planning and Interdisciplinary Teaming’, ‘Autism Intervention I and II’. Additional practicum experiences for Project PANGEA students include “Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation” (JASPER) intervention training and practicum, HEDCO ASD Clinic practicum, as well as running “BOOST”, a 6-week preschool program during summer quarter."

Funding Support

This project will provide Masters/Licensure student tuition assistance for seven scholars each year: four EI/ECSE students and three Communication Disorders & Sciences (CDS) students.

Project PANGEA is admitting students in the academic years 2018/2019 through 2022/2023.

Selection Criteria of Project PANGEA Scholars

Criteria for admittance will include:

  • completion of an undergraduate degree in special education, early childhood education, communication disorders and sciences, psychology, social work, nursing, an allied health field, or related field
  • minimum GPA of 3.0
  • experience working in direct service with young children with or at risk for disabilities and/or individuals with ASD
  • three letters of recommendation
  • letter of professional interest and intent, particularly focused on EI/ECSE and young children with ASD

Scholars must be citizens, nationals or lawful permanent residents of the United States. In addition, extra points in the ranking system will be awarded to applicants with disabilities, individuals from culturally and diverse backgrounds, individuals who are first generation college graduates and parents of children with disabilities, assuring preference for tuition support to these typically underrepresented scholars.

Scholars with the highest rankings will be invited to participate in an admissions interview with UO EIP/UO CDS faculty to determine their suitability and promise for successful participation in Project PANGEA. Final admissions decisions will be based on scholar rankings and UO EIP/UO CDS faculty consensus.

For more information about Project PANGEA Contact:

Stephanie Shire, PhD
Project PANGEA Director
Assistant Professor- EI/ECSE
Special Education and Clinical Sciences
sshire@uoregon.edu