Special Education Degree Programs and Careers

What is Special Education

Special education is instruction that is modified or specifically designed for students who have special needs, such as learning disabilities, mental health problems, or physical or development disabilities.
 
Professionals seeking to enter the special education field need to have a special education degree. This includes classroom training, coursework and teacher certification.

Types of Special Education Degrees

Students can earn a special education degree at the undergraduate, graduate or doctorate levels. All states require that special education teachers be licensed; traditionally, this requires a bachelor’s degree and a special education teacher training program. Some states also offer alternative licensing programs to attract college graduates without education degrees to become teachers.
 
Some examples of coursework for special education degrees include the following:
  • Child Growth and Development
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Educational Psychology
  • Legal Issues in Special Education
  • Reading Programs for Special Education
  • Special Courses for Various Disabling Conditions
  • Strategies for Teaching Students with Disabilities
While all courses aim to prepare students for entering a special education career, school requirements for completion of a degree vary by institution.

Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education

A bachelor's degree program covers general education courses in addition to special education coursework over four years. Students spend 40 percent of their time in general studies, 20 percent in education psychology, child growth and development, and the remaining 40 percent acquiring the skills needed for teaching students with disabilities. Many programs also have a fifth undergraduate year focusing on additional training in educational psychology, legal issues and other specialty courses.

Master's Degrees in Special Education

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, but it's in a field unrelated to special education, many states will require that you to obtain a master's degree in special education in order to become licensed. In general, special education teachers endure longer periods of training and more intensive student training.

Doctorate Degrees in Special Education

Many universities also offer doctorates in special education, open to teachers who have completed a bachelor's and master's degree. The doctorate degree opens doors for teachers who want to transition into administrative roles and for specialists who want to pursue academic research. PhD programs prepare graduates for leadership positions throughout the industry, particularly when it comes to influencing policy.

Special Education Jobs

With the growing number of students with special needs, and a shortage of qualified teachers, job prospects are increasing every year for those with special education degrees.
 
Some of the jobs you can do with a special education degree include:
  • Correctional Facilities: Juveniles in detention facilities are still entitled to an education, and special education teachers are the only ones employed at a correctional facility.
  • Educational Administrators: These people play a supervisory role in schools or other organizations, overseeing the day-to-day operations, including curriculum development and making sure that all federal and state standards are followed.
  • Mental Health Facilities: With the nation's growing focus on proper care of mental illness, the mental health industry has needs for special education graduates in shelters, institutions and minimum security correctional facilities to work with behaviorally challenged clients.
  • Primary Grades Special Education Teacher: These teachers are in demand in both the public school systems and private schools. They may also find employment in special education schools particularly designed for students with special needs.
  • Private Learning Centers: Although mostly associated with SAT preparation and tutoring, many special education students need more assistance outside their regular classes, and these centers employ qualified teachers for this purpose.
  • Rehabilitation Centers: Teachers in rehabilitation centers and clinics help individuals regain skills lost due to injury or illness.

  • Schools for the Visually or Hearing Impaired: Teachers of the visually impaired or hearing impaired undergo special training to help these individuals through alternate methods of learning.

Salaries in Special Education Fields

On average, an elementary or middle school special education teacher earns $43,570 per year. On the higher end of the pay range, teachers can earn up to $80,170, depending on education and experience.

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