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Home >> Degrees >> Education & Teaching >> Special Education

Special Education Degree Overview

Special Education is instruction that is modified for students with special needs, such as learning difficulties, mental health problems, and physical disabilities.Special Education teachers work primarily with students at the elementary and secondary school levels, modifying the general education curriculum to meet the student�s individual needs. Some teachers work in their own classrooms, while others work as resource teachers in general education classrooms.Special Education teachers who work with infants often travel to the child�s home to work with the child and his/her parents.

Special Education teachers are involved in the students� social, behavioral and academic development and provide students with career counseling.Depending on the disability, methods of teaching include individualized instruction, small-group projects, and problem-solving assignments.Teachers use specialized equipment such as computers with synthesized speech and interactive software programs.They help develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) for each Special Education student.Preparing students for daily life is an important aspect of the job.

Education, Training & Degrees

All fifty states require Special Education teachers to be licensed by the state Boards of Education.Most states require a Bachelor�s degree, the completion of an approved teacher preparation program, and supervised student teaching.Many programs also require a fifth year of graduate-level preparation, and, in most states, prospective teachers must pass an assessment test before beginning teaching.In some states, Special Education teachers receive a general education credential and then train in a specialty, such as behavioral disorders or learning disabilities.Special Education degree programs are designed to educate future teachers in areas such as child growth and development, educational psychology, and Special Education policies.

Special Education teachers must be patient, be able to motivate students, and understand their students� special needs.They must be creative and able to apply different types of teaching techniques to accommodate the needs of special students.Communication and cooperation skills are essential.

Career Opportunities

According to the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of Special Education teachers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations.Student enrollments are expected to grow only slowly, but additional positions will be created by educational reforms requiring higher standards for graduation.In addition, a large number of openings will result from Special Education teachers who switch to general education or retire.Many school districts are experiencing difficulty finding enough qualified teachers.

The number of students requiring Special Education has grown in recent years as learning disabilities are being diagnosed at earlier ages.Improvements in medicine have resulted in more children surviving serious accidents and illnesses, but with conditions that require special accommodations.While some Special Education teachers prefer to work with pre-school-aged children, most prefer to work with students at the elementary and secondary levels.A small number of teachers tutor homebound or hospitalized students.You can make a difference in the lives of these "special children!"