Does Purdue Global Have An Online Special Education Degree?

Special education teachers play a critical role in educating those who have various physical, mental, or developmental disorders.

Perhaps you're interested in becoming a special education teacher and you're hoping to find out if your school of choice, Purdue Global, offers a degree in special education.

If this sounds like you, read on. In this article, we'll talk about whether or not Purdue Global offers an online special education degree and answer some related questions you may have.

Does Purdue Global Have an Online Special Education Degree?

Purdue Global, the online campus of the Purdue System, offers dozens of graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates tailored to the needs of busy nontraditional students.

There are a variety of accredited online bachelor's degree programs.

Purdue offers several education-related degree programs; however, it does not offer a specific special education degree.

That said, Purdue's main campus offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education that can be completed online.

This fully remote degree program is not associated with Purdue Global, so it may be subject to different tuition rates and class schedules than you would have access to as a student of Purdue Global.

Education degrees available through Purdue Global include:

• Education
• Early Childhood Administration
• Higher Education
• Educational Psychology
• Leadership and Innovation

Most of these programs are graduate-level programs leading to master's and doctoral degrees.

If you are looking to become a special education teacher, you may benefit from completing any of these programs, but you will likely still need additional education.

What Is a Special Education Degree?

Special education is a highly specialized field that focuses on teaching students with various disabilities.

These disabilities may be mental, developmental, cognitive, or physical

Tailored practices or approaches are often needed to help these students overcome the unique challenges they face in the classroom.

Special education teachers are responsible for administering these approaches.

The term 'special education degree' may refer to a specific degree program or maybe an umbrella term for various related degrees, such as:

• Behavioral Health
• Education for Children with Learning Disabilities
• Social-emotional Learning
• Early Childhood Special Education
• Adapted Physical Education

Those pursuing a special education degree often have a strong desire to help students from all walks of life enjoy learning and be successful at it.

Their job is to make education accessible for students of many different skill levels.

Special education degrees help aspiring teachers learn many valuable skills that can be applied throughout the education field.

Patience, communication, empathy, and a positive attitude are essential for anyone planning to pursue this profession.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Special Education Degree?

Special education degrees are often available at the bachelor's and master's levels.

If you are pursuing a bachelor's degree, you will need at least 120 credits; for a master's degree, you'll need to acquire 30 to 60 more.

Not all special education students require the same amount of time to complete their degree; the time it takes to finish depends on how quickly you can complete the credits required to graduate.

On average, full-time students complete 12 to 18 credit hours per semester or 24 to 36 credits per year.

At this rate, it will take about four years to graduate with a bachelor's degree and one to two years to graduate with a master's degree.

But not all students study at the same rate.

Part-time students taking less than 12 credits per semester will take longer to graduate, while those taking a heavier course load will graduate sooner.

Students who have transfer credits can apply these toward their degree, which could help them graduate more quickly.

Again though, it largely depends on how many courses you take at a time and how quickly you can complete them.

What Careers Can You Get With a Special Education Degree?

Those who major in special education typically pursue a career as a special education teacher. However, this isn't the only career path available to you.

Other job titles you could pursue with a degree in special education include:

• Special Education Administrator
• Early Intervention Specialist
• Instructional Coordinator
• Special Education Advocate

Some of these positions are held within a school setting, while others may spend much of their time at daycare centers, in personal offices, or working with parents and children at home.

Should You Get an Online Special Education Degree from Purdue Global?

As noted, Purdue Global doesn't offer a special education degree; however, Purdue's main campus does, and the degree can be completed online.

If you are an undergraduate student looking to obtain a bachelor's degree in special education, you will not be able to do this through Purdue, as the special education degree that's available is a master's degree program.

However, if you already have a bachelor's degree and are looking to advance your career with a master's degree, pursuing the online special education degree through Purdue is a great option.

Purdue is a well-respected institution, and its online degree programs provide the same high-quality education that's available to students enrolled in campus-based programs.

Start Your Online Special Education Degree at Purdue Global Today

Though Purdue Global doesn't offer a special education degree, Purdue does.

If you're looking for an exceptional online special education master's degree program, Purdue may have the ideal program for you.