Is a Special Education Degree Right for Me?

Learn about what majoring in a special education degree involves and the many benefits and career opportunities available for those who major in this field.

Special education is the right degree for you if you want to encourage learning progress for students with special needs and provide personalized support to exceptional children who are faced with learning challenges and disabilities.

Deciding if special education teaching is the right career path requires you to consider your career and personal goals, as well as your strengths, so you can compare them to the career expectations and advantages available to graduates who major in special education.

What Is a Special Education Degree?

The Department of Education accredits many universities that provide special education degrees like the Bachelor of Arts in special education. These programs usually include a student teaching experience and lead to teaching licensure, preparing graduates to work with students who have special needs and learning disabilities. The completion of a special education degree also allows students the option to advance their knowledge with a master's degree or a doctorate in special education.

Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's in special education programs cover strategies to support students with disabilities like autism, intellectual disabilities, behavior disorders, and other learning challenges. This involves creating individualized learning plans like IEPs and how to implement assistive technologies to help special education teachers educate students more effectively.

Master's Degree

A master's degree such as a Master of Education (MEd) in special education is a great way to gain a broader understanding and strengthen your existing skills for your special education career. Earning a graduate degree highlights your credentials and hands-on experience to qualify you for higher-level roles.

What Does a Special Education Major Study?

A special education major studies teaching methods for effectively supporting special education students with inclusive lesson plans. They study applied behavior analysis to strengthen their classroom management skills and gain a better understanding of how to deal with different behaviors.

Why You Should Consider a Degree in Special Education

Special education degree programs prepare graduates to offer special education services to students who are faced with learning challenges and exceptionalities. As a special ed teacher, you can make an impact on students through your support, encouragement, and strategies to help them reach their potential.

Make an Impact

Special education teachers make a difference in the lives of their students. They implement strategies and learning plans that encourage students to meet their goals. Special education teachers impact learning environments by making them more inclusive. This involves creating IEPs to help students achieve learning outcomes or implementing assistive technologies for those with visual or auditory impairments.

Career Outlook

Special education teaching is a crucial aspect in school districts and qualified special education teachers are in high demand. With an increasing awareness of the importance of providing specialized education for different learning styles, school systems are continuously in need of special educators who have the ability to coordinate learning activities and plan strategies that fit learning outcomes to ensure all students are supported, including those with special needs.

Facilitate Inclusivity

Inclusivity is a crucial part of the special education field. Whether students have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), visual or auditory impairments, or other learning disabilities and behavioral challenges, special education teachers ensure they feel included, understood, and supported in their classrooms.

Versatile Skills

After majoring in special education, educators can utilize skills from their degree program to better understand different behaviors and come up with solutions to improve them. Because special education degrees involve earning a teaching license, graduates can work as general education teachers and utilize their skills to better manage behaviors, address different learning challenges, support students with disabilities, and adapt their teaching strategies to fit different learning styles.

Diverse Work Environments

Special education majors can work in a variety of school systems. You can use your skills to work in early childhood education, elementary, middle, and high schools. Some special education majors even utilize their skills in higher education settings and private schools, though it may require more credentials

Fulfilling Career

Special educators have a fulfilling career. It can be rewarding to help students with special needs overcome obstacles and help them make progress with support and encouragement. Special education teachers make a positive impact on students and parents by facilitating a welcoming environment that allows students to reach their potential.

Job Opportunities for Special Education Degree Majors

Career options for special education degree majors are both diverse and rewarding. Becoming a special education teacher is the most common path, though graduates can use their skills to work in a range of grades from early childhood education to primary and secondary education. Special education roles involve working directly with special needs students and making an positive impact on their educational experience.

Jobs in special education include:

Special Education Degree: Questions To Ask Yourself

When considering a special education degree it is important to ask yourself the following questions. Doing so can help you evaluate how your goals and strengths align with this field and whether or not it's the right career path for you.

Do I Enjoy Working with Students?

On a daily basis, special education teachers work with students in a classroom, in small groups, or individually. They are a constant resource and support system for special needs students, making individualized plans like IEPs and assessing their progress to help them meet learning outcomes.

Is It Hard To Be a Special Education Teacher?

Though it can be challenging to work as a special education teacher, it's equally fulfilling. The career involves a strong critical thinking ability to solve problems and implement student-specific plans for working through challenges and improving student progress. It also involves the ability to identify students' needs and find effective ways to adapt to their learning styles.

How Do I Know Special Education Is the Right Field for Me?

Special education is the right career for you if you want to make a difference in students' lives and help them overcome challenges in an inclusive, supportive learning environment. Many special education teachers begin as full-time general education teachers who have a teaching certification. They have had time to gain hands-on experience teaching students and decide they want to learn new methods to better assist those with disabilities and unique learning needs.