What Is a Special Education Degree? | Degree Types

Special education teachers work with students who have special needs to ensure those students receive the education and support they deserve. To work as a special education teacher, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in special education.

These degrees are available as both undergraduate and graduate programs. Keep reading to learn more about special education and what this degree covers.

What Is a Special Education Degree?

Special education degrees are a type of teaching degree that focuses on helping future teachers work with students who have developmental delays, learning disabilities, or behavioral disorders. These are usually offered as four-year bachelor's degrees, although master's degrees are also common.

These degree programs will prepare those who want to become special education teachers to work with students with special needs in public or private school settings. Some programs focus on specific grade levels, and others offer specializations within the degree.

Key Components of a Special Education Degree

Special education degrees may be offered as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Education degrees. Most special education degree programs are designed to lead to teaching licensure in the state the school is based in.

All states require teachers to have a certification to work in public schools. As a result, most special education degrees are designed to meet teacher certification requirements through coursework and field experiences.

Coursework

The foundation of your special education major is your coursework. In a bachelor's degree program, you'll typically start with your general education requirements before moving on to core coursework.

Core courses in your special education program will likely cover topics like:

• assessment of special needs students
• classroom management
• intervention strategies
• special education ethics, history, and law
• teaching methods for special education
• use of assistive technology

If you've chosen a specialization in special education, you'll also take courses for this. Otherwise, you may have electives to choose from to fulfill the necessary credit hours. Typically, you'll finish most of your coursework before moving on to student teaching.

Fieldwork/Student Teaching

Most teaching degrees include a classroom experience component. Often called student teaching, this allows you to work with students under the guidance of a licensed, experienced special education teacher in an education setting or learning environment.

During this time, you'll work hands-on with students with intellectual disabilities and other unique learning needs, developing lesson plans, learning their individual needs, and creating strategies to teach them in the way that's most effective for them. This practicum experience usually lasts several weeks, and can often take the entire semester.

Certification Requirements

If your special education program is designed to lead to licensure, there may be additional requirements you need to fulfill. Note that each state has different requirements.

For example, most states require teachers to pass designated teaching tests to earn their licenses. Your degree program may help by preparing you for these exams.

Specializations Within Special Education

Some special education programs offer specializations that focus on specific disorders or disabilities. These programs allow you to focus your skills to provide the best special education services possible for these students.

In some cases, future teachers may choose to earn a bachelor's degree in general special education, and then return to school to get their Master of Education (M.Ed) in a specialty.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder that affects the way people communicate, behave, and learn. It's referred to as a spectrum disorder because there is a wide range of symptoms, and some people with autism need very few accommodations, while others need constant support services.

A specialization in ASD will help you learn the various characteristics of autism to help children with autism learn in a way that works best for them. These programs often cover intervention strategies and inclusive practices as well.

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Emotional and behavioral disorders occur when a student has a difficult time managing their emotions or behaviors. Common examples of these disorders include:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Conduct Disorder (CD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Many students with these disorders, like many students with autism, may spend most of their time in the general classroom setting, but may still need interventions occasionally. A specialization in emotional and behavior disorders will teach you how to determine how to meet the educational needs of these students and how to support them in other ways.

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities often cross over with ASD and emotional and behavioral disorders. One of the most well-known learning disabilities is dyslexia, but there are several other types too, including dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and auditory processing disorder.

Learning disabilities can range from mild to severe. With a specialization in learning disabilities, you'll understand how these disabilities work so you can best tailor lesson plans for students with these disabilities.

Speech and Language Disorders

Some speech disorders, like stuttering and apraxia, are common in children. Others, like selective mutism, may be caused by trauma, brain damage, or a condition like autism. A specialization in speech and language disorders will train you to work with these students to meet their needs.

Note that this is not the same as a degree in speech-language pathology, which teaches how to help children overcome and manage their speech and language disorders.

Early Childhood Special Education

Early childhood education usually covers infancy up through 3rd grade. An early childhood special education specialization will help you understand how to work with young children with special needs.

This specialization is good for an elementary education setting but also for daycares, preschools, and other early childhood facilities.

Physical and Health Disabilities

There are a wide variety of physical, health, and developmental disabilities that children may have that disrupt their education. Some disabilities come with emotional or behavioral disorders, learning disorders, or speech disorders, but many do not.

As a result, some students may be able to spend time with the general class, but others may not, even if they have no intellectual disabilities. With a specialization in physical and health disabilities, you'll understand how to meet each student's unique needs.

Career Opportunities with a Special Education Degree

There are several career opportunities you can pursue with a special education degree. These include:

• Special education teacher (K-12 settings): With a license in special education, you can work as a special education teacher within a school or school district, helping students with special needs in their day-to-day learning.
• Special education coordinator or administrator: Special education coordinators or administrators oversee the special education programs within a school or school district, ensuring that teachers have what they need to support students.
• Behavioral interventionist: Behavioral interventionists work with children who have ASD or emotional or behavioral disorders to improve the way children interact with the world.
• Early intervention specialist: Early interventionists work in early childhood education settings to address the needs of young children with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Special education advocate or consultant: Special education advocates and consultants help families understand their rights and obtain special education resources, and may also help create customized programs to help students.

The Benefits of Pursuing a Special Education Degree

For many, one of the biggest benefits of working in special education is the ability to make a difference in the lives of children and families. This work can be rewarding for many.

A more practical benefit of pursuing a degree in special education is that there will always be children with special needs, so there will always be a need for special education teachers. As diagnostics and interventions improve, special ed teachers may be in higher demand.

Challenges of Working in Special Education

While there are benefits to working in special education, there are challenges as well. Teachers often don't get paid well and may be required to work long hours.

Special education teachers in particular face challenges, such as working with children who aren't able to adequately communicate their needs or children who may become angry or violent.

Is a Special Education Degree Right for You?

If you are patient, understanding, and have a heart for working with special needs children, a special education degree may be right for you. Explore the accredited degree programs offered by colleges on Learn.org today to learn more about earning a special education degree.