Special Education Teacher Programs in Michigan

To become a special education teacher, individuals will need to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, though students can choose to pursue a higher degree such as a master's or a PhD. These programs often combine coursework with field experiences and internships that can qualify teachers for certification from the state of Michigan.

What Does a Special Education Teacher Do?

A special education teacher works in a school to assess the needs of individual students with disabilities and then come up with a plan to make sure those needs are met. These teachers tailor lessons and activities for each student, track student progress, and report back to parents, other instructors, and school administrators. Special education teachers can work with students from preschool up through students in their senior year of high school. Another responsibility of special education teachers is to help students transition from one grade level to the next and also into life outside of a traditional school setting.

What Should I Know About Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education?

A bachelor's degree program in special education typically requires students to accumulate a minimum of around 120 credits prior to graduation. Students working to earn a bachelor's degree complete teacher preparation courses and internship experiences that will take them one step closer to getting their teaching certification. These programs place an emphasis on teaching students with disabilities in elementary education through between roughly 20 and 40 required special education credits. Some schools may also require a pre-admission experience prior to acceptance where program applicants spend around 40 hours getting experience in a setting related to learning disabilities.

What Schools in Michigan Offer a Bachelor's Degree Program in Special Education?

Some of the schools in the state of Michigan that offer bachelor's degree programs in special education include:

• Western Michigan University - Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education
• Central Michigan University - Bachelor of Science in Education: Special Education
• Michigan State University - Bachelor of Arts in Special Education

What Should I Know About Earning a Graduate Degree in Special Education?

A master's degree in special education can be earned with the completion of roughly 30 credit hours of coursework. Students in a master's degree program can choose an emphasis for their studies, such as learning disabilities, cognitive impairment, or emotional impairment. PhD candidates must complete their educational requirements in a maximum of five years, and they must also prepare and present a dissertation during this timeframe. Students in a doctoral program might also need to complete a residency requirement that usually takes two semesters for students that are enrolled full-time.

What Schools in Michigan Offer a Master's Degree Program in Special Education?

Though a graduate degree is not always required for special education teacher positions, students may choose to pursue a master's degree from a school in Michigan, such as:

• Michigan State University - Master of Arts in Special Education
• Eastern Michigan University - Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education
• Grand Valley State University - Master of Education in Special Education
• University of Michigan-Dearborn - Master of Education in Special Education

What Schools in Michigan Offer a Doctoral Program in Special Education?

The highest degree that students hoping to become special education teachers can earn is a doctoral degree, and they can choose to do so from a variety of schools in Michigan like:

• Michigan State University - PhD in Special Education
• Western Michigan University - Doctor of Education in Special Education
• Wayne State University - Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with provision for special education administration studies