Special Education Degree Programs

What do you study the programs?

An online special education program provides the educational foundations, curriculum development, teaching methodologies and classroom management strategies that the special education teacher requires to help students with special needs to learn.

Thus, special education degree programs would typically include: educational psychology; child development; adapting the curriculum; management of disruptive behavior; use of technology in the classroom; dealing disabilities; discipline; behavioral management; counseling.

Special education masters online programs are popular with graduates who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, or those who are already licensed teachers, and now wish to become special education teachers.  Graduate special education programs are also popular with special education teachers who wish to specialize in a particular aspect of special education.  Doctoral level programs in particular, present an opportunity for in-depth study of a topic of interest.

If you are seeking professional teacher status – some aspects cannot be completed online.  The college needs to ensure you gain as much practical experience as possible and that your classroom performance is assessed. This not only gives you the experience you need, it also enables you to be certain that you have chosen the right career.

What are the career prospects with a special education degree?

The minimum qualification for a special education teaching job is a bachelor’s degree in special education, but a masters is preferred.  In order to teach in a college of a university, you need to have a masters degree or more preferably a PhD.

As well as teaching in the government education sector, graduates also find employment in: training; teaching in the private sector; community services; and, in administration.  Online education programs also provide a base for further training in counseling and careers work.  Graduates also find work in development jobs and other non-profit organizations.