Online Special Education Degrees
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Special education teachers and administrators are trained to work with students who may have a wide variety of disabilities that impede their learning. Teachers create and present curriculum that accommodates students' individual learning needs. In many cases these teachers also work in general education classrooms to offer support to special education students who have a mainstream educational program that allows them to study in general education classes with extra support from a teacher or specialist.
Special education careers provide opportunities for teachers to work with children of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities. Students in special education can have mild disabilities related to math, reading, or sensory integration, and they may also have severe disabilities, such as cognitive or developmental delays that require them to attended specially designed classes with intensive support for their physical, emotional, and academic needs. Special education teachers and administrators must be well versed in the special education laws that protect students' rights to an adequate education. These teachers and administrators must also have a thorough understanding of how disabilities are assessed and how students qualify for special services
One very challenging aspect of special education work is that teachers must learn how to offer academic support and accommodations for disabilities while still requiring full participation from the student. This is typically accomplished by identifying learning goals, and requiring students to meet these expectations based on their own individual ability levels.
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Accredited Schools Offering Online Special Education Degrees
Learn more about Capella University
Career Specializations
- Reading Specialist: Reading specialists focus specifically on assessing and teaching students with serious reading delays. The teachers may work with small classes of students or provide individualized instruction.
- Behavior Specialists: Behavior specialists assess students with emotional issues to determine how their behavior may be impeding their learning. These professionals prepare reports and make recommendations for services and Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs.
- Special Education Content Specialist: Content specialists work with teachers and administrators to ensure that special education programs meet regional and state learning requirements. They also review instructional materials to ensure that learning modifications are appropriately designed to meet students' special needs.
Degree Levels
- Associate Degree: This degree typically requires two years of full-time study and prepares students to work as assistants or paraprofessionals in a special education setting.
- Bachelor's Degree: Bachelor's degrees require four years of full-time study. A major in special education requires that students complete approximately half of their coursework in special education studies.
- Master's Degree: Master's degree programs require a bachelor's degree for admissions. The program itself will last from two to three years for full-time studies.
- PhD Degree: A PhD will require four to six years of study. Three years are typically dedicated to academic coursework, while the remaining years are spent completing research and authoring a dissertation.
Education & Certification Requirements
Students study many types of disabilities, including cognitive delays, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral disorders. The majority of coursework is dedicated to learning about the signs and symptoms of these disabilities. Students learn how educational psychologists assess and diagnose students with a learning issue or psychological disorder that impedes learning. They also study the effects that these disabilities have on learning.
Special education students also dedicate a large part of their academic work to designing learning plans and modified curriculum for special education students. A large part of this requires an understanding of how to individualize a learning plan so that it meets the unique needs of a particular student. Legal issues are also critical in special education because youth who meet the criteria for a disability are ensured an adequate education. Special education students must learn how this is accomplished and how they can create a productive team of teachers, parents, administrators, and other professionals who will support the academic progress of their students.
Special education teachers and administrators must receive the certification and credential required to legally gain employment in their state. Each state varies regarding its academic requirements and examinations for credentialing. A sample of California's credentialing requirements are available on the state's credentialing website.
Salary Information
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, special education professionals can expect to earn the following salaries with their corresponding academic degree. (U.S. Department of Labor)
- Associate Degree in Special Education: $18,000-$27,000 per year
- Bachelor's Degree in Special Education: $25,700-$36,300 per year
- Master's Degree in Special Education: $36,300-$52,000 per year
- PhD in Special Education: $52,000-$73,1000 per year
Job Outlook
The job outlook for special education employment is typically better with more work experience and more advanced education. A candidate with a master's degree or PhD will, therefore, likely have an easier time finding work. Job availability varies widely according to school district and geographic area. Since jobs are typically support by educational budgets, areas and districts with better educational funding are likely to have more job opportunities that districts that are struggling financially.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, special education jobs in the United States are expected to increase by 20 percent between the years 2008-2018. The majority of educators employed in special education hold a master's degree, which means that job placement will be much easier for individuals who have completed advanced studies.
Related Careers
Curriculum and Instruction: Individuals make careers in designing, writing, and applying varied forms of curriculum for many academic levels. This career is also focused on assisting teachers with instructional techniques to produce an overall improvement in the quality of educational programs within institutions.
Reading and Literacy Education: Reading and literacy specialists work with projects that assess reading levels for students in a wide variety of schools. If student populations display specific weaknesses in reading or writing skills, these experts will help teachers and school design effective remediation plans that will improve outcomes on statewide assessment results
Educational Specializations: Educational specializations can include English as a second language, early childhood education, or special education. Each of these topics covers a great deal of specific materials and skills sets that can be used to teach populations with very specific or special needs
