Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in special education can help educators better understand and serve the needs of students with disabilities. It also prepares educators to continue their education and pursue an advanced degree. Educators with special education degrees often find their jobs profoundly engaging. They focus on person-centered education, which requires compassion and creativity to reach every student.
Table of Contents
It’s a Profession You Should Be Proud Of
People with special needs can be challenging to work with, but it’s also a rewarding career. Special education degrees prepare graduates for teaching positions nationwide in classrooms, schools, and community centers. Special education majors learn about child development, educational psychology, and special education policies and legalities. Students often complete bachelor’s degree programs that lead to teacher licensure.
Many people think that a special education degree only gets you a job in teaching, but other careers can be accessed with a bachelor’s degree. For example, a person can become a recreational therapist, engaging special needs people with different activities. A person can also become an educational diagnostician, a clinical job that examines and treats children with speech and voice disorders. These professionals can work in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities or start private practices. Some even become researchers. If you desire to advance in education, earning an online special education master’s degree is a great choice.
It’s a Career You Can Advance
Working with special needs students is a difficult job that requires patience and empathy. However, it is also a fulfilling career for people who love to help those with learning disabilities. A bachelor’s degree in special education is a great way to enter the field. Most programs require a well-rounded curriculum, including courses in child development, behavior analysis, assistive technology, and teaching methods. They also usually include field practicum and student teaching.
Many graduates of a bachelor’s program in special education find themselves moving up the ladder quickly. They may become classroom teachers but work in other high-demand positions, such as paraeducators and interventional specialists. People with a master’s degree in special education have even more opportunities for advancement. They can work in other field areas, such as case management, as a state supervisor, or as a program coordinator for nonprofit organizations. It may result in a lucrative and fulfilling profession in a highly sought-after industry.
It’s a Career. You Can Make a Difference
A bachelor’s degree in special education prepares students to teach students with disabilities. It may also offer opportunities for employment in managerial and administrative positions in a school, college, or university. Those seeking to further their careers can also consider an EdS program, roughly equivalent to a second master’s and typically emphasizes research and teacher training. Teaching children with disabilities requires patience and empathy, but many find it a gratifying career. Teachers work one-on-one with each student, and this personal investment creates lifelong bonds.
There are several graduate programs, such as the online master’s in special education, that provide emphases that let students concentrate their study on specific special needs areas. It allows students to develop a more profound understanding of the challenges and successes of their future special needs students. It can help them more effectively support and educate them. The knowledge and experience gained in a graduate program also provide valuable tools for special needs professionals wanting to advance their careers, such as becoming leaders at nonprofit organizations.
It’s a Career You Can Love
Working with special needs students is personally meaningful, emotionally satisfying, and financially rewarding. It’s also highly engaging and provides great variety throughout the workday, as each student has unique goals and challenges that require specialized attention. Special education degrees focus on teaching students with physical and emotional disabilities that prevent them from fully benefiting from traditional classroom learning methods. These students may need a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, a specialized educational environment, technology, recreational therapy, or other supportive services. Many undergraduate programs require field practicum and student teaching to help students develop the skills needed for this career. When choosing a program, look for CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education accreditation, essential for degree transfer and licensure. Many online special education programs are regionally accredited. You should also ensure that your chosen bachelor’s degree program offers your desired concentration area.