Potential Avg. Salary

$68,200 Based on the latest government data.* See the Best Ways to get there →

Completion Time

4 Years Could it be faster? Take free courses at your own pace at OnlineDegree.com →

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With a bachelor of science in special education, you’ll learn how to provide instruction to students with special needs and learning disabilities. Available programs may include an education degree component—providing the education needed to become licensed as a K-12 educator—or may offer a focus only on special education for students who want to work in daycares or pursue graduate degrees.

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What is a Degree in Special Education

Overview

Students in special education degree programs aspire to provide educational opportunities to students with learning disabilities or special needs. Students taught by special education teachers may have autism-spectrum disorders, attention-deficit disorders, or other behavioral, learning, or emotional disabilities. The curriculum in a special education degree program is designed to teach students how to recognize learning disorders and develop teaching plans that cater to and advance the knowledge of students.

Bachelor’s degree graduates may choose one of two career paths: they can work in daycares or hospitals—caring for special needs children—or they can earn teaching credentials to teach special needs classes in elementary, middle, and high schools. Others who want to continue their educations can earn master’s and Ph.D. degrees to gain the qualifications needed to teach college special education courses—educating the special needs educators of the future in college special education courses.

What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Special Education?

Characteristics of High Incidence Disabilities
Assessing Individuals with Disabilities
Special Education Practicum
Typical and Atypical Language Development
Teaching Individuals with Mild Disabilities
Assistive Learning Technologies
Classroom and Behavior Management
Collaboration Among Families and Professionals

How hard is it to get a Job with a Degree in Special Education

Demand for special education teachers is expected to be consistent with the standard job growth for all jobs in the coming decade. Working as a special education teacher can be taxing, so jobs open frequently for new teachers as the current teachers fatigue and move on to new positions. Additionally, by law each state must provide educational opportunities to disabled students, so there are always jobs available for experiences, patient, and talented teachers and caregivers for disabled children and teens.

How Long does it take to Get

A bachelors in Special Education will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

*All salary and growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at BLS.gov for a Special Education Professor

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What Will a bachelors Cost?

The cost of a bachelors degree in Special Education will vary depending on what school you decide to attend, whether you live in-state or out of state, if the program is online, and what scholarships are available.

Online?	In-State	Out-of-State	Requirements	Tuition
Yes	$00,000	$00,000	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.	NULL
Yes	$00,000	$00,000	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.	NULL
Yes	$00,000	$00,000	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.	NULL
Yes	$00,000	$00,000	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.	NULL
Yes	$00,000	$00,000	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.	NULL

Things That Can Affect Cost

If You Live In-State or Out-of-State from the University
The University You Choose
Online Courses vs. Traditional Classroom
Taking Courses That Could Earn Credit Towards Your University to Save Money

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How to save time and money

Would you pay 50k a year in tuition and assume student debt to your eyeballs if you didn't need to? Of course not. Do you need to take off work for 4 to 5 years to get the degree you need? Probably not. Huge amounts of student debt can be a heavy burden many years after graduating. Below are some things you can do to speed up the time frame and save money, while maintaining your current job or lifestyle.

Take Free Courses At OnlineDegree.com

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Opt For Online Courses

By choosing an online university program you can potentially save a ton of money. The schedules are usually more flexible so you can keep your current job and lifestyle. Plus, you don't have to move to a new place and assume the additional student housing and living expenses.

Get Scholarships and Discounts

We’ve organized discounts and scholarships at accredited universities across the country. These could make you instantly eligible to save thousands of dollars by registering for free at OnlineDegree.com, and get you the best tuition possible for a major in Special Education or related Education & Teaching degree.

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Enroll in a Program that Leads to a Teaching Credential

Some special education degree programs are designed for individuals who want to go into caregiving or to teach special education as college professors. These programs do not qualify students to earn a teaching certification for teaching in elementary, middle, or high schools. Students who think they may want to teach in public or private schools in the future should make sure to choose a program that leads to teaching certification to avoid having to take an additional year of school to earn your license.

Best Careers for Special Education Degrees

Most graduates of special education bachelor’s degree programs find work as special education teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools, and others choose to teach aspiring college professors how to become special education teachers. Some also work in daycares, hospitals, and nonprofit agencies, helping to care for and educate special needs and disabled children, adolescents, and teenagers.

Special Education Professor

Special Education Director

Elementary School Teacher

Kindergarten Teacher

Preschool Administrator

Assistant Principal

Au Pair

Caregiver

Daycare Director

Elementary School Principal

High School Principal

Junior High Principal

Medical Social Worker

Nanny

Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

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Can I get accepted for a Degree in Special Education?

Yes! There’s A Right Fit For Everyone. We’ll Help You Find It.

Every university has different requirements for admittance, but there are certain things that can help determine your chances to get that Bachelors. No matter what though, there is a right fit for everyone!

Universities will have different acceptance rates based on various factors. Try our acceptance calculator to estimate where you might get accepted
At many universities, transfer students have higher rates of acceptance vs freshman enrolling out of high school. That means earning units at a community college or through OnlineDegree.com can potentially increase your odds of getting into the school you want.

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Our acceptance calculator will help you estimate which colleges you have a better chance to get accepted at. You’ll see what tuition costs, benefits they offer, whether they require test scores, and much much more.