Get Your Degree in Special Education via Online Study
Getting any kind of education degree once meant attending
a university for classes, then performing a semester of student teaching
at a university contracted school. Thanks to the internet, you can now
get your degree in special education online and can even do your student
teaching at a school in your own community.
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| Schools offering Online courses: |
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| Walden
University offers a Ph.D.
in Education program with a specialization in Special Education.
This program is designed to enhance the skills of practicing teachers
who seek to promote the social and academic achievements of students
with learning disabilities. In this program, students learn how
to better examine the characteristics of learning disabled youngsters
and how to identify, plan for and support the individual needs and
strengths of those youngsters.
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| Capella
University has a Ph.D.
in Education with a specialization in Special Education program
that is designed to provide a strong foundation in general K-12 educational
administration with a focus on special education administration. Coursework
includes Principles of Educational Administration, Curriculum Development,
Teacher Supervision and Evaluation, Special Education Curriculum and
Instructional Strategies, and more. |
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 Grand
Canyon University offers a Master of Education in Special Education program. This program is designed for students who seek an elementary/cross-categorical teaching certification. Coursework provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to teach children who possess learning, emotional, and behavioral disabilities, as well as other physical and cognitive impairments.
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| For both teachers and administrators, who desire to have more milieus in special education, The University of New England offers an Education in Inclusion Education certification of Graduate Study program. In this program, students learn various inclusion practices and concerns, and how to apply special education law to one’s location. In addition, this course provides students with various methods and teaching strategies which can be applied in inclusion settings. |
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| The University
of Phoenix Online offers a Master
of Arts in Education/Special Education program that is designed
to prepare students for teacher licensure in the field of special
education. The coursework includes orientation to the exceptional
child, diagnosis and assessment of disabilities, foundations and methodologies
of mild disabilities, and more. |
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| View ALL schools that offer programs in Special Education » |
A
degree in Special Education allows you to work with students on equally
opposite ends of the intelligence scale. That is, you may want to work
with those who are learning disabled or developmentally challenged, or
you may work with those who are classed as "gifted and talented." Since
a high percentage of exceptionally bright students also have behavioral
or emotional problems, or are hyperactive, they can be just as challenging
as the slower students, and they also require special teaching skills.
Holding a degree in this field will allow you to do
more than teach. You might be the coordinator for a learning resource
program, the administrator for testing for learning disabled, or even—depending
on your area of specialization—a curriculum coordinator who moderates
the regular curriculum with that of the special needs children to ensure
that they receive the maximum education for their individual abilities.
The Course of Study
A degree in special education is usually a Master's Degree. You can acquire
your bachelor's degree in nearly anything, including a Bachelor of Arts
in Education, a Bachelor of Science in Education, or simply a degree in
a particular discipline. The Master's degree is then your education degree
and can be a degree in special education with an emphasis in administration,
curriculum, counseling, or a discipline of your choice. The actual courses
vary by institution, but all of the best programs involve both a practicum
and a research project. You can choose from programs that allow you to
go online and read or listen to lectures at your convenience, or—if
you need a regular schedule—you can choose ones that have a required
"attendance" period during which you must sign in and can then interact
with other members and with the instructor.
Expected Salaries and
Job Outlook
The need for teachers in nearly all areas is critical across the country,
but even more so for Special Education teachers, administrators, coordinators,
public relations experts, and others with this vital degree. The prevalence
of ADHD and other problems among students has virtually exploded in the
late 20th century. Scientists insist that learning problems have been
caused by mercury laden vaccines and dietary contaminants such as hydrogenated
oil, and MSG (just to name a couple), but even if they are correct, the
analysis does not reduce the problem. Teachers and other professionals
who are trained to work with special needs individuals are desperately
needed. If this is your choice for a career, you will never need to worry
about becoming unemployed.
Being certified in special education does not, unfortunately,
guarantee a higher salary than any other teacher. Teacher salaries range
from as low as $20,000 to as high as 80,000 depending on the area of the
country. Those with more experience and advanced degrees have higher salaries.
Administrators and curriculum coordinators are paid more than teachers,
so if your goal is a six figure salary, you will need to aim for administration.
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