Master’s Degree Programs in Special Education Overview
Majors Overview August 30, 2015Students in need of extra help outside the traditional classroom rely on the assistance provided by special education teachers. Such assistance usually relates to a child’s learning disability, but could also pertain to temporary help provided on account of behavior problems. The focus of these teachers is often on teaching the student basic functions, including literacy and life skills.
Master’s Program in Special Education
Students at many schools get the choice of majoring at an undergraduate level in special education and earn a master’s degree in the field within an extra year or two. A specialization in special education such as behavioral disorders, emotional disorders, behavioral management, correctional special education, autism intervention, and traumatic brain injury may be required to be chosen by students. Each specialty may focus on a different place and level of education, such as correctional special education, where these professionals would have to work with juvenile offenders with disabilities. Classes can vary in accordance with the specialty chosen by the student. Core courses, including foundations of special education, motor skills assessment, human relations, special education law, and special education leadership are in many master’s degree programs in special education.
Career Choices
Program graduates can seek employment as special education teachers at several levels. The careers of these teachers may begin through observation of classes and performance of work as aides in a special education department, or alongside general education teachers.
Licensure is compulsory for special education teachers in every state. Licensure is obtainable through attending a teacher preparation program, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree. In some states, holding a master’s degree is mandatory for licensure. Those aspiring to become special education teachers must consider their state requirements before enrolling into a master’s degree program. Program graduates may also aim for possible job options such as:
•Resource teacher
•Behavior Analyst
•Director of special education
•Intervention specialist
Career Information
These professionals work with children suffering from emotional problems, language impairments, autism, visual impairments, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and numerous other mental problems. An educational program for each student, aimed at helping him or her to gain a grasp of educational concepts, may be created by the teacher working with these children. These professionals are responsible for a wide range of things; they help students with their daily homework and create a curriculum suitable for the level of the individual student.
Special education teachers may function within their department, or enhance work done by basic education teachers. Their responsibilities can vary by school policy and education level pertaining to the special education teacher’s involvement.