Description of Special Education Major

Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. Most special education teachers instruct students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level, although some teachers work with infants and toddlers.

The Special Education major leads to Indiana’s all grade (K-12) teaching license for Mild Intervention or Kentucky’s (K-12) Learning and Behavior Disorders.

Special education teachers design and modify instruction to meet a student’s special needs. Teachers also work with students who have other special instructional needs, including the gifted and talented. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) specifies that all states must provide a comprehensive educational program for all children and youth. One of the key components of this law is the personnel requirement

Based upon data from the Division of Special Education, Indiana Department of Education, there continues to be a need for more special education teachers. The outlook is positive for employment in public and private settings.

RELATED SKILLS:

• Ability to teach/train
• Explaining ideas clearly
• Writing and presenting
• Decision making
• Organization
• Planning
• Dealing with parents or guardians
• Lesson planning
• Summarizing ideas
• Ability to teach to different learning levels
• Flexibility
• Team player
• Creativity
• Computer skills

Click on one of the links to the right to find possible job titles, employers, and web sites related to this major.