Special Education

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Topics of Study

In this program, you will learn to work with persons with special needs related to physical, psychological, or cognitive disabilities or with persons with exceptional ability. This field includes a great deal of diversity in the population, disabilities, and settings in which the population is served. You will learn about normal human development and how psychological and sociological issues affect human behavior. You will learn how to help those with emotional disturbances, orthopedic, vision or speech impairments, and those who are developmentally delayed.

Degrees

• An associate degree is needed to become a special education paraprofessional and work as a special education teacher's aide.
• A bachelor's degree plus additional training is required to enter most occupations in this field.
• A graduate degree is required in some states to teach special education.
• A doctoral degree is required to teach in higher education.