Studying In the Field Special education is one of the most rewarding careers out there, but you should go into it with the understanding that it is not easy. For while traditional classroom teachers face a number of difficult issues on a daily basis, such as unruly students, demanding parents, the politics of the teacher-administrator relationship and all the other myriad issues that arise over the course of a career in academics, those focusing on special education have added a whole host of other issues with which to contend. And while special education is not a monolith-there are as many avenues to pursue in it as there are in other aspects of teaching-some of the issues facing special education professionals run the gamut of specific areas of expertise.
This is due primarily to the nature of special education. Essentially, it consists of "educational programs designed to support students whose singular needs or disabilities require special teaching approaches, equipment or care within or outside a regular classroom" (www.en.wikipedia.org). And while the specific nature of those students who require a special education may vary, the rigors of the training and the supreme importance of the competence of its practitioners does not.
Special education teachers deal with students who, for a variety of reasons, require extra help and care in their educational endeavors. The students include "gifted children, mentally retarded children, sensory handicapped children, neurological and orthopaedic handicapped children [and] children with emotional and social behaviour issues" (www.unixl.com). As such, teachers must not only be able to work with these students, but also identify issues facing them, as well as understand the special needs; educational, psychological and otherwise.
Therefore, studying for a degree in special education is a rigorous process, and certification or licensing beyond earning your degree-whether bachelor's or graduate-is required. "For traditional licensing, all States require a bachelor's degree and the completion of an approved teacher preparation program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits and supervised practice teaching. However, many States require a master's degree in special education, involving at least one year of additional course work, including a specialization, beyond the bachelor's degree. Often a prospective teacher must pass a professional assessment test as well" (www.bls.gov). But as most accredited programs adhere to the requirements of the state issuing the license, completion of a special education program is generally enough to ensure that you are able to pass the exams that lead to the license.
Coursework is wide-ranging and demanding, though because of the many areas of specialization within the field, you will ultimately have to choose one specific aspect in which you would like to specialize. And while there are standard courses that students have to take-in general, those dealing with both traditional pedagogy and special education-there are also a myriad of others that are generally taken based on what area of the field you choose to go into. These include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: "Curriculum design, motivating exceptional learners...working with families and professionals in special education, curriculum for students with special needs in math and reading, intervention for students with severe disabilities, instruction for students with mild disabilities, orientation to human variation and special education services, assessment for instruction," and many, many others (www.gv.psu.edu).
Job Opportunities In the Field As we have mentioned, working in the field of special education is not easy: Teachers face a number of issues in the classroom that more traditional teachers do not. But, as the training for special education teachers is so rigorous, graduating from a program in it and earning your state certification is more than enough preparation to ensure success in the field.
As far as getting a job in special education, the outlook is rather positive: "Employment of special education teachers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. Although student enrollments are expected to grow only slowly, additional positions for these workers will be created by continued increases in the number of special education students needing services, by legislation emphasizing training and employment for individuals with disabilities and by educational reforms requiring higher standards for graduation. In addition to job openings resulting from growth, a large number of openings will result from the need to replace special education teachers who switch to teaching general education, change careers altogether or retire. At the same time, many school districts report difficulty finding sufficient numbers of qualified teachers. As a result, special education teachers should have excellent job prospects" (www.bls.gov).
As far as earnings go, that depends on where you choose to make your living in the field. Employment by school districts will guarantee you a certain type of pay-and this, of course, depends upon the area or municipality in which you work, and whether or not it is a public or private school where you make your living-while working for a hospital or in-patient facility will guarantee you another kind of living. Make sure you research these two divergent career paths before you begin applying for jobs as you near graduation.
Then there is the issue of what aspect of the field you choose to pursue: Administrators make a different salary than teachers, and teacher's aide incomes differ still. Because of all the choices you will face, your best bet is to gain as complete an understanding as possible of the entire range of careers in special education before pursuing any one of them.
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