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Degrees and Certificates
Special Education
College of Education
Answer a Special Calling
Bachelor of Science in Special Education
Many people who receive a bachelor’s degree in special education regard working in the field as a calling, and they are excited to do something that is emotionally fulfilling and personally meaningful. This career path requires special knowledge, strong teaching skills, compassion, humor, creativity and patience. And, although the career comes with solid benefits and job stability, helping students move toward maximum independence is a reward unto itself.
With more than 7.3 million students receiving special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (14 percent of all public school students), the need for educators in this field is greater than ever. The AUM College of Education is pleased to provide the Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree to help you develop the skills that will enable you to become a successful, committed and reflective educator.
Our Special Education programs prepare teachers to provide specially designed instruction for students with exceptionalities and to work across diverse educational settings. You’ll be prepared with the best teaching and learning strategies for students living with autism, developmental delays, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and other exceptionalities. Courses use a blend of technology and media and focus on topics such as assistive technology, behavior management, assessment, working with parents and families, and high-incidence disabilities. As part of your program, you’ll complete an internship that will give you hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
Choose from three options in Special Education:
You’ll learn under internationally recognized AUM faculty who have won awards such as the Excellence in Teaching award from Sigma Alpha Pi, Primary School Teacher of the Year award from Montgomery Public Schools, the College of Education Excellence in Teaching award, and more.
To prepare, you’ll go from our classroom to your own classroom with a practicum under expert supervision in one of our local schools. You’ll also perform an internship under a local expert teacher and gain hundreds of hours of supervised field experiences in local schools to practice what you’re learning in your teaching methods courses.
Learn more about professional education requirements, teacher certification and other program information. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with a College of Education academic advisor.
Get Your Degree
The Know How
What you will know with a Special Education degree from AUM
We Prepare You For Lifelong Learning
Special education is a team effort, involving collaboration with classroom aides, doctors, case managers and other specialists—as well as members of the student’s family.
We Enable You To Serve Those Who Need It
We prepare you to serve students with specific learning disabilities, a speech or language impairment, a chronic or acute health problem, autism, and other learning challenges.
We Believe In Hands-On Learning
As part of your program, you’ll complete an internship that will give you hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
We Set The Bar For Ethics
You’ll be prepared to do the right thing for your students—measured by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act standards, educational best practices, and the Golden Rule.
Points of Pride
Soaring Warhawks
Customize Your Concentration
We Have the Answers
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.
By working with individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, you are helping someone with special needs to conquer the daily challenges life can throw their way. You can celebrate their successes and help them through the difficult times.
In addition to the teaching skills and knowledge you’ll develop in our bachelor’s degree program, it helps to have patience, organizational skills, creativity, a calm personality, and an accepting nature.
Being a teacher of children with special needs can be challenging, but also extremely satisfying. While it can be physically and emotionally draining to help students with mental and physical disabilities, it is also rewarding to help them progress and succeed.
Degree Options
Is a Degree in Special Education right for me?
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teacher | Bachelor’s Degree | 8% (As fast as average) | $61,500 |
| Special Education High School Teacher | Bachelor’s degree | 8% (As fast as average) | $62,870 |
| Instructional Coordinator | Master’s degree | 10% (As fast as average) | $66,970 |
| Special Education Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher | Bachelor’s degree | 7% (As fast as average) | $60,660 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Learn More
In-Class
Quick Facts
College of Education
At the AUM College of Education, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology, the Department of Kinesiology, and the Department of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education.
To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of the Special Education Degree
Bachelor of Science in Special Education
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Special Education
Courses Include
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, education, and electives. Contact the College of Education for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this track requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | What you will know |
|---|---|---|
| ESPE 3760 | Survey of Exceptionalities | A survey of the various exceptionalities including the etiology, incidence, laws and strategies related to teaching students with exceptionalities. |
| ESPE 4050 | Behavior Management of Students with Exceptionalities | Managing classroom behavior has a big impact on learning, especially for those who consistently exhibit inappropriate behaviors in the classroom. |
| ESPE 4350 | Collaboration and Consultation | Learn the importance of interpersonal relationships with other professionals and the family members of students with exceptionalities. |
| ESPE 4500 | Teaching Learning Strategies for Students with Exceptionalities | Emphasizes evidence-based teaching and learning strategies to meet the individual learning needs of students with exceptionalities. Included are methods for providing accommodations and making modifications for students to be successful learners in the general education curriculum. |
