Career Development Center
University Center South 106, (812) 941-2275, webjob@ius.edu
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.
Explore Majors - What Can I Do With A Major In?
Your major is not your career. Of course it can be.
A chemistry major can become a chemist, a history major can become an historian. But it is much more likely that your career choices will be enormously varied, and not tied to a specific major at all.
The 21st century workplace will challenge you to have many different jobs and most probably multiple careers. Your major will provide you a broad range of skills which will enable you to stay marketable in the fast-changing work world.
As you explore majors, be sure and take advantage of the following areas: college course bulletin, professors, upperclassmen, college alumni, family, friends and your Career Development Center Networking Program -- most importantly, don't panic! We're here to help.
In addition to the majors listed at the right, IU Southeast offers a number of certificate programs and academic minors to help students round out or expand their academic profile.
Learn more about our certificate programs and minors.
