The study of alternate teaching strategies and educational policies created for kids with exceptional needs is known as Special Education. Children with high intellectual capacities or young people with physical or mental impairments like learning problems such as dyslexia and communication disorders or emotional and behavioural disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hearing loss, stuttering, amputations, cerebral palsy and autism are the focus of Special Education.

Special Education, also known as special needs education, is a general academic field that offers specialisation in areas like sign language, deaf studies, special education for elementary school, secondary school, and early childhood.

A typical Special Education course covers topics like Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND), learning difficulties, social, behavioural and emotional development, ethical practice, inclusive practice, child abuse and neglect, special education law, meeting different needs and so on.

Students who want to work in Special Education must have traits like tolerance, acceptance, and understanding.

Study levels:

Special Education involves specially designed courses for the disabilities of students, with different teaching procedures, adaptable materials and handy settings and there are many courses offered at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels including Certificates, Diplomas.

The different study levels under Special Education include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Special Education
• Bachelor of Education in Special Education
• Bachelor of Science in Education- Adolescent Education and Students with Disabilities
• Bachelor of Science in Collaborative Teacher/Special Education
• Bachelor of Special Needs Education
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Special Educational Needs and Disability
• Bachelor of Arts in Education, Psychology and Special Educational Needs
• Bachelor of Education in Inclusive Education
• Master in Special Education
• Master in Inclusive and Intercultural Education
• Master of Science in Secondary Education of Students who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Master’s Degree in Special and Additional Learning Needs
• Master of Arts in Special Educational Needs and Disability
• Master’s Degree in Psych pedagogy
• Master of Disability and Inclusion Studies
• Certificate/Diploma in Special Education
• Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
• Doctor of Philosophy in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching and Learning
• Doctor of Education in Special Education

Specialisations:

An increasing number of students choose a Special Education specialisation to help fulfil a growing demand for teachers to work with children who have physical or mental disabilities and students can choose any area that they wish to specialise in from the following:

• Special Education for Early Childhood
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Gifted and Talented Student Education
• Applied Behaviour Analysis
• Visual Impairment
• Mild/Moderate Disabilities
• Severe Disabilities
• Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Speech/Language Impairment
• Managing the Behaviour of Students with Special Needs

Employability:

Special educators have a wide range of opportunities. Students who are interested in pursuing a degree in Special Education will find career paths and job opportunities to be quite diverse. From teaching positions to working with the legal system, there are countless career paths that open for people who possess the unique skills taught by a Special Education degree.

Popular job titles include:

• Special Education Teacher
• Educational Specialist
• Employee Development Specialist
• Audiologist
• Recreational Therapist
• Speech Pathologist
• Rehabilitation Counsellor
• Student Teacher Advisor
• Day Care Centre Owner
• Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
• Early Intervention Specialist
• Special Education Advocate