Special Education

Welcome to the Special Education Master’s Degree options and certification only program, where our primary emphasis is to provide educational opportunities for certified teachers to obtain a master’s degree in special education with the option of certification in special education. The University of Idaho has become a primary choice for students who wish to complete their degree and certification at a distance. All courses are offered through online technologies and do not require that a student come to campus. The program has received national accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and is a state approved program. The demand for special education teachers remains at a high level with nearly 100% of students seeking special education positions being hired.


Special Education Master's Program Handbook

 

 

Prepare for Success

A graduate degree in special education is ideal for people who have compassion and a desire to help those with special needs. A graduate degree places the student in leadership and decision-making roles. An undergraduate degree in education or a similar field is required for the special education program.

Your First Year

The coursework and practicum in the program will help prepare or further your knowledge of working with students with special needs. The main program focus in on mild to moderate disabilities and includes an emphasis on learning disabilities, mental conditions or other disabling conditions that require special equipment, materials and teaching procedures.

Special education teachers design and teach appropriate curricula and assign work geared toward each student’s needs and abilities. This includes behavioral, social, and academic development as well as preparing special education students for daily life beyond school also is an important aspect of the job.

A graduate degree in special education prepares you for a rewarding career providing services to those with special needs or training others to work with students with special needs.

Opportunities to focus on other areas such as low incidence, Autism or Consulting teacher are available as well depending on the student interest and program funding.

What You Can Do

Graduates are prepared to teach special education, advance toward administrative positions, do research in the field or prepare for a doctoral degree.

Opportunities

Reported shortages of qualified teachers coupled with increasing enrollments of special education students will likely create favorable job opportunities for professionals with this degree.

Current Research

Current faculty research is exploring:

• Learned helplessness in families of children with disabilities
• Autism

Our faculty members are conducting one of the first studies in the nation that looks at the inclusion of students with disabilities in Idaho's classrooms since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Hands-On Experience

Students in the special education program have many opportunities for hands-on training in the Center on Disabilities and Human Development. With about 20 students enrolled in the program each year, students form strong interpersonal bonds with faculty and with one another.

You will also have opportunities to participate in interdepartmental studies, become involved in community-based programs and network with professionals in special education and other disciplines.

Faculty Involvement

A small student-to-faculty ratio provides a unique opportunity for students to interact closely with faculty.