Careers
- What do Special Educators do?
- Why choose Special Education as a career?
- How do I know if I'm right for the job?
- Are there jobs in Special Education?
- Why are there so many credentials in Special Education?
- Which students are included in the various credential areas?
- How long does it take to complete a Level I Specialist Credential?
- What does "Level I Credential" mean?
- Where can I get additional information?
What do Special Educators do?
- Teach students with disabilities in a variety of settings
- Teach students who have gifted potential in a variety of settings
- Work in partnership with families
- Work in partnership with other professionals
- Provide coaching and support for older students in job placements
- Advocate for individuals with special needs
Why choose Special Education as a career?
- Opportunity to make a positive difference in children's and family's lives
- Many job opportunities in California and throughout the United States
- Positions available to work with students from infancy through young adulthood
- Dynamic, changing, research-based field
How do I know if I'm right for the job?
- Visit classes where there are students with special needs
- Talk with special education teachers and teachers of the gifted
- Volunteer in classrooms where there are children with special needs
- Spend time with individuals with special needs and their families
- Read books by and about people with special needs
- Take an introductory class
Are there jobs in Special Education?
Yes. Throughout California 30% to 35% of all Special Education teachers are employed on Emergency Credentials. There is a long-term and growing need for qualified, credentialed teachers in all areas of Special Education. Teachers with a major assignment in gifted education must demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills in this field.
Why are there so many credentials in Special Education?
Credentials are linked to broad areas of disability, and each credential authorizes the holder to teach students with specific sorts of needs. The Department of Special Education at SDSU offers Level I credentials in Mild/Moderate disabilities, Moderate/Severe disabilities, Physical and Health Impairments, and Early Childhood Special Education as well as Level II Professional Credentials in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and Early Childhood Special Education. The Department also offers an advanced certificate in Developing Gifted Potential and the CTC certificates in Resource Specialist, and Early Childhood Special Education.
Which students are included in the various credential areas?
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing describes the credential areas and the students included in each area as follows.
Mild/Moderate Disabilities: Students with mild/moderate disabilities may be inefficient learners who have difficulties imposing structure on learning tasks. They may display delays in intellectual development, specific learning disabilities, and/or serious emotional disturbances. Frequently their behavior is characterized by under achievement, failure expectancy, and social competence deficits. They may be impulsive, easily distracted, and
inattentive. Further, they may experience difficulties in generalizing skills and in predicting events or consequences of behavior. This credential authorizes the teaching of individuals with specific learning disabilities, mental retardation, other health impaired, and serious emotional disturbance.
Educational specialists preparing to work with students who have mild to moderate disabilities must be skilled at creating, developing, and implementing individualized adaptations and accommodations to facilitate access to learning in a wide variety of environments, such as academic, vocational, social, and community. This includes access to the core curriculum, now emphasized in state and federal regulations or IEP mandates, specialized curricula, learning and transition strategies, and the use of current and adaptive technologies. Authorization includes students in grades K through 12 including adult.
Moderate/Severe Disabilities: Students with moderate/severe disabilities require specialized support to address unique learning needs resulting from a range of intellectual, behavioral, emotional, communication, sensory, and/or motor impairments. This credential authorizes the teaching of individuals with autism, mental retardation, deaf-blindness, serious emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities. Authorization includes students in grades K through 12 including adult.
Physical and Health Impairments: Physical and health impairments include students with orthopedic, neurological and physical health impairments that limit mobility and vitality and adversely affect educational performance. Educational placement of students is based on unique educational needs and characteristics rather than on physical and health impairments. This credential authorizes the teaching of individuals who are orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, with traumatic brain injury or multiple disabilities. Authorization includes students from birth through age 22.
Early Childhood Special Education: Early childhood special education includes the provision of educational services to children from birth through pre-kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention, special education, and/or related services under federal and state laws. Children with a primary disability of deafness or hearing impairment, deaf-blindness, visual impairment including blindness, or orthopedic impairment must be served by a professionals holding the authorization specific to the low incidence disability. Authorization includes children from birth through pre-K.
How long does it take to complete a Level I Specialist Credential?
It takes a minimum of three semesters of full-time course work to complete the prerequisites and credential course requirements. The part-time option can be completed in four semesters if all or most of the prerequisite courses have been completed.
What does "Level I Credential" mean?
Education Specialist Credentials in Special Education have two levels. At the completion of Level I and employment in a special education program within a school district, students hold a Level I Preliminary Credential. Holders of the Level I credential have five years, including two years of successful teaching in Special Education, to complete the Level II, Professional Credential. Requirements for the Level II credential include: (1) a formal induction plan completed by the university and employing district, (2) academic requirements (university coursework), and (3) professional activities.
Where can I get additional information?
Attend a Group Advising Session. To find out when the next one is scheduled, contact the Department of Special Education at (619) 594-6665 or check the bulletin board outside North Education 70.
If you have additional questions after the Group Advising session, reviewing print materials, and viewing our website, make an appointment with a faculty member. Faculty office hours are posted outside each faculty member's office. You can sign up for an appointment or call the faculty member for a time that is mutually convenient.