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Education is not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic anymore. Teachers must provide specialized and individualized instruction at every grade level, from early learning classrooms through high school. PennWest’s Special Education degree prepares you to meet the complex needs of students with cognitive, behavioral, and/or physical disabilities.
Throughout your coursework, you will learn under the guidance of experienced professors who are also special education teachers. Utilizing research-based instructional strategies and diagnostic tools, they will help you develop a thorough understanding of child and adolescent development as well as the specifics of disabling conditions and their implications for learning and development. They will also empower you to use a variety of creative and critical thinking skills to develop and implement learning techniques and accommodations for students with special needs.
You’ll gain real-world experience by participating in three field experiences that involve increasing levels of responsibility and culminating in 15-week-longstudent-teaching experience. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Education licensing exam and a rewarding role as a pre-k-12 special education teacher.
PennWest’s four-year Special Education program is highly regarded throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Educators from across Pennsylvania routinely visit PennWest’s campuses to recruit graduates from our rigorous program.
Credits: 123
Contact:
Michael Perrotti
Perrotti@pennwest.edu
724-938-5678
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which promotes excellence through quality assurance and continuous improvement.
Students in Pennsylvania public schools require special education services, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
PennWest University has a legacy of excellence, providing the highest quality teacher education since 1857.
There is a continual demand for special education teachers in this country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 37,600 new jobs will open up for these teachers over the next decade. While salaries vary from district to district, in 2021, the median annual wage for special education teachers was $61,820 in 2021.
PennWest’s three campuses, California, Clarion and Edinboro universities, have been delivering award-winning online programs for more than 20 years. You’ll graduate with a degree from Pennsylvania Western University, completely supported by the expertise and community of learners on our brick-and-mortar campuses.
