Special Education, BS
Special Education at UT prepares educators and researchers to support students with a range of learning needs through inclusive, evidence-based practices. Students engage in connected learning and research that promote meaningful access for all.
Program overview
Special Education offers an undergraduate and a graduate pathway to becoming a special education teacher. The graduate pathway results in licensure in three areas related to special education.
Concentrations
Traditional Specialization with Undergraduate Internship
5-Year Program Specialization with Graduate Internship
Non-licensure concentration
Why study Special Education?
Special education prepares you to help students with diverse learning needs, physical, intellectual, emotional, or developmental, reach their full potential. If you’re drawn to patience, creativity, and making education work for everyone, special education is a meaningful path.
Real, lasting impact
You directly shape a child’s confidence, independence, and academic growth, often changing the trajectory of their life.
Growing demand
Schools consistently need qualified special educators, offering strong job security across public, private, and specialized settings.
Advocacy and equity
You become a voice for inclusion, ensuring students with disabilities get fair access to education and aren’t left behind.
What can you do with a BS in Special Education after graduation?
Special Education Teacher
Works directly with students who have disabilities, adapting lessons, writing IEP goals, and providing individualized instruction. Manages classroom behavior, tracks progress, and collaborates with parents, therapists, and general education teachers.
IEP Coordinator
Oversees the Individualized Education Program process for a school or district. Ensures legal compliance, schedules and leads IEP meetings, coordinates between teachers, parents, and specialists, and monitors that goals and services are implemented properly and reviewed on time.
Behavior Specialist
Assesses challenging behaviors and designs intervention plans to support students’ social, emotional, and academic success. Trains teachers and staff on behavior strategies, collects data, and adjusts plans based on progress.
Early Intervention Specialist
Works with infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) showing developmental delays or disabilities. Provides therapy or instruction in communication, motor skills, or cognitive development, often in home settings, while coaching parents on strategies to support their child’s growth.
Featured Courses
Introduction to Special Education Teaching Principles
Teacher candidates participate in on-campus learning as well as observing and assisting in a field placement setting.
Language and Literacy Development and Disorders
Emphasizes an understanding of language development, speech and language differences common among children with developmental delays and / or disabilities, and the impact of speech and language impairments on the development of literacy skills.
Professional Studies for Special Education and Diverse Learners
Characteristics and needs of students with disabilities and diverse learners with emphasis on educational implications. Techniques, strategies, and resources for teaching and assessing students with diverse learning, behavioral, medical and/or sociocultural characteristics, and the requirements of special education and other relevant laws.
Applications of Assistive Technology
Application of assistive and instructional technology for students in all disability categories and across all chronological and functioning age ranges. Adaptive software, hardware for access, and strategies for technology usage, assessment, and instruction.
