Special Education

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What is Special Education?

This major will prepare you to teach students from ages 3 to 21 with any disability in a range of educational settings. This includes teaching people with learning disabilities, social or emotional disabilities, autism, intellectual disability, physical disabilities, and multiple disabilities. Our program emphasizes an inclusive approach to education. This approach encourages the education of students with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities. In this major, you will gain real-world experience through extensive fieldwork. This fieldwork will give you the opportunity to work with people of diverse abilities and ages.

Career Options

Adult education
Child psychology
Counseling
Occupational therapy
Special education
Social work

Post-Graduation Success¹

96% employed or continuing education

91% employed after graduation

5% attending graduate school

$51,986 average starting annual income

Sample employer destinations: Darien School District 61, Township High School District 214, East Maine School District 63, Champaign Community Unit School District 4, Franklin Park School District 84, Community Consolidated School District 21, Community Unit School District 200, Forest Park School District, Glen Ellyn School District 41, Orland Park School District 135 View All

Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign View All

Program Resources

College of Education Program Webpage Degree Requirements

Review Criteria

First-Year Major-Specific Criteria

Strong English coursework and performance
Interest and experiences related to the major

View All Review Criteria

Transfer Criteria

Transfer Handbook

Graduation & Retention²

3.8 years to degree

100% returned for second year

94% graduated within 4 years

97% graduated within 6 years

Annual Program Costs³

Illinois Resident

Tuition: $13,252
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,558
Total: $37,992

Non-Resident

Tuition: $35,928
Fees: $5,182
Expenses:$19,898
Total: $61,008

International

Tuition: $36,970
Fees: $5,182
Expenses: $19,898
Total: $62,050

Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) - EDU

Middle Grades Education (Grades 5-8) - EDU

Speech and Hearing Science - AHS

¹ Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics are aggregated from the past three years. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website. For average wage or salary information five years after entry into an occupation, visit the Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer.

² Graduation and retention data comes from several majors within a similar interest area. Data may not yet be available for newly created programs. Years-to-degree data is only available for programs from which you can earn a degree. Retention and graduation rates are only available for programs that you can apply directly into. Retention rates reflect retention to the university, not necessarily retention within the major.

³ "Expenses" are estimated and include books, supplies, housing, and other living expenses. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. To learn more about costs, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website. To learn the average monthly student loan payment over a period of 20 years based on estimated cost, visit the Illinois College2Career website.