Fact Sheets

Special Education @ MSUM 

A major in special education at MSUM prepares students to have the knowledge and skills to work with individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings. Students major in Special Education and then choose one or more licensure programs which lead to Minnesota teaching licenses in specific disability areas. Graduates with this major are most often employed as public school teachers. However, graduates also work in a variety of home and community-based programs.  Special education majors work in collaboration with many other school personnel as well as community social service and health professionals.

The mission of the MSUM Special Education Program is to prepare professionals to empower individuals to maximize their self-reliance, their accomplishments, and their quality of life. The Special Education program prepares educators skilled in assessment and instruction who understand and respect the individual differences of diverse learners.

MSUM is unique in that it offers undergraduate and graduate special education programming in five licensure areas. MSUM's program is field-based, meaning that students spend from 700 to 900 hours (starting with introductory experiences and culminating in student teaching) mastering their teaching skills working with individuals who are receiving special education services. Students are able to complete licensure in one or more of the five areas:

  • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  • Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (E/BD)
  • Developmental Disabilities (DD)
  • Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
  • Physica/Health Disabilities (P/HD) -- Graduate

Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for licensed special education teachers in Minnesota and in the United States are excellent due to a shortage of teachers in all areas of special education. The average starting salary for a special education teacher is from $28,000–$33,000 per year.  More than 90 percent of MSUM special education graduates find full-time employment as special education teachers. Employment of special education teachers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010, spurred by continued growth in the number of special education students needing services, legislation emphasizing training and employment for individuals with disabilities, and educational reforms requiring higher standards for graduation. The need to replace special education teachers who switch to general education, change careers altogether, or retire will lead to additional job openings. At the same time, many school districts report shortages of qualified teachers. As a result, special education teachers should have excellent job prospects.

Legislation encouraging early intervention and special education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers has created a need for early childhood special education teachers. Special education teachers who are bilingual or have multicultural experience also are needed to work with an increasingly diverse student population.

Department Benefits

  • MSUM is one of very few universities in Minnesota that offers five special education licensures.
  • Hands-on learning experiences are built into the courses throughout the program.
  • The Student Council for Exceptional Children is an active and dynamic organization that is affiliated with the national special education professional group Council for Exceptional Children. The SCEC sponsors numerous speakers, community activities and personal/professional growth opportunities.
  • MSUM is an accredited NCATE institution and all Special Education licensures are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.
  • Many opportunities exist for students to work with culturally and linguistically diverse populations as well as those with disabilities.
  • SCEC members attend the Minnesota state CEC conference where they are exposed to the latest in “Best Practices” research and materials. Several members also attend the National Conference each year where they network with nationally known professionals and also may participate in a career fair.
  • Practicum and Student Teaching provide ample experiences in a variety of settings. Opportunities to complete student teaching are available locally in the Fargo-Moorhead area or in other geographical areas through common market placement, West St. Paul Urban Teaching project, or the Student Teaching Abroad program.
  • Special Education majors are assigned to advisors in special education who assist in program planning and discuss potential opportunities and concerns.  
  • The Special Education Web site gives information about the program and the faculty. An undergraduate Special Education Handbook is also available on the Web site that describes the policies and procedures of the department as well as suggested courses of study for the various licensure areas.

Admission Requirements to Special Education

Formal application for admission to Teacher Education is begun during the student's first education course, ED205. Admission into the Special Education program requires:

Liberal Studies GPA 2.25 to enroll in 300-400 level SpEd or Education courses.
Overall GPA 2.5 to enroll in 300-400 level SpEd or Education courses.