Create A Classroom Experience That Promotes Positive Learning
Early Childhood Education Associate's Degree—Special Needs Specialization
As an early childhood educator, you become accustomed to recognizing children with special needs—sometimes even before their parents. Our Early Childhood Education Associate’s degree with a specialization in Special Needs—available fully online or on campus— allows you to better prepare your special needs students for future learning.
You create customized curriculum and teaching techniques to most effectively develop these students’ mental, emotional, and physical capabilities.
The knowledge and skills that you gain in this unique specialization, together with your patience and compassion for your students, foster a positive and inclusive learning environment where children of all needs and abilities can thrive.
Create an exciting learning environment
Our fully online or on campus courses in our Special Needs specialization provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively and positively teach children with special needs—these unique skills can also give you a competitive advantage in today’s job market. Our instructors are seasoned early childhood education professionals, and many hold a Master’s degree, so you know that the education you are receiving is of the highest quality. Plus, to ensure you have the hands-on experience you need for a smooth career transition, part of your coursework includes 540 hours of applied learning in an environment that coincides with your career goals.
Using the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards as a foundation for our curriculum, your courses also focus on preparing you to apply for your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.*
*The School of Education at Rasmussen College is not accredited by NAEYC.
Contact one of our dedicated program managers today at (888) 549-6755 or complete the contact request form on the right and learn more about our Early Childhood Education Associate’s degree with a specialization in Special Needs.
Special Needs Courses
The special needs courses will prepare you to work with students who have faced numerous obstacles throughout their life already. Your instructors will teach you different ways to teach students who have learning disabilities. Your patience may be tested, but the reward of teaching and helping students learn new things will be satisfying.
Some key courses include:
Dynamics of the Family
Explore multiple family theories and parenting styles, as well as the impact of culture on all aspects of families.
Advocating for Special Needs Children
You will learn about current trends, resources and advocacy on behalf of young children with special needs.
The Exceptional Child
Develop a case study based on commonly-found characteristics of a child with special needs and draft a plan to provide high-quality care and education for this child.
View courses - Early Childhood Education Associate’s degree – Special Needs specialization
Early Education Career Outlook
Rasmussen College graduates have been placed in careers that are in-demand and are expected to have continued growth. Your education as an early childhood educator with a specialization in special needs will help you find a job working with children that have disabilities. You will be called upon to find methods of teaching that work for every student.
Here’s a snapshot of the career:
Salary & growth statistics provided by the BLS ‡ |
25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile | Projected Growth |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $19,280 | $24,540 | $32,240 | 22.50% |
The Rasmussen College career placement services staff starts helping you even before you graduate – with your resume, cover letter, interviewing techniques and how to search for a great career. And it doesn’t end there – these services are available throughout your career.
‡"Occupational Employment Statistics Home Page." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor, 27 July 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
"Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor, Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.
BLS salary data may not reflect expected entry level earnings.
Seamless Credit Transfer Policies
Transferring your credits doesn't need to be difficult. At Rasmussen College, our transfer policies are designed to maximize your credit transfer and minimize your time to graduation. View our official Transfer Policy for a full description of each policy.
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