Prepare to teach children with disabilities
Our Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Bachelor of Science Degree prepares you to teach students in grades K-12 with mild to moderate disabilities and take the state certification test for this area.
You take most of your classes with elementary education majors and are prepared to teach general curriculum. You also earn Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsements, making you a valuable job candidate to school systems.
A job in Demand
Since 2010, Florida's State Board of Education has designated Exceptional Student Education as a critical shortage area, requiring school districts to factor this into their teacher salary schedules. Choosing the ESE degree gives you more options during the length of your career:
- Flexibility to teach any grade level (K-12) in a variety of settings
- Smaller class sizes
- Better preparation for any classroom
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. Salaries may vary based on a person's skills and experience, each employer's pay scale, and job market conditions. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2024 Employment
6,950
2034
7,760
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
570
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2024 Employment
1,790
2034
2,000
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
150
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2024 Employment
8,580
2034
9,580
Percent Change
12
Projected Job Openings
700
A quality education degree
- We offer quality school-based experiences every term, supervised by experienced educators.
- Curriculum is infused with ESOL and Reading, which means graduates are exempt from the 300-hour ESOL Pinellas County training requirement.
Features that fit you
- Degrees are affordable with scholarship opportunities.
- Classes are offered face-to-face, online and blended.
- We offer full and part-time programs.
EARN YOUR A.A. AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES AT SPC
SPC's Education A.A. transfer plan transfers to our Exceptional Student Education Bachelor of Science Degree.
Preparing you for teacher certification
SPC graduates who earn the Exceptional Student Education B.S. Degree can start the steps to apply for your Florida Professional Certificate. These graduates can be certified by the state to teach ESE classes and are prepared to pass the Elementary Education K-6 certification test. As a result, the majority of out ESE graduates enter their teaching careers with multiple certifications and endorsements, which gives them an edge over candidates with certification in ESE only.
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