Why study special education at BGSU in Ohio?
- Personalized degree program. Design a program that will work for you and what you want out of your career. Our program allows you to choose a specialization – dual licensure or community organization – and a focus area to expand your career options and feed your curiosity.
- Real-world experience. BGSU special education majors start field experiences early in the program. Special education is a profession with many options. Our field experiences help you discover where you want to make a difference.
- Professors who care. Faculty share your passion for ensuring learners of all abilities thrive. They create a program culture that fosters a strong sense of community.
- Innovative teaching tools. Our students use the latest tools, including virtual simulation classrooms that allow for instant reflective feedback, video reflection (GoReact) and microteaching.
- Enrichment opportunities. Special education majors are encouraged to join one of the disability-focused clubs on campus, such as Best Buddies Ohio, RallyCap Sports, Improvaneers or United Sound. Find other supporters of the disability community by joining Disability Rights Education Activism and Mentorship (DREAM).
- Smooth transition to an online master's. Earn grad credits in your focus area that you can apply to the BGSU Master of Education in special education with specializations in autism, secondary transition or assistive technology.
BGSU hosts the Educator Career Fair, attended annually by hundreds of potential employers from across the state and country.
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Career - what can you do with a special education degree?
Demand for special education skills is higher than ever. Special ed majors are prepared for employment in K-12 schools or community roles outside of schools.
Special education teachers
Nearly 90% of intervention specialists work in K-12 elementary and secondary schools (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Special education teachers often work 1:1 with students or in small groups in separate classrooms. They also provide support in traditional classrooms so that students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) have the opportunity to learn in the least restrictive environment.
Typical responsibilities for special education teachers:
- Assess and evaluate students with disabilities and other learning challenges.
- Design and deliver instructional curriculum for students with disabilities.
- Plan and manage behavior interventions, social interactions and optimal learning environments.
- Collaborate with teachers, parents, administrators and others to ensure every child has what they need to succeed – in the classroom and beyond.
Community special educators
Many opportunities exist outside of K-12 classrooms for those with special education degrees. Careers in the community offer the opportunity to work with children before they enter preschool, school-age youth who benefit from community support, and adults with disabilities.
Typical responsibilities for community special educators:
- Implement Individualized Family Service Plans for families with young children.
- Connect families with community resources.
- Develop person-centered Individual Service Plans for adults.
- Create recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Provide employment support for adults with disabilities.
Career paths
- Special education teacher
- Service and support administrator
- Vocational rehabilitation counselor
- Disability rights advocate
- Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIPD)
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The special education bachelor’s program at BGSU starts with evidence-based, theoretical foundations of special education. Our graduates receive the in-depth knowledge and practical skills to effectively teach those with broadly diverse learning needs.
In addition to completing all BG Perspective requirements, special education majors must finish:
- 16 hours of professional education core coursework
- 32 hours of special education coursework
- 12 hours of reading core coursework
- 16 hours of school or community-based internships
- 12 hours in your chosen focus area
BGSU requirements to be recommended for teaching licensure upon graduation:
- An overall GPA of 3.0
- Passing scores for all required Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) examinations
Contact Dr. Meg Vostal, program director, for more information about the program (mvostal@bgsu.edu; 419-372-7283).
Sample courses
- Person-Centered Planning
- Social, Emotional and Behavioral Supports
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Data-based Individualization
- Explicit Instruction
- Collaboration and Consultation
- Assessment and Documentation
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News
The special education bachelor’s program is part of the School of Inclusive Teacher Education in the BGSU College of Education and Human Development.
Updated: 06/11/2026 09:57AM