What You Need to Know About Walden’s BS in Special Education

A teacher works with two children with developmental needs
Become a teacher in a new program designed for career readiness.

Every child deserves a teacher who sees potential where others see limits. With a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, you can be that teacher—the one who helps students with diverse learning needs thrive. And as schools across the country continue to face a shortage of qualified special educators,1 your skills and compassion are needed now more than ever. 

With Walden University’s new BS in Special Education online degree program, you have the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills you can apply to turning your passion for helping others into a rewarding career. Walden’s online degree program can help prepare you to become a licensed special education teacher who can make a lasting difference in the lives of students and in the future of inclusive education.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of this innovative bachelor’s in special education degree program:

  • Career Readiness and Licensure: The BS in Special Education program helps prepare you to address the instructional, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of students from kindergarten through age 21 with mild to moderate learning needs. Grounded in the professional standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the online special ed program prepares graduates to pursue licensure in most states.
  • Comprehensive Support: While earning your BS in Special Education, you’ll enjoy personalized support, including one-on-one career coaching, licensure guidance, and virtual or hands-on field experiences.
  • Scholarships and Financial Aid: In addition to federal financial aid for those who apply and qualify, Walden’s Believe & Achieve Scholarship® can help reduce the cost of your special education degree program. This valuable savings option rewards you with tuition-free credits as you progress through the program. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide information on these and other potential options that can help make earning a degree more affordable.
  • Flexibility: Designed for working professionals and busy learners, the special education degree program features an online format that makes it easier to fit classes into your schedule. And for those eager to finish sooner, the program also offers an accelerated option—take extra courses during certain terms to complete core requirements faster. Student Success Advisors work with you to develop a learning path and pace that’s right for you.
  • Proven Excellence: Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Building on more than five decades of distance education expertise, Walden has prepared over 70,000 education alumni to lead and inspire.

Advantages of a Special Education Degree

A degree in special education can open the door to a variety of career opportunities. Special education teachers work in settings that include inclusive classrooms, resource rooms, and self-contained classrooms, collaborating with teachers, parents, and specialists to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) and adapt curricula to meet individual needs.

Beyond traditional teaching roles, professionals with a special education background may choose to transition into leadership positions and advocacy roles. Special education professionals also pursue opportunities in early intervention, curriculum development, corporate training, and private consulting.

When you choose Walden’s online BS in Special Education program, you're not just earning a degree; you’re joining a community of dedicated professionals who are making a difference in the lives of students with exceptionalities. Learn more about the program and how you can become a special education teacher who truly impacts lives. 

Walden University is an HLC-accredited institution offering certificate programs and bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

1Source: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/state-teacher-shortages-vacancy-resource-tool-2025

Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences has earned programmatic accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, 1140 19th St NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 223-0077).

CAEP is a CHEA recognized national accreditor for educator preparation. CAEP accreditation is based on a review of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences’ initial teacher preparation programs—the BS in Elementary Education and the Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education—and advanced educator preparation programs—the EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration and the MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration. Three of these programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which defines content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition: Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education, EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration, and MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration.

Licensure
Walden is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to offer a program leading to a Minnesota Tier 3 license in Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist. Candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota are responsible for completing all Minnesota requirements beyond Walden’s state-approved program. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is solely responsible for reviewing applications and issuing licenses.

Individuals interested in licensure in states other than Minnesota may qualify by virtue of completing a state-approved educator preparation program; however, individuals must review their state’s regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers. Individuals who reside in certain states may be ineligible to enroll in this program. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide guidance on licensure questions; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden makes no representation or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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