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Connect with and empower students across the learning spectrum with a Special Education Teaching degree from the University of Central Missouri. The Cross-Categorical Disabilities concentration of our Special Education Bachelor of Science degree program provides supportive, hands-on and standards-based training in how to become a special education teacher.

UCM’s bachelor’s degree in Special Education program will help you understand how young people develop and learn. In the Cross-Categorical Disabilities major in Special Education, you’ll be able to create inclusive, engaging environments that help K–12 learners with a variety of disabilities feel safe and supported.

Learn how to become a special education teacher at your own speed

UCM offers flexible courses to accommodate the different needs of students in our Special Education programs. Pursue your Special Education Teaching degree in Cross-Categorical Disabilities part- or full-time at our Warrensburg campus, with opportunities for coursework in Lee’s Summit at our Missouri Innovation Campus. Some courses are offered in a fully online format.

What you will study

A bachelor’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Cross-Categorical Disabilities from UCM will give you insight into the nature of the learning process. Understanding how individual learners differ, as well as how to address diverse emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs, will enable you to craft ideal educational experiences for each of your students.

Coursework for this Special Education Teaching degree may include:

Educational Psychology: Survey the psychological concepts, theories and techniques critical for successful teaching.
Education of the Exceptional Child: Learning to recognize, teach and support extraordinary learners is an important part of how to become a special education teacher. You’ll have the opportunity in this course for on-site work with exceptional children.
Introduction to English Language Learners and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Teachers in Special Education programs frequently need to teach English Language Learner (ELL) students with special needs. Additionally, learn how to include frameworks such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation and religion in your teaching to fully connect with your students and achieve more successful learning outcomes.

What can you do with a Special Education degree in Cross Categorical Disabilities from UCM?

When you major in Special Education at the University of Central Missouri, you’re choosing a career path that’s as in-demand as it is fulfilling. Graduates of UCM’s Special Education programs, including the Cross-Categorical Disabilities area, enjoy a 100% employment rate after graduation — many of our students have even been approached with employment offers before they graduate.

Your Special Education Teaching degree in Cross-Categorical Disabilities will qualify you for state-wide certification. Many graduates go on to work in K–12 schools, but your bachelor’s degree in Special Education may also qualify you for educational jobs in a variety of settings.