Special Education majors learn how to teach children with specific needs, such as visually impaired or hearing disabled students, students with learning or behavior disorders, mentally handicapped students, and/or students with a combination of moderate or severe disabilities. Special Education majors take highly specialized classes on disability and disorder assessment, child development, and classroom management. They incorporate standard educational practice into a specialized program to meet the needs of their students.
The Special Education major requires exceptional patience and a tremendous desire to work with children who have very special needs. You have to manage all of the activities in the classroom while still effectively delivering your curriculum. With its many challenges, majors who go on to teach Special Education find it very rewarding.

Preparation

A firm background in English, math, and science is required for all education majors. If your school offers classes in psychology or sign language, try to take them. Volunteer work with exceptional students is probably the most valuable background you can acquire. Ask around at local schools and hospitals to see what opportunities might be available.