Interested in helping K-12 students with disabilities? Our Special Education BA prepares students to graduate with teacher licensure and the ability to support students with disabilities in both general education and special education classrooms.
At Iowa, you will study with international experts on special education and complete field experiences at local schools. You’ll use cutting edge techniques to help students with disabilities grow academically, behaviorally, emotionally, and socially.
As a licensed teacher in special education, you will enter a high-demand field and your work will help ensure that all students, regardless of disability, have a knowledgeable teacher to support them.
Iowa’s College of Education is well known for offering a high-quality curriculum that provides solid preparation for teaching careers. The college is ranked as the No. 1 College of Education in Iowa and No. 31 in best education schools nationally, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
With a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, Iowa's education students enjoy a Big Ten university experience with a small-college feel. Faculty are on a first-name basis with our students and our program provides an enriched learning environment.
The Baker Teacher Leader Center provides professional development in critical areas such as special education, multilingual education, social-emotional-behavioral mental health, advanced academics and talent development, global education, dyslexia intervention, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and math).
Our graduates go on to become world-class leaders, scholars, and innovators in many different facets of education and the helping professions, from teaching to design of learning technologies and educational solutions, educational administration, counseling, higher education and student development, and measurement and testing.
First-year and incoming transfer students are admitted to the Special Education major if they meet the admission requirements of the College of Education.
Students who are admitted to Special Education as first-year applicants complete Teacher Education Program application requirements as part of their first two semesters of coursework.
Transfer students who have been admitted complete the Teacher Education Program application independently.
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Within six months of graduating, 96 percent of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing education, or not seeking work. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Our graduates are in high demand in the state and across the nation. Iowa, much like the rest of the United States, has a shortage of special educators, and your work will help provide much needed services to students and their families.
In addition to having more than 600 Student Organizations, Iowa students choose from multiple Living-Learning Communities, Study Abroad Programs, and Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
The College of Education and the Baker Teacher Leader Center host a variety of events and workshops annually to support student learning and engagement.
Scholarships
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
Special education students complete courses and school field experiences that prepare them for special education teaching Kindergarten through Grade 12.
General education requirements to earn a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Education are the GE CLAS Core of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
See Special Education in the UI General Catalog to learn more about this major and course requirements.