Why I Chose Special Education Over Psychology
- Student Ambassadors
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Sarah Wilde
McKay Student Ambassador
Special Education (Severe/Profound Disabilities Emphasis)
As stated above, I am majoring in special education. However, I really enjoy psychology! I am getting a psychology minor through the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. In high school, I was required to take a social science credit. I took a psychology class, and absolutely fell in love with it. If I like it so much, why did I go into special education?
Life Experiences
Growing up, I had seen a lot of the special education world. Two of my siblings were in the complex-needs classes, and I had the opportunity to watch the teachers they had while I was growing up. While I found psychology fascinating, I didn't know much about the field itself. On the other hand, I saw many of the ins and outs of special education. I saw practices of good teachers and the effects of bad teachers, and I wanted to make sure every student got the opportunities they deserve. I learned at an early age that not every school professional has their students' best interests at heart, and I wanted to join the fight against that mindset.
Application
While psychology is the study of the mind, special education allows you to apply the research. Special education couldn't function without psychological studies. All the best practices are based on evidence and research! But I would rather be on the practicing end than the researching end. I want to carry out the recommendations from the research and see the effects on my own students' lives as they grow over time.
Job Opportunities
Let's face it, it's hard to get a job in psychology! A master's degree and/or other further education is almost necessary for your career. As a teacher, all I need is a bachelor's, and suddenly there's a large supply of jobs! I can choose to further my education if I want, but I can do it on my own timeline.
Through my psychology minor, I still get to learn about topics I find interesting and concepts that will help me in my future career as a special education teacher. It's the best of both worlds! I get to do what I love, and learn about fun things on the side.
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