Associate Degree in Special Education
Special Education is an important and exciting career for persons interested in the education of young children and students with disabilities. NCC offers an AA degree in Special Education, designed for students who wish to continue their education and earn their bachelor's degree with Pre-K-12th special education teacher certification. Students completing the associate degree may also pursue employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
NCC's program is grounded in a philosophy and framework that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students explore evidence-based theory and practices to understand family and disability perspectives and the importance of collaborative relationships. Classroom observations and hands-on experience opportunities throughout the program ground students understanding of effective educational approaches, including Universal Design for Learning.
Education Program RequirementsDegree Programs
Credits: 62
Program Map: Download PDF
Program Details: View More Information
Campus: Bethlehem|Monroe|FullyOnline
NCC's Special Education program is designed for students who wish to continue their education and earn their bachelor’s degree with Pre-K-12th special education certification. Students completing the associate degree may also pursue employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
Credits: 9
Program Map: Download PDF
Program Details: View More Information
Campus: FullyOnline
NCC's Special Education program is designed for students who wish to continue their education and earn their bachelor’s degree with Pre-K-12th special education certification. Students completing the associate degree may also pursue employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
Program Information
If you are a Northampton Community College student living outside of Pennsylvania or intending to complete an internship outside of the state in a NCC program leading to professional licensure, you should review requirements on the state board website to make sure that the program qualifies.
Licensure requirements vary from state to state and you may require additional authorization from the professional licensing agency in that state. Participating in a program from outside of Pennsylvania, if not properly authorized by that state's professional licensing board, could result in loss of licensing eligibility. If you need help or have questions, please contact the Program Director for more information.
Completing a degree in Special Education at Northampton Community College can drastically reduce the overall cost of your education. Our tuition and fees are some of the most affordable in the region. On top of the low upfront costs, you can also take advantage of NCC’s substantial financial aid and scholarship opportunities—we have one of the largest community college scholarship programs in Pennsylvania!
Career Opportunities
Graduates of our program will be prepared to continue their studies and transfer to a four-year school or enter the workforce and obtain employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
Future Career Paths
- Special Education Teacher
- Paraeducator
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Early Intervention Specialist/Early Childhood Special Educator
- Interpreter for the Hearing Impaired
- Special Education Administrator
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Learn More about NCC’s Special Education Associate Degree and Specialized Diploma
Northampton Community College’s in-person and online special education program equips you to excel as a paraeducator or in a four-year bachelor’s degree program. Here, you can earn an Associate Degree in Special Education (A.A.) or a shorter Specialized Diploma in Special Education (S.D.) at a low cost.
Request more information to learn more about NCC programs, or start your application now!
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