Ideal Minor Pairings for a Special Education Degree
- Speech Pathology
- Communications
- Education
- Social Justice
- Child Development
There are a number of great choices out there when it comes to minors that pair well with a special education major. Depending on the available offerings at one’s college of choice, the student can often pursue a minor concentration with direct association with that intended, future field of work. In general, though, what are some of the best choices here? The following five minors are as good as any when paired with today’s special education major.
Related resource: Top 20 Best Online Master’s in Special Education
1. Speech Pathology
Speech pathology is the science built to understand and help those with communication and speech issues. Minoring in this area of expertise offers a sure way to build on the important skill area of communication with those who may have a hard time communicating otherwise. Science is still learning quite a bit in this field, and being on the cutting-edge is certainly great for anyone going into the special education field or another that is related.
2. Communications
In general, communication skills are critical in all areas of life. Being a proficient speaker and listener is just as critical if not more so in the special education sector specifically. Minor studies in this concentration will help students to understand communication barriers, media use in communication, strategies, psychology and culture in communication, and more. These are especially valuable tools for special education professionals.
3. Education
Education itself is yet another great choice for those seeking directly relevant minors for a special education degree. Minoring here will give a great foundation as to how modern education works, ethics and regulations, best practices, regional differences in approach and standards, and much more. This is a particularly helpful minor concentration for those considering eventual upper management roles in the educational or special education arenas.
4. Social Justice
Social justice is a more modern concern and human study defined by the official Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a state or doctrine of egalitarianism”, egalitarianism itself being defined as “a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs”. This all said, those understanding and sensitive to the nature of social justice in regard to the handicapped and others at disadvantage can be integrally helpful when it comes to special education and even related causes and efforts.
5. Child Development
Child development is a critical component to special education and working with disadvantaged children. It is with this study that professionals can further understand and work with individual conditions, their root causes, symptoms, and more. While the Centers for Disease Control and other experts acknowledge that every child develops differently, understanding basic milestones and other things to look for can aid the professional even more here. This minor concentration is, subsequently, another great choice for those looking to enter the special education field.
While there certainly are many minors that can work well with this particular major, there are still others that are generally considered to be the best-suited accompaniments. The five minor paths mentioned here are among that group. For more information on possible minor pairings to the special education major, it is always best to consult with one’s own college of choice.
