Special Education

Get Your Special Education Degree

Recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the South Carolina State Board of Education under the guidance of the 2022 CAEP standards. The Columbia College Special Education program is a multi-categorical program that prepares educators with the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to be successful in a variety of Pre-K-grade 12 classroom settings that serve students with mild to moderate disabilities. This includes working with students with learning disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, emotional disabilities, autism and other categories of learners identified in the state of South Carolina. Graduates will be prepared to work in general education classrooms, resource and separate settings across elementary, middle or high schools to best meet the individual needs of the students in their classrooms.

Graduates of the program are "learner ready" on day one as educators who embody the attitudes and skills of dedicated professionals, committed to working with others to provide a quality education for students. 

The Division of Education provides opportunities for future teachers to exercise leadership in their careers and has built a strong reputation for providing well-trained teachers to the public schools of SC and beyond. 

Special Education Program Highlights 

• Our last five years of graduates have a 100% job placement rate. 100% of graduates have passed the licensure exams required for initial certification.
• Diverse placements in Resource and Self-Contained classrooms across elementary, middle, and high school settings prior to the final semester of student teaching.
• A student chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children is housed on the Columbia College campus.
• Options for additional coursework in Elementary and Early Childhood as electives (can be used for add-on requirements as provided by the state Department of Education).
• We offer an online modality option for this program.
• Tuition assistance is available through the CREATE program for full-time employees in SC public schools. \
• Teaching Fellows Institution, which supports talented high school seniors joining the teaching profession, and our program will develop leadership qualities.
• Special Education is recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the South Carolina State Board of Education under the guidance of the 2022 CAEP standards.

Our partner, TeachSC, offers free support to anyone exploring a career in teaching. When you sign up, you’ll get access to 1-on-1 coaching, up to $100 in fee reimbursements for costs like testing and fingerprinting, and a chance to win a $1,000 regional scholarship.

Create your free account at TeachSC.org to get started!