Should I major in Special Ed or Speech and Language Pathology?

Question

I am trying to decide which to major in at Towson University in Maryland.

Answer 1

Major in Speech & Minor in Special Education. Having a son with speech barriers I feel like that would be the best way to go. I am not sure how that works , but I would think with the minor in SpEd you could do either speech or SpEd. THis country needs more of both. One is not more important than the other language barriers cause learning problems too.

Answer 2

I am a special ed. teacher for children w/ multiple disabilities. I could not decide whether to be an OT or PT, so I went Special ed and get to work closely w/ OT, PT, and speech as well as implement their techniques in my classroom. Speech language paths are in HUGE demand right now. You need to check out the area where you live....does the school district pay them as teachers? Many do. Would working in a clinic better suit what you'd like to do and what's the pay?? There's also the nursing home option as well as hospital. One big problem with Speech as a major is that many, many colleges will graduate a large number of SLP's from undergrad, but then only accept a handful into the master's program...........how good are your grades? How well will you do on your grad school entrance exams? Can you get into a master's program. It's VERY competitive and you cannot be an SLP w/o a masters. Either field (special ed or speech) is great and they pay is comparable (with a master's in either). One bonus w/ SLP is that they have a lot more flexibility as to where they work and even if you are an SLP in a school you can make a little extra money on the side at a clinic or private speech. So, the potential to make more money is bigger w/ speech. It is easy to secure jobs in either field right now. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I have a major in speech language pathology and elementary education. I LOVED SLP!! I was just not excited about going to graduate school. I took the required Special Education courses for my degree, but because of mainstreaming I thought I would do better in a regular classroom. I don't know what you should do. I guess a degree in Speech Language Pathology would give you more options if you find out that the classroom setting is not for you. You also have more options there if you want more money. You could open a private practice. I wish you the best of luck in making your decision. I know how hard it is for some people to decide what they want to be when they grow up - me included!! I actually ended up in finance after I got back from teaching in England! Go figure! Now, I am running my family business after the death of my father. I do substitute teach in the winter and really enjoy it. Take care! Again, best of luck!

Answer 4

I am actually going to major in Speech Language Pathology when I begin college in the fall. I am so excited because I feel that it is the job that I am being led to do. Just take time to think about what you want from life and what you feel like you should do. I want to make a difference in the world, and I feel that I could make the biggest difference by being a Speech Therapist. You should sit down and really contemplate what you want from life and how you want to give back to the world before you make a big decision such as the one you are facing now.

Answer 5

Being a Special Ed teacher, I would have to say Special Ed. There is a desperate need for these kinds of teachers. Any school site typically staffs three to seven special ed classes and one SLP person may go to a number of schools. Your chances for a job are better in Special Ed and it is far more rewarding, I think, because you really get to know the kids.

Answer 6

Definitely speech pathology. It is a much more diverse field, and it pays better. There are many work settings in SLP; hospitals, nursing homes, schools, clinics, and home health.
I found my niche in acute care (hospital), where the work was different every day. I may have had many diagnoses to work with in a single day; head and neck, voice, brain injury, pediatrics, dysphagia (my specialty), neurological diseases, craniofacial and more. It was fast-paced and VERY interesting, since I worked in teaching hospitals. I had tons of interaction with other health care professionals, too.
At the top of my career, I was making $75,000/year (15 yrs experience). The hourly rate in a nursing home was about $50/hr.
As a special ed teacher, you are stuck in a school, and it is slow-paced, there are fewer jobs, and you see the same faces every day, all day. Don't expect to make nearly the same money in the school system.

Answer 7

Good question. I teach special ed, my father and brother are speech paths, and my other brother also teacher special ed, so I'm well acquainted with the decision. Here's some thoughts....
First, an SLP will have to have more education, and potentially can get paid more. However, if you work for a school district, your pay will likely be equal to that of the teachers with masters degrees. My masters in special ed took one year. SLP usually is at least two years. So, if you think you want to work with children in a school, you might want to consider that you will get paid the same as teachers who spent less time ( and therefore money) in school than you did. But, if you think you want to work with older adults or in another setting, you will get paid more than a teacher. All that said, perhaps money does not matter to you...in that case....consider this....

SLP's in a school will have a much larger caseload than a special ed teacher and will see kids once a week or so. You may work at 2 or more schools and do a bit of traveling. You would case manage many of those kids as they would likely be eligible with communication, though others you would more be an added service and someone else would be the case manager.

A special ed teacher is more likely to be based in a classroom and have maybe 20 kids or so to case manage. They would be with these kids every day of the school year pretty much. You'd really get to know the kids and maybe their families. You may have to do more behavior management than an slp. You may love that, or you may get burnt out by the kids and some of their behaviors. Which do you think is better? Having more of them and seeing them less, or having less of them and seeing them every day?

A special ed teacher will likely have some kind of assistants in the classroom. You would be in charge of leading that team and managing people. Other specialists would be coming into your classroom who you would also have to coordinate things with and schedule IEP or IFSP meetings with. An SLP will have to call meetings for those kids they case manage which is more likely to be kids who have speech needs only, however that is not always the case. They are less likely to have to coordinate schedules with others for meetings, and while of course need to partner and team with teachers whose rooms they come into, they are more likely to not interact with as many specialists as the teacher.

Also...what are you more interested in? Language development and speech? Articulation, airflow, lip strength, etc. Or are you more interested in the overall picture? Language and cognition are tied together heavily, but a teacher would know a bit more about fine and gross motor skills in most cases. The SLP will very likely have much more knowledge of the 'speech' side of things,the order of sounds in development, articulation, etc... but the teacher and the SLP may be more equally versed on language and language development. Which interests you more?
Both require about the same amount of paperwork, which is a hassle.
Sometimes I regret not becoming an SLP, but I do love my job. Both will make you feel burnt out and frustrated at times, but overall I think you really can't go wrong. Good luck!

Answer 8

speech speech speech and speech!!!!!! You will receive a degree in speech path from a highly respected speech path. program!! SLPs are in HIGH demand!!Go back and get your Special Ed cert later if you want or try to minor in it by taking those extra courses. I love what I do!
Good luck!!!

Answer 9

Speech pathology offers a wider range of career opportunities and its easy to find a job. You can work in hospitals, clinics, schools, universities...etc..

Answer 10

Well, If you work in special ed, you might have to remeber that you might have to clean diapers, and the kids who drool, and throw up ,ect. If you can deal with that, then go for that!

Its very fun, the kids are soo much fun.