For things to be in balance, supply must equal demand. When there is more demand than supply there is a shortage. We have seen this happening time and again. Most recently during the COVID pandemic the demand for certain products exceeded the available supply. At times, it was a result of manufacturing issues and at other times it resulted in a lack of supply availability. It impacted baby formula, cars, real estate and more. Individuals who had the means went to great lengths to acquire the desired products.
It is no secret that across the United States there is a shortage of teachers. This particularly impacts teachers of students with exceptionalities. This results in larger class sizes, lower instructional quality, insufficient resources and the need for more individualized instruction. Teachers benefit from learning how to manage a classroom with students with multiple challenges. Schools across the nation have started to post ads seeking to fill positions in the 2025-2026 school year. These ads will continue through the summer and possibly into the start of the academic year. There are many individuals who are interested in teaching and want to work with children with exceptionalities.
Some of the challenges that individuals face going into the field are juggling family responsibilities, their employment, and their desire to further their education. Attending classes in person during the day becomes difficult. Commuting to classes adds another layer to the challenge. Nowadays, every classroom has students who have different learning styles and need specific types of instruction. How do I differentiate instructions to meet this child’s needs? How can I help a child who expresses particular behaviors? How can I make sure that all the students are learning?
Programs in Special Education, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University are at the forefront of closing the gap between the demand and the supply. Programs in Special Education provide a rigorous master of arts in early childhood/special education (birth-grade 2) and childhood/special education (grades 1-12), which is live online. Classes start in the evening, when most individuals have finished their workday.
The Programs in Special Education initiative prides itself on a curriculum aimed at understanding the needs of all students. Courses focus on typical and atypical development, literacy, math, collaboration with families and professionals, classroom and behavior management techniques, curriculum development with differentiation of instruction, and legal issues in special education.
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree in education or initial teaching certification may complete the program in 30 credits, as quickly as a year. Students who have an undergraduate degree in an area aside from education may complete the program in 45 credits, as quickly as two years. Students are encouraged to work at their own pace and may attend the Programs in Special Education part-time. Students may also pursue an additional specialty in technology and special education.
An integral component of the Programs in Special Education is two semesters of student teaching. This helps to bridge the gap between their coursework and the classroom experience. Students who are participating in the student teaching practicum are assigned a supervisor who works with the student to help guide them and provide individualized instruction to improve their skills. The student teaching supervisors are seasoned instructors who have been administrators in the field of special education for many years. Students who are employed may use their place of employment as their student teaching classroom setting.
Students who complete the Programs in Special Education pursue teaching positions in a variety of schools and apply to postgraduate degrees. Over the past five years, since the start of the program, we have received many positive reviews. A testimonial from a graduate stated: “The Special Education program at Ferkauf was a transformative experience that shaped me into the educator I am today. … The passion and camaraderie were genuinely contagious, and in each class, we learned from each other’s experiences, failures and successes.”
There is no question that the satisfaction you gain from making a difference in a child’s life not only has an impact on you but also the child. There is no better investment you can make in our community than ensuring highly qualified instructors for all children. For further information about the Programs in Special Education, visit yu.edu/ferkauf.
