EducationSpecialization of Special Education and Teaching

Best institutions to study Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments

CIP 13.1012

A program that focuses on the study and design of educational services for children or adults with speech and language impairments which adversely affect their educational performance and that may prepare individuals to teach such students.

13 U.S. institutions graduated 344 Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1012, a specialization of Special Education and Teaching (CIP 13.10), and leads most directly to the Special Education Teachers, Preschool occupation (BLS SOC 25-2051).

Institutions
13
offering CIP 13.1012
States & territories
9
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
344
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
97%
share of graduates
US median pay · Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$64,830
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Special Education and Teaching
1.0%
of all Special Education and Teaching graduates

About Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 13.1012
A program that focuses on the study and design of educational services for children or adults with speech and language impairments which adversely affect their educational performance and that may prepare individuals to teach such students. Includes instruction in identifying students with speech and language impairments, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising students with speech disabilities, counseling, and applicable laws and policies.

See also: 51.0816 - Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments program focuses on developing educational services for children and adults whose speech and language impairments impact their learning. This program prepares individuals to identify these impairments and create tailored educational plans to support affected students effectively.

Learn more about Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments →

What you'll learn

Students in this program will gain essential skills in communication, active listening, critical thinking, and the development of individual education plans (IEPs). Coursework often includes strategies for improving sensory and perceptual-motor skills, as well as teaching basic social and academic skills to students with special needs.

Credentials awarded

What Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Postbaccalaureate certificate120 graduates / yr · 6 institutions
    35%
  • Master's degree98 graduates / yr · 4 institutions
    29%
  • Associate's degree83 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    24%
  • Bachelor's degree35 graduates / yr · 3 institutions
    10%
  • Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years8 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    2.3%

Graduates over time

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.

344graduates in 2025
-41% since 2012
585 · 201320122025579344
Graduates per year (IPEDS completions)
YearGraduates
2012579
2013585
2014450
2015480
2016542
2017490
2018515
2019434
2020440
2021415
2022273
2023245
2024273
2025344

Top 13 institutions for Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet priceField earnings* (1 yr)
1Chemeketa Community College
Salem, ORPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
9121%—$32,829
2Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, ARPublicPost-degree cert.
6855%——
3CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NYPublicMaster's
4151%——
4University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NEPublicMaster'sBachelor's
3747%—$37,998
5Worcester State University
Worcester, MAPublicPost-degree cert.
2961%——
6Syracuse University
Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's
2584%$28,851$55,881
7Alabama A & M University
Normal, ALPublicBachelor's
1524%——
8Ithaca College
Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's
1376%$28,970—
9University of Arizona
Tucson, AZPublicPost-degree cert.
1168%—$35,023
10University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, AKPublicPost-degree cert.
430%——
11University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, ARPublicPost-degree cert.
442%——
12Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German
San German, PRPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.
443%$10,477—
13Elmira College
Elmira, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
265%$21,992—

* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Special Education and Teaching field (CIP 13.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.

Offered in 9 states & territories

Where Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments graduates come from. Each state links to all Special Education and Teaching programs offered there.

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-2051, Special Education Teachers, Preschool, and its national outlook.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Special Education Teachers, primarily in preschool settings. The job outlook for this field shows little to no change, with an annual opening of 2,100 positions and a median wage of $62,190, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.4%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~2,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$62,190
typically Bachelor's degree
National employment
29,510
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
US average pay
$76,380
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$64,830
annual

Top-paying metros

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$101,880avg
Akron, OH
$97,520avg
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$97,020avg
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$95,070avg
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$94,820avg

Career pathways for CIP 13.1012

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Special Education Teachers, Preschoolprimary
SOC 25-2051
$64,830+1.4%
Little or no change
~2,100Bachelor's degree
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
SOC 25-2058
$74,260-1.6%
Decline
~11,100Bachelor's degree
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
SOC 25-2057
$66,810-1.9%
Decline
~6,300Bachelor's degree
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1081
$75,350+2.1%
About as fast as average
~5,600Doctoral or professional degree
Special Education Teachers, All Other
SOC 25-2059
$76,580+1.1%
Little or no change
~2,900Bachelor's degree
SOC 25-2055
————
SOC 25-2056
————
Preparation needed

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Related careers

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
$77,260 avg · 163,930 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
$73,780 avg · 95,200 jobs
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$79,350 avg · 60,830 jobs
Special Education Teachers, All Other
$79,750 avg · 33,930 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$76,380 avg · 29,510 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Writing
Learning Strategies
Active Learning

Knowledge areas

English Language
Education and Training
Psychology
Public Safety and Security
Therapy and Counseling
Computers and Electronics

Abilities that matter most

Oral Expression
Problem Sensitivity
Written Comprehension
Oral Comprehension
Speech Clarity
Deductive Reasoning

Day-to-day work activities

Getting Information
Assisting and Caring for Others
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Documenting/Recording Information
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Training and Teaching Others

What graduates do on the job

  • Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
  • Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
  • Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
  • Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
  • Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
  • Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).

Tools and technology used

American Sign Language BrowserChildren's educational softwareDrawing softwareEmail softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint

Other Special Education and Teaching specializations

The 17 other 6-digit CIP codes under Special Education and Teaching (CIP 13.10).

See all Special Education and Teaching programs →

Common questions

What is the focus of this program?+

The program focuses on educational services for individuals with speech and language impairments.

What degrees can I earn in this program?+

You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or Bachelor's degree.

What skills will I develop?+

You will develop skills in communication, active listening, critical thinking, and creating individual education plans.

What career opportunities are available?+

You can work as a Special Education Teacher, with a median wage of $62,190 and 2,100 annual job openings.

What is the CIP code for Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments?+

Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments is CIP 13.1012 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Special Education and Teaching (CIP 13.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the study and design of educational services for children or adults with speech and language impairments which adversely affect their educational performance and that may prepare individuals to teach such students. Includes instruction in identifying students with speech and language impairments, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising students with speech disabilities, counseling, and applicable laws and policies.

How many institutions offer Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments programs?+

13 U.S. institutions reported Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states & territories, awarding 344 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Special Education and Teaching graduates.

How much do Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Special Education Teachers, Preschool occupation, which Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,830 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Special Education and Teaching field report median earnings of $37,998 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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