Special needs education

Personalised by

Use this icon to personalise the page to your pathway, preferred campus and study level.

Personalisation is not available through private browsing.

Education enhances the life of every learner

As a teacher working in special education, your knowledge, skills and creative talents will focus on the capabilities, interests and learning styles of individual students. You'll be a learning specialist, teaching students with diverse needs in typical primary and secondary schools, and also in other settings such as special schools and education units. As a Griffith graduate in the field, your credentials will give you high standing and the advantage of exceptional employment opportunities at both primary and secondary school levels. In fact it's one of the few teaching areas with a 95 per cent employment rate of graduates over the last five years.

Skip to degrees

Open Day

Sunday 11 August, 9 am - 2 pm

Plan your day

Study special needs education at Griffith

Our teachers are in high demand.

Griffith’s special and inclusive education degrees are benchmarks in Australia within this specialist teaching area. Final year students are often offered positions even before they officially graduate.

Working with people who have emotional or physical disabilities or learning problems, special education teachers require deep compassion and enormous patience. Your professional skills will be valued and appreciated by the community and bring you into contact with people of all ages.

Studying at Griffith, you’ll acquire the knowledge and experience to promote rich educational opportunities for all special needs students in a range of settings. You’ll learn how to achieve maximum learning outcomes for them, develop their positive communication skills, and build resilience through a supportive and inclusive classroom.

With the Graduate Certificate in Special Needs Education, you’ll develop special education skills at an advanced level and acquire an understanding of the general principles and practices of educating students with special needs.

The Master of Special Needs and Intervention Education will equip you with the knowledge and skills to advance your professional career in special and inclusive education, including moving into leadership roles. At the masters level you will also develop research skills that will be applied to a research project in special and inclusive education.

Todd Winton

Griffith education graduate

As a learning diversity teacher working with students from Years 8 to 10, education graduate Todd Winton's role involves teaching small group classes and tailoring learning experiences to suit students' individual educational needs. 'My Griffith degree gave me the confidence and experience with a vast range of teaching practices,' he says. 'It also helped me develop a range of appropriate practices to improve student outcomes.'

Study options

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0086|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=67adca06-6324-4516-9730-e2c89dfa7a6f"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.214","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0086|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"query_and":"discipline:0086|T:Single|B:|W:|J:","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","num_ranks":"1000"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0086|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Education	Gold Coast Logan Mount Gravatt	13
Graduate Certificate in Special Needs Education	Online
Master of Autism Studies	Online
Master of Education	Mount Gravatt Online
Master of Educational Studies	Mount Gravatt
Master of Special Needs and Intervention Education	Online

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0086|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=38d1c2c6-897d-44a9-9255-664a26eccad6"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.213","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0086|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","query_and":"discipline:0086|T:Double|B:|W:|J:","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0086%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","num_ranks":"1000","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0086|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

It is important to check the degree requirements including placement requirements, before you apply.

Scholarships

Over 600 Scholarships available

Find out more about Scholarships

Career outcomes

Qualifications that make a difference in children's lives

Griffith University has the highest education graduate success rates in Australia

Our graduates are in demand and your special education degree will qualify you to teach your chosen subjects in the independent, Catholic and state education systems in Queensland as well as overseas. You could choose to follow a different path and find satisfying employment opportunities in:

Training settings in industry and government
Environmental education
Adult health education
Student counselling
Libraries
Educational research
Education policy
Curriculum development

Create a personalised study guide

Explore what Griffith has to offer

Get started

Life at Griffith

You can gain more than just a degree at Griffith. With plenty of opportunities to balance life and study, you can make memories and mates to last a lifetime.

Learn more about life at Griffith University

News

View all news articles

20 Jun 2019

English-Samoan bilingual kindy connects kids to culture

03 Jun 2019

Bridging the Gap: Transitioning From Adolescence To Adulthood With ASD

Key dates

View all key dates

Wednesday 15 May — Thursday 16 May

Gold Coast Careers Festival

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Gold Coast Careers Festival to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 1 July — Friday 5 July

Trimester 2: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.

Monday 8 July — Friday 4 October

Trimester 2: Teaching and exams

Includes study and exam period from Tuesday 8 October to Saturday 19 October.

Find out more.

Monday 8 July — Friday 12 July

Q&A Sessions

Do you have questions about studying at Griffith? Book a personalised 30-minute Q&A session with one of our expert study advisers to get advice about your study options, available scholarships and support services.

Find out more.

Saturday 20 July — Sunday 21 July

Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO)

TSXPO is for anyone considering further study. Talk to our academic and professional staff about our degrees, flexible study options, admission pathways, how to apply, scholarships and support services. Entry is free.

Find out more.

Tuesday 23 July — Tuesday 23 July

Sunshine Coast Daily Careers Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Sunshine Coast Daily Careers Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 5 August — Monday 5 August

Townsville Careers Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Townsville Careers Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Sunday 11 August — Sunday 11 August

Open Day

On Open Day, you’ll find general information about all our degrees at each campus, as well as essential information about student support services, admissions, scholarships and postgraduate studies. It’s a great time to get to know our campuses, experience life at Griffith, explore your study options and find the information you need to make a decision about your future.

Find out more.

Monday 9 September — Tuesday 10 September

Mature Student Open Evenings

If you’re considering further study, get the right advice and information you need at our January Mature Student Open Evenings. No matter whether you're returning to university after a few years off, starting study for the first time or looking for a postgraduate degree to further your career, we can help.

Find out more.

Thursday 12 September — Thursday 12 September

Mature Student Open Evenings

Find out more.

Monday 23 September — Friday 4 October

Q&A Sessions

Find out more.

Monday 21 October — Friday 25 October

Trimester 3: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.

Tuesday 29 October — Thursday 31 October

Application Support Nights

Need help with your university application? Receive personalised advice and assistance from one of our expert study advisers to start and/or complete your university application.

Find out more.

Monday 16 December — Thursday 19 December

Explore your options

If your OP or ATAR result changes your direction, chat online with our expert study advisers to explore your study options. Find out about admissions pathways, entry requirements and changing your preferences.

Find out more.