Factors Influential to Teacher Candidates’ Decision to Pursue Special Education Careers

The purpose of this study was to examine undergraduate students' reasons they would or would not choose to major in special education. Given the chronic shortage of special education teachers, it is essential to understand the variables that may influence an undergraduate student to choose a career in special education so that recruitment strategies can be effectively developed. The results from 121 survey respondents indicated that most students decided to pursue a career in special education in high school, or college, to make a difference in the lives of K-12 students. In addition, those individuals who chose to pursue a career in special education had previous experience with individuals with disabilities.