EN
The article depicts the range of problems related to motivation in a synthetic way, referring to three concepts considered as predominant in the subject literature, oriented to determine the basis of the motivation process (theories of reinforcement, content and process). The motivation theory was also characterized on the basis of attribute and functional contexts, important for the work issue. On the basis of theoretical considerations the author tries to verify, in an empirical way, the motivations of choices made by the students of rehabilitation pedagogy and pre-school education, as well as their expectations related to pedagogical studies of this specialty. Motivations of students of special pedagogy and pre-school education, which are the basic subject of the following article, are in correlation with the values they accept. A conscious decision related to professional work with disabled people or the ones who are socially maladjusted and/or with children at pre-school age must be based on the will to follow specific values, that such students profess, also in professional life.