Special Education (Teaching Students with Disabilities)

Special Education MS and Advanced Certificate Program Offerings

Choose from our variety of programs:

• Early Childhood Special Education program (Birth–Grade 2)
• Students With Disabilities (All Grades) Special Education programs (PreK–12)
• Extensions and annotations are also available in Bilingual Education and in Autism/Severe and Multiple Disabilities.
• Subject area extensions are also available in English, mathematics, science and social studies.

If you are seeking your first teaching certification:

• Master of Science in Students with Disabilities: All Grades, Preservice with 7-12 Subject Area Extension 43 Credits—This program leads to New York state certification in Students With Disabilities (PreK-12) and one of the content areas (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish). The preservice track is open to candidates who do not hold a New York state teaching certificate.
• Master of Science in Bilingual Special Education- Students With Disabilities: All Grades-Dual Preservice Track 49 Credits—This preservice track leads to a Students With Disabilities (All Grades) certification with bilingual extension. The preservice track is open to candidates who do not hold a New York state teaching certificate.
• Master of Science in Childhood 1-6 Students with Disabilities: All Grades – Bilingual Certification Preservice Track: 58 Credits—This preservice track is open only to candidates without prior classroom teaching certificates. Leads to initial/professional certification in Childhood (1–6), Students With Disabilities (PreK-12), and Bilingual Extension.
• Master of Science in Childhood 1-6 and Students with Disabilities (All Grades): Preservice Track 52 Credits—This program leads to Childhood 1–6 and Students With Disabilities (PreK-12) certification. The preservice track is open to candidates who do not hold a New York state teaching certificate.
• Master of Science in Students With Disabilities (All Grades) Alternative Certification: Transitional B 37 Credits—This program is to prepare school educators to become New York state certified in Students With Disabilities (PreK-12). Eligible applicants will have a bachelor’s degree in a related subject area and general education requirements. Applicants for this Transitional B program will not have prior SWD New York state certification.

If you already hold current teaching certification:

Certification will be reviewed at time of application.

• Master of Science in Students with Disabilities (All Grades) Bilingual Certification Inservice Track 42–46 Credits—This program leads to a Students with Disabilities (SWD) All Grades and Bilingual Extension. This inservice track is open to candidates who hold a valid base NYS teaching certificate other than special education or bilingual education.
• Master of Science in Students with Disabilities (All Grades) and Childhood Dual Certification: In-Service Track, 30–49 Credits—This program leads to Students With Disabilities (PreK-12) and Childhood Grades 1–6 certification. The in-service track is open to candidates who hold a New York state teaching certificate in an area other than childhood/elementary or students with disabilities.
• Master of Science in Students With Disabilities (All Grades) In-Service Track, MS 30–36 Credits—This program leads to Students With Disabilities (PreK-12) certification. The in-service track is open to candidates who hold a New York state teaching certificate in an area other than special education.

For candidates who do not wish to seek a teaching certificate

Non-Certification Program

• Master of Science in Special Education Studies 30 Credits—This program will not lead to New York state initial/professional teacher certification.

For candidates who hold current teaching certification and a master’s degree

Advanced Certificate Programs

• Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education—A master’s degree and a valid New York state certification in early childhood education are required for entrance into this program.
• Advanced Certificate in Autism and Severe or Multiple Disabilities—A master’s degree and a valid New York state teacher certification are required for entrance into this program.
• Advanced Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (Non-Teacher Certification)—Students with an undergraduate degree in any subject can apply for admittance.
• Advanced Certificate in Students With Disabilities (All Grades)
  12–24 credits—This program leads to Students With Disabilities (PreK-12) certification. The Advanced Certificate is open to candidates who hold a New York state teaching certificate in an area other than students with disabilities a master’s degree.

Jessica Frith, MS ’20, teaching fourth grade students how to annotate text during her student teaching clinical experience

Exceptional Hands-On Learning

Our program is grounded in courses using field-based methods, which provide our students with critical hands-on teaching experience. These courses in the New York area offer you the opportunity to practice in the classroom before entering the more formal student teaching practicum. In addition to the experience they receive on campus at the Alice Brown Early Learning Center, our students will have the opportunity to intern at one of a variety of places, including:

• Gersh Academy
• Eastern Suffolk BOCES
• Nassau BOCES
• NYC Public Schools (NYCPS)
• The Waldorf School of Garden City
• Nassau Public Schools

Program Info

Application Requirements

Applicants for these programs must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and should submit the following:

• Graduate application and $60 fee
• Online survey completed by two recommenders
• Personal essay (500 words)
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions and proof of bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
• Proof of master’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA for advanced certificates.