M.S. in Childhood Education and Special Education, Grades 1-6

The Childhood program offers study of childhood development and the learning and teaching processes in grades 1 - 6. This program leads to New York State Initial or Professional Teacher Certification in childhood education (grades 1-6) and teaching students with disabilities (grades 1-6) upon graduation from the program and completion of New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements, including passing grades on NYSED teacher certification examinations. NYS Professional Teacher Certification is awarded after three full years (September – June) of full-time teaching experience.

Program of Study
(Total number of credits 36)

The Childhood program consists of 36 semester hours. The work includes 15 semester hours of general core courses (required in all three teacher education programs), 15 semester hours in specific core courses, and 6 semester hours for Field Experience and Practicum. There is a culminating project that is completed with the Practicum.

Students must meet certain requirements, including maintenance of a 3.0 GPA and a passing grade on the LAST, in order to be admitted to Field Experience, which must be taken within the first 18 credits of the program.

Students must meet certain requirements, including maintenance of a 3.0 GPA and a passing grade on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination- Content Specialty Test- Multi Subject, in order to be admitted to Practicum II, which must be taken in the last semester of studies.

Students who have taken appropriate graduate courses at other regionally-accredited institutions or their equivalent may transfer up to 12 graduate credits upon evaluation and approval by the program chair, deputy chair, or director. However, students are not permitted to transfer literacy/reading instruction courses.

General Core Courses
(15 credits)

Specific Pedagogical Core
(21 credits)

Non-credit seminars