Special Education—Teacher of Students With Disabilities in Early Childhood Education, (Birth–Grade 2), M.S.Ed.

Matriculation Requirements

Applicants must obtain and file an application form in the program office in addition to the regular college admissions form. Applicants are interviewed and must submit three appropriate letters of recommendation.

Applicants must present a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 in graduate education courses is required to maintain matriculation. International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test or 79 on the internet-based test, before being considered for admission.

Applicants who do not meet these standards may be considered for admission based on other evidence of high capacity for graduate studies.

Applicants must have successfully completed a New York State Initial Certificate in one of the following New York State approved teacher certification areas:

• early childhood education,
• childhood education,
• middle childhood education,
• adolescence education,
• special subjects, or
• teacher of students with speech and language disabilities, or the equivalent preparation and/or certification.

Applicants are interviewed and required to demonstrate written proficiency in English.

Students should note additional requirements found at the beginning of this section as well as in the sections “Admission” and “Academic Regulations and Procedures.”

Degree Requirements (30–33 Credits)

Thirty or 33 credits are required for the degree. Students take different education courses and credit options depending on their previous course work, teaching experience, and the certificates they hold.

During the first term students in either option (30 or 33 credits) must file a program of study approved by the head of the Program in Teaching Students with Disabilities in Early Childhood and Childhood Education.

Option A (30 Credits)

This option is for students holding an Initial Certificate in one of the New York State approved teacher certification areas and an Initial Certificate in Teaching Students with Disabilities.

Students complete 15 credits in the following courses: ECAE 7115, ECAE 7104T or CBSE 7665T, CBSE 7113T, 7680T, and 7656T; and six credits in elective courses in teaching students with disabilities. The remaining nine credits consist of ECAE 7108T, 7109T, and 7116T with approval from program heads of the Program in Early Childhood Education. Students are required to complete an independent research project under advisement of a faculty member in CBSE 7656T.

Option B (33 Credits)

This option is for students holding an Initial Certificate in one of the New York State approved teacher certification areas, and having had no course work in teaching students with disabilities and no student teaching experience with students with disabilities in Birth–Grade 2.

Students must complete 33 credits in the following courses, which should be taken in this order: CBSE 7674T and 7672T; CBSE 7665T or ECAE 7104T and ECAE 7115T; CBSE 7113T and 7663T; 7678T and 7680T; 7675T and 7656T; and CBSE 7681T, Seminar and Student Teaching: Students with Special Needs.

Students must complete at least 50 hours of supervised field experience and at least 20 days of student teaching (teaching students with disabilities in early childhood). In addition, students must complete a research project under advisement of a faculty member in CBSE 7656.

Option C (30 Credits)

This option is for candidates who have a baccalaureate degree in a liberal arts and sciences major, or 36 credits in a liberal arts and sciences concentration and demonstrated undergraduate preparation in English, science, mathematics, the social sciences, and foreign language who are teaching or have secured a position teaching students with special needs and qualify for New York State Alternative Certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities in Early Childhood Education or holding such certification.

Students should take the following courses: CBSE 7656T, 7672T, 7663T, 7674T, 7675, 7665T, 7113T, 7678T, 7683 and ECAE 7115T. Candidates will also be required to register for CBSE/SEED 6002T and/or CBSE 6003T, the course which provides for onsite supervision, as required for NYS Transitional B Certificate holders.

Option C is consigned to candidates sponsored by entities such as the New York City Teaching Fellows program or the New York City Teaching Collaborative. In addition, candidates must complete a research project under advisement of a faculty member in CBSE 7656T. Candidates may qualify for additional certification in Early Childhood Birth–Grade 2 with additional courses in Early Childhood teaching methods. See adviser for information.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Apply course work in classroom settings, analyze P–12 student learning, and reflect on their practice in the context of theories on teaching and learning. Engage in structured activities related to the roles for which they are preparing.
• Collect and analyze formative assessment data on student learning, reflect on teaching and student performance to select, adapt, and use instruction strategies and materials according to characteristics of the individual with exceptional learning needs.
• Development of knowledge of skills for working with colleagues, parents and families, and communities for the benefits of students with special needs.
• Design learning environments that encourage active participation in individual and group activities for students with special needs.
• Plan a) developmentally appropriate curricular, instruction and adaptations based on knowledge of individual students with exceptional learning needs (development and learning experiences), the family, and the community through a continuum of intervention strategies in order to support access of students in the general curriculum and daily routines; b) preventative and reductive strategies to address challenging behaviors.
• Competencies required to complete the initial stages of a research project, lines of inquiry or questioning, analysis of research, and research findings in order to expand the professional identify to include the role of “teacher as researcher.”
• Design an individual research study consisting of an original research question, introduction to the study, literature review, references, and design proposal.

Admissions Requirements

• Fall Application Deadline: April 15, rolling admission
• Spring Application Deadline: The program does not accept applications for spring.

Supporting Documents for Matriculation

Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the United States need to submit a course-by-course international transcript evaluation. See Graduate Admissions for more information.
• Two letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Photocopy of New York State or other state teaching certificate
• A brief biographical statement of 500 to 1,000 words describing your reasons for pursuing the specific graduate program to which you are applying and your future professional goals

Interview with department.

Required Tests

• F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL—79, IELTS—6.5, PTE—58–63, Duolingo—105–160.

All students accepted to the School of Education are required to submit fingerprint verification before signing up for most education classes. Fingerprint verification is required for work in New York City Department of Education schools if you already have fingerprint records or not. Follow these instructions.

Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.

Contact

Yoon-Joo Lee, Program Head

2205 James Hall
E: yjlee@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3879

Ginny Dembek, Program Coordinator

3302 James Hall
E: gdembek@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3877

Stella Kyprianou, Program Coordinator

2205 James Hall
E: stella.kyprianou@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3879

Or contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.4536

Office Hours

Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:

BC Admissions Appointment Tool