Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education, BirthGrade 2, Professional Certification

Build on your existing pedagogical knowledge and prepare to teach young children in special education settings. Ideal if you have a bachelor's degree and hold certification or are eligible for certification in early childhood education or early childhood special education, the program leads to eligibility for New York State certification in early childhood special education, birthgrade 2. Your course work will expand your pedagogical training and help you develop strategies for teaching young children with diverse of needs and abilities, working collaboratively with families, other professionals, and community organizations. Throughout the program, youll learn: Core content and pedagogical knowledge essential to educating young children. Skills for providing children with rich, child-centered educational environments. Approaches for adapting curricula, assessments, and learning environments to meet children's diverse needs and abilities. How children grow and develop, why play is the basis of learning in all spheres of development and relationships with peers, and why adults are key to children's learning. Strategies for supporting learning at all stages

Youll undertake extensive study of how children develop in multiple contexts. You will participate in student teaching in a variety of early childhood general and special education settings, from preschools to early childhood centers and Head Start programs. As a prospective teacher, youll be immersed in thoughtful discussions and interactions around critical educational issues, especially issues of developmental, linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity and educational equity. Each course in the program of study is tied to either fieldwork or student teaching, generating rich and authentic reflections upon theory and practice.

You must have the equivalent of a four-year US bachelor's degree to be considered for admission.

If your native language is not English, you must submit results from one of the following English proficiency exams: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic.

Test of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TOEFL): Scores are valid for two years from the date taken. Successful candidates score a 100 on the Internet based exam or 600 on the paper based exam.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Official scores are valid for two years from the date taken. Successful candidates achieve a band score of 7.

Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic): Official scores are valid for two years from the date taken. Successful candidates score a 68 to 70.

Application Deadline: Fall - February 1