Education and Special Education

M.S. in Middle Childhood Education and Special Education, Grades 5-9

The Middle Childhood program offers study in depth of early adolescent development and the learning and teaching processes in grades 5-9. This program leads to New York State Initial or Professional Teacher Certification in middle childhood education, generalist (grades 5-9), and teaching students with disabilities, generalist (grades 5-9), 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. Information on attaining middle childhood certification, specialist, in a particular subject area is available from all program advisors as well as on the NYSED website.

Program of Study
(Total number of credits 42)

The Middle Childhood program consists of 42 semester hours. The work includes 15 semester hours of general core courses (required in all three teacher education programs), 21 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 ATS-W (Secondary Level), in order to be admitted to Practicum, which must be taken in the last semester of studies.

Students who have taken appropriate graduate courses at other regionally-ccredited 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)

EdSE 600	History and Philosophy of Education and Special Education
SpEd 602	Introduction to Special Education
EdPs 620	Child Development and Learning in Cultural Context
EdSE 640	Assessment of Individual Differences in General Education and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective
EdSE 650	Educational Technology in General Education and Special Education

Specific Pedagogical Core
(27 credits)

EdSE 601	Principles of Middle School Instruction in Mathematics in General Education and Special Education
EdSE 606	Principles of Middle School Science and Technology Instruction in General and Special Education, Grades 5-9
EdSE 607	Teaching Historical and Cultural Studies for Middle School Students in General Education and Special Education
EdSE 608	Teaching the Arts and Physical Education in General Education and Special Education, Grades 5 - 9
EdSE 666	Language and Literature Studies for Middle School Students
SpEd 668	Assessment, Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities for Middle School Students, Grades 5-9
SpEd 671	Principles of Curriculum Development and Classroom Management for Middle School Students with Special Needs
EdSE 676	Field Experience in Middle School Education and Special Education, Grades 5 - 9
SpEd 677	Practicum in Middle School Special Education

Non-credit seminars

EDU 510	Seminar in Substance Abuse
EDU 511	Seminar in Child Abuse
EDU 512	Seminar in Child Safety, Abduction Prevention, and Fire and Arson Prevention
EDU 513	Seminar in School Violence Prevention and Intervention
EDU 516	Preparation Classes for NYSTCE Exams