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Fast Track to Special Education: Early Childhood

Program Description

The Dual-Certification Masters program in Early Childhood Education and Special Education: Early Childhood is open to participants who have a bachelor's degree but who are not yet certified to teach. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be eligible for New York State certification in both general and special education at the early childhood level (Birth-Grade 2).

NYU graduates understand that special education is not a place nor is it a group of students. Rather, special education refers to specialized services, or differentiated instruction or supports, provided to students with disabilities. NYU students are encouraged to view all children and their families as individuals with varying degrees of skills and untapped potential for quality lives in schools, work, and recreation in their communities. They design classroom, home and community interventions to meet the individual characteristics, needs, and visions for a valued future of each child, not limited by traditional categories of disability.

Our program focuses on the value of early childhood educational experiences in all aspects of the young child's life. Our students understand that play is at the basis of learning in all spheres of development, and relationships with peers and adults are key to children's learning from their experiences. Accordingly, our graduates are prepared to work collaboratively with families, other professionals and the community organizations that represent the wide cultural variations characteristic of urban settings.

Integration of theory and practice is interwoven from the very first course in the program, thus allowing students to reflect, question and refine their knowledge and skills. 150 hours of observation and fieldwork, plus three student teaching placements, enable students to practice application of knowledge and skills with children presenting the full range of abilities and disabilities, in a range of settings, and with the full age range of the teaching certificate (infants and toddlers, preschool and kindergarten through grade two).

Admission Requirements

All students admitted to the dual certification Masters program in Early Childhood Education and Special Education: Early Childhood will have completed a bachelor's degree, including college-level work in English, social science, mathematics, natural or physical science, and a language other than English, as well as a 30 point concentration in one of the liberal arts or sciences by the time of M.A. degree completion. While students may complete liberal arts deficiencies any time before program graduation, for admission to the accelerated program, candidates must have met the liberal arts requirements before entering the program.

PLEASE NOTE that NYU also offers two additional programs in Early Childhood Special Education for candidates who hold or are eligible for provisional or initial certification in Childhood Education:

• Special Education: Early Childhood Program (30 credit) leads to certification in Special Education at the Early Childhood Level and can be completed in 10-12 months of full time study.
• The Dual-Certification program in Special Education: Early Childhood (B-Grade 2) and Literacy B-6 (49 credits) leads to dual certification in Special Education: Early Childhood (Birth - Grade 2) and Literacy (Birth- Grade 6), and can be completed in one accelerated year, beginning in the summer, or two academic years. (on Hiatus Academic Year 2008)

I. General Pedagogical Core (7) credits)

TCHL-GE 2010 Inquiries in Teaching and Learning III (4)
Language and Literacy in the Early Years (3)

II. Specialized Pedagogical Core--- Early Childhood (12 credits)

ECED-GE 2024 Issues in Early Childhood Education (3)
ECED-GE 2037 Curriculum in Early Childhood Ed.: Theory and Methods in Integrated Curriculum (2)
ECED-GE 2038 Curriculum in Early Childhood Ed.: Materials and Practice in Integrated Curriculum (3)

MPAIA-GE 2050 Integrated Arts in Early Childhood (1)
ECED-GE 2002 Integrating Seminar in Early Childhood Education I (1)
Integrating Seminar in Early Childhood Education II(2)

III. Specialized Pedagogical Core --- Special Education (18 credits)

SPCED-GE 2108 Strategies for Teaching Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (3)
SPCED-GE 2126 The Young Special Needs Child: Child, Family and community I (3)
SPCED-GE 2127 The Young Special Needs Child: Child, Family and community II (3)
SPCED-GE 2160 Educating Children w/Special Needs in Early Childhood Settings (3)
SPCED-GE 2128 Principles and Practices of Early Childhood Special Education (3)
SPCED-GE 2052 Education of Students with Severe and Multiple Disabilities (3)

IV. Student Teaching (7 credits)

ECED-GE 2255 Field Placements in Early Childhood (1)
SPCED-GE 2502 Observations in Early Childhood Special Education Settings (1)
ECED-GE 2903 Student Teaching in Early Childhood I (2)
ECED-GE 2904 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Special Education II (3)

V. Culminating Experience (3 credits)

SPCED-GE 2512 Integrating Seminar in Early Childhood Special Education II (3)

VI. Social Responsibilities of Teachers (0 credit)

TCHL-GE 2999 Drug and Alcohol Education/Child Abuse Identification/School Violence: Social Responsibilities of Teachers(0)

Sample Program of Study

Young Special Needs Child: Child, Family and Community II