Early Childhood Special Education


Admission to Candidacy

Students must apply for admission to candidacy during the semester in which they expect to complete their 12 credits toward their master’s degree. (Students in the dual certification program will need to have passed the LAST examination before being admitted to candidacy.)

Applicants for candidacy will be evaluated in terms of grades and suitability for work in special education. Students not admitted to candidacy will be asked to withdraw from the program. A student who is not admitted to candidacy will not be considered a degree candidate. At least one semester as a degree candidate is required before application for graduation.

Full-time students are permitted to register for 9 credits each semester. Students who are currently teaching are limited to a maximum of six credits each semester. Five years from the date of matriculation are allowed for the completion of the degree.


Requirements

Thirty appropriate credits of graduate study (permanent or professional certification), including a practicum in a school or institution approved by the Assistant Dean and an overall average of 3.0 (B) are required for the M.S. in Education degree. Students who have had at least one year of experience in teaching the handicapped may substitute a thesis for the practicum course. For dual certification (initial) in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education, 36 credits are required, plus student teaching if needed. For dual certification in Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education, 42 credits are required, plus student teaching if needed. Students seeking certification in Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education are required to pass the CST (content specialty test) in both multi-subject and students with disabilities.


Affiliations

The Graduate Special Education programs require field experience. The programs are affiliated with the following:

  • Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at the Fisher Landau Center for the Treatment of Learning Disabilities
  • College of New Rochelle Early Childhood Summer Program
  • Devereux Millwood School
  • Edenwald School
  • Hallen School – New Rochelle
  • Howard Haber Blue Feather Early learning Center
  • Kennedy Child Study Center
  • Leake and Watts-Carol and Frank Biondi Educational Center
  • Learning Evaluation & Achievement Program—Westchester County Medical Center
  • Mamaroneck Union Free School District
  • New Rochelle City School District
  • New York City Public Schools
  • Pleasantville Cottage School
  • Port Chester Public Schools
  • Southern Westchester BOCES Program
  • Stepping Stones Special Education Preschool Program
  • Therapeutic Nursery/Guidance Center of New Rochelle
  • The Tarrytown & Even Start Family Literacy Partnership
  • Time to Grow-Time to Explore – YM and YWHA of Mid-Westchester
  • Towards Tomorrow – YM and YWHA of Mid-Westchester
  • Westchester Center for Educational and Emotional Development
  • White Plains School District