Special Education Program for Certified Teachers
This program is designed specifically for teachers who already possess a Master’s degree and a valid New York State teaching certificate in a general education area (e.g., Childhood Education, Adolescence Education, or Early Childhood Education). It is a streamlined, 12-credit sequence that allows these educators to earn the "Students with Disabilities (All Grades)" certification without completing a second full master’s degree. By targeting working professionals, this program provides a verified, structured route that ensures all NYSED competencies and field requirements are met for the Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate pathway in Special Education.
SPECIFICS OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS, ADVANCED CERTIFICATE
Minimum Total Hours: 12
Admission Requirements:
- Completion of a Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Valid NYS Initial or Professional Teaching Certificate in a general education content area or grade band.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate coursework.
(Note: General pedagogical core requirements are waived for this program, as candidates have already met these requirements through their previous teacher preparation program.)
Program Requirements (12 Credits):
- GSPE 5700 (3) Philosophies of Inclusive Education
- GSPE 5702 (3) Responsive Programming for Challenging Behaviors
- GSPE 6731 (3) Responsive Programming for Students with High-Incidence Disabilities (Note: This course requires 50 clock hours of field experience)
- GSPE 6745 (3) Advanced Assessment in Special Education