Special Education

​The Graduate Programs in Special Education (GPSE) are accredited by the New York State Education Department, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Council for Exceptional Children (ECP). 

We offer three Master of Science in Education (MSED) Programs, a Master of Art in Teaching (MAT) Program, and three online 12 credit Advanced Certificate Programs.  Each program prepares candidates to work with children or youths whose disabilities range from mild to severe. Upon completion of their program, graduates are eligible for initial/professional or permanent New York State Certification in Special Education within their age/grade level.

PROGRAMS

• MAT in Childhood Education and Special Education (Grades 1-6) Dual Certification
• MSED in Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-2nd Grade)​
• MSED in Childhood Special Education (Grades 1-6)​​
• MSED in Adolescent Special Education Generalist (Grades 7-12)
• MSED in Integrated Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education​
• Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education (Birth—2nd Grade)​
• Advanced Certificate in Childhood Special Education (Grades 1-6)
• Advanced Certificate in Adolescent Special Education (Grades 7-12)
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst Track (BCBA)​

Program Retention

​All candidates once admitted are expected to demonstrate professional behaviors and dispositions that are consistent with (a) the Core Values of the Education Unit at Queens College of “promoting Equity, Excellence, and Ethics in urban schools and communities;” and (b) the code of ethics for special education professionals.

Additionally Candidates must:

• Receive a grade of B or better in ECPSE 720 and ECPSE 722 to register for ECPSE 725, Internship in Severe Disabilities. Candidates should meet with faculty advisor if they receive a grade lower than B in these two courses.
• Candidates in the Adolescent MSED and Post Master’s programs must fulfill all of their outstanding undergraduate prerequisites before registering for ECPSE 725, Internship in Severe Disabilities.
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA overall to register for internship course or research courses.
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate professional dispositions and behavior to remain matriculated and to graduate.
• Meet with an advisor if they get a course grade lower than B- or if they demonstrate questionable professional dispositions or behavior. A candidate and his/her advisor will then make a plan to determine (a) how to rectify any academic or behavioral deficiencies, and (b) the conditions for continuing in the program.
• Receive a grade of B or better in ECPSE 725 Internship in Severe Disabilities.
• Purchase and maintain an electronic portfolio, Anthology account for the entire duration of the designated program (e.g. 3 years for MSED programs; 1 year for Post Master’s programs).
• Should an individualized plan needed to address academic or behavioral deficiencies within an internship situation during ECPSE 725 Internship in Severe Disabilities, a candidate may be required to participate in a guided internship experiences. The candidate would then be required to register for Supervised Internship in Special Education (ECPSE 754) to fulfill the requirements of the individualized plan.
• As per Queens College graduate student governance policy, a matriculated graduate student who is dismissed must remain out of the College for at least one semester. To return, the student must file a formal application for reentry and pay a non-refundable re-entry fee by the appropriate deadline. The student must also petition the Office of Graduate Studies for permission to reenter. Requests for re-entry will be reviewed on an individual basis. Permission to re-enter following suspension may be granted one time only.

Fieldwork Requirements and Guidelines

All candidates in the special education programs, including MSED, Advanced Certificate, and MAT programs, are required to complete an internship in severe disabilities. This field-based course is designed to provide candidates with individualized supervision and regularly scheduled group seminars focused on educating students with severe intellectual disabilities, including students on the autism spectrum. This course offers an integrated approach to teaching which combines both knowledge and practice into a meaningful and comprehensive context. Each candidate is placed in a setting with an experienced teacher of special education and will participate in all classroom activities as assigned by the supervising teacher, the school, and college professors. Faculty will observe the candidate teaching a lesson at the internship site a minimum of three times.

All special education courses contain field-based assignments, in which candidates are required to fulfill designated hours (as specified in each course) in educational settings that serve students with disabilities. Candidates are expected to demonstrate professional behaviors and dispositions at their field sites.