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Graduate Programs in 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 (CEC).

We offer three Master of Science in Education (MSED) Programs, a Master of Arts 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 New York State initial/professional certification in Special Education within their grade level.

Master’s programs are part-time and take 2 to 3 years to complete. Candidates are required to take an internship courses during the summer. They must also follow a prescribed course of study.

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 Portfolio 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.

Tips for New Candidates
  • Download and review the STUDENT HANDBOOK​​
  • Meet with your advisor for program planning at least once each year, and make sure to just stop by now and then to say “hello!”
  • When you have an important matter to discuss in person with a professor, make an appointment to be sure you have time; do not rely on office hours for this kind of communication.
  • If an assignment seems too difficult or complicated, speak with other students and/or with your professor chances are you have misinterpreted it.
  • Be organized and keep copies of all program and class materials (e.g., acceptance letter, advisement materials, papers, class notes, syllabi).
  • Make copies of your papers and projects before handing them in.
  • Take the opportunity to develop relationships with other students and be sure to share your telephone numbers and Email addresses with each other.
  • Be sure if you register for the course and section there are financial penalties for dropping courses after specific dates during the semester.
  • If you have not already done so get a Queens College ID Card and activate your Queens College CAMS account, you will also need to get a Queens College Email address.
  • You will need to use the CUNYfirst system for registering, checking your grades, and paying your bills.

For additional information please see the Graduate Programs in Special Education Student Handbook.

Proud of our alumni!
MSED in Early Childhood Special Education

Announcements

Register now for new hybrid Masters programs: online coursework with one in-person week a month.

Register now for Online Advanced Certificate (12 credit) Programs! 

Program Coordinator

Sun A. Kim
Powdermaker Hall 032L
718-997-4892
Sun.Kim@qc​.cuny.edu

Faculty

Administrative Staff

Jaclyn Arroyo
Powdermaker Hall 033
718-997-5240
jaclyn.arroyo@qc.cuny.edu

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