Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Special Education Childhood Education (1-6)
There are three 18-credit Post-Masters, Advanced Certification programs, focused at three age ranges, which prepare participants who already have teacher certification and master’s degrees, for additional teacher certification in special education. Courses for these programs are offered through classroom instruction and are being offered online starting fall 2019.
The faculty is committed to preparing teachers who have the knowledge, skills, and disposition to help children and youths with disabilities become independent, productive, fully included members of their schools and society. The purpose of the programs in Special Education is to help candidates develop the competencies needed to teach children and youths with disabilities, including severe disabilities, in a variety of settings, including age-appropriate general education environments. To this end, the New York State Pedagogical Core requirements for teachers of special education and related competencies have been embedded throughout the curriculum and programs.
Teacher Certification Requirements
Candidates who meet these requirements for graduation, and who have completed all required New York State seminars and have taken the Content Specialty Test (CST) in Students with Disabilities, will be recommended to the New York State Education Department by the Queens College Office of Teacher Certification for extensions to their licenses in Teaching Students with Disabilities at the appropriate age/grade level.
Candidates with master’s degrees and existing certification in early childhood education are eligible for either the early childhood special education advanced certificate program or the childhood special education advanced certificate program.
Candidates with master’s degrees and childhood certification are eligible for either the childhood special education advanced certificate program or the early childhood special education advanced certificate program.
Candidates with master’s degrees and existing certification in a secondary content area (e.g., history, mathematics, chemistry, English) are eligible for the adolescent special education advanced certificate program.
Requirements for Matriculation
These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for matriculation.
- Have completed a master’s degree in education
- Have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better in their master’s program
- Have New York State Teacher Certification at the Initial (Provisional) and/or Professional (Permanent) level in general education (in early childhood education, childhood education, or a secondary content area)
- An interview may be required