Master’s in Teaching Students with Disabilities

The Master’s Degree Program in Teaching Students with Disabilities is designed for certified teachers to earn an additional New York State Approved certification in special education. Students may pursue certification in two different concentrations: teaching children with disabilities at the childhood level (grades 1-6) or at the adolescent level (grades 7- 12).

The curriculum of the Master’s Program in Teaching Students with Disabilities is based on scientifically based assignment and intervention strategies that enable teachers to meet the needs of students with disabilities in accordance with Federal law and State Department of Education guidelines. Students are prepared to meet the challenges of diverse student populations within the least restrictive environment, using validated intervention strategies that address their individual needs.

The program provides students with a strong foundation in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. The students utilize these principles as they gain experience, conducting assessments to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses. Across several courses, students are provided with tools to objectively evaluate the existing literature on teaching strategies and develop intervention procedures (based on scientifically demonstrated practices) that are clearly defined and can be systematically monitored to demonstrate acquisition of new skills. Students are encouraged to utilize assistive and educational technology when designing interventions and rely on the New York State Standards as the basis for instructional lessons. This protocol for the development of interventions encompasses a broad range of skills (e.g., reading, mathematics, content area instruction, social/ behavioral, communication, fine and gross motor, and adaptive behavior) and students are provided opportunities to implement the interventions within field placements.