Applicants to Binghamton University's inservice programs in Special Education must hold, or meet the requirements for, initial New York State certification in Early Childhood Education (Birth to Grade 2), Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), and/or Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12 in one of the content areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or Foreign Languages). See http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert for information about current NYS teacher certification requirements.
If you do not hold one of the initial certificates required for these programs, you may be eligible for the Educational Studies program, the preservice Master of Arts in Teaching Program, or the preservice Childhood, Early Childhood, and Special Education (Birth - grade 6) program.
Successful completion of Binghamton's MSEd degree in Special Education and the NYS examination in Students with Disabilities leads to the initial/professional certificate in Students with Disabilities for the same age group as the initial certificate. Students must earn a grade of B or better in all required courses, earn a cumulative average of B or better to graduate, and complete all degree requirements within five years of admission to the program.
This program provides teachers with initial certification the knowledge and skills to fulfill various special educator roles in today's schools and communities. Sufficient flexibility exists for graduates of early childhood, childhood, adolescence or special education undergraduate programs to deepen their skills in the field, link special education programs and services to the broader context of general education, and extend their knowledge and skills to work more effectively with students with disabilities.
Four program options are available, corresponding with the age/grade level of the applicant's initial certificate:
Early Childhood Special Education - Birth to Grade 2 -(requires initial certification in Early Childhood Education)
Early Childhood and Childhood Special Education - Birth to Grade 6 - (requires initial certification in Early Childhood and Childhood Education)
Childhood Special Education - Grades 1 to 6 - (requires initial certification in Childhood Education)
Adolescence Special Education - Grades 7 to 12 - **(requires initial certification in a Secondary Content Area)
Certification-Only
If you already hold a Master's degree and only seek certification in Students with Disabilities, you may register for courses as a non-matriculated student and apply for certification through BOCES. Please contact a certification officer at your local BOCES for the appropriate steps to follow.
Fieldwork Leading to Student Teaching
NYS regulations require fieldwork that is directly linked to special education coursework prior to the student teaching practicum. To fulfill the spirit of the fieldwork requirement during each semester of enrollment students will be placed in a classroom setting that serves students with disabilities within the appropriate age group for the certification. All full-time students must commit to a minimum of one full day per week of fieldwork, and part-time students must commit to a minimum of a half day day per week for the entire semester.
Student Teaching and the Practicum
Academic Standards and Professional Dispositions
|
Name |
Advisement Area | Research Interests |
| Elizabeth Anderson | Early Childhood, Childhood, CEC | Social and emotional learning across content curriculum; integrating authentic learning experiences with current standards and accountability practices |
| Early Childhood, Childhood, CEC | Literacy instruction for students with or at risk for learning disabilities | |
| Loretta (Lucky) Mason-Williams |
Adolescence | Special Education Teacher Quality; Large Scale Database Analysis |
|
Adolescence - SPED Program Coordinator |
Academic interventions for students with emotional and behavioral disorders and learning disabilities; special education and juvenile delinquency |
|
| Beverly Rainforth |
Emerita (no advising) | Inclusive education; teacher preparation; education of students with severe disabilities |
| Childhood, CEC | Classroom and behavior management; alternatives to aversive procedures; legal issues related to students with disabilities |
