M.A. IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & EARLY CHILDHOOD/TEACHING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: DUAL CERTIFICATION
In the Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education/Teaching Students with Disabilities (Dual Certification) programs at Teachers College, Columbia University, we prepare early education professionals who are committed to the well-being of young children with and without disability labels and who are knowledgeable about Birth-Grade 2 education, special education, and early intervention. Our degree programs focus on urban settings and center issues pertaining to curriculum, social justice, teaching, and learning across abilities. Our students are prepared to engage in the real world, skillfully addressing important issues pertaining to inclusive education via pedagogical, political, psychological, and sociological perspectives.
Our program offers both a full-time and part-time option. However, please note (in accordance with NYS guidelines), all students will be required to engage in one semester of full-time student teaching. Designed as a cohort model, anticipated duration for full-time students range from 1 ½ years (3 semesters + 2 summers) or 2 years (without summers).
Prioritizing theory in practice, our program at TC requires that students in the Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education/Teaching Students with Disabilities- Dual Certification programs at TC participate in several field experiences (student teaching, practicum), which serve as the foundation from which to theorize about child development, learning, and inclusive curriculum. By bringing together coursework and fieldwork, graduates are well-prepared to begin and continue to develop their professional identity and practice in research-informed ways. Many of our graduates have gone on to become early childhood practitioners, administrators, community organizers, school founders/leaders, authors, researchers, and professors.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 42
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Birth-2, NY State Initial: Students with Disabilities Birth-2
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | June 1, 2025 |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Supplemental application required (included in online application) | |
| At least one (1) letter of recommendation should be academic |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact CTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
Course requirements for M.A. degree students seeking initial dual teacher certification as both early childhood teachers and teachers of students with disabilities in early childhood (birth–Grade 2):
Practicum
C&T 4302 Design and implementation of educational assessment for young children with disabilities (3)
C&T 4308 Introduction to diverse early childhood classrooms (3)
C&T 4708 Student teaching in early childhood setting (4)
C&T 5118 Infant and toddler development and practice (3)
Foundations and Methods Courses
C&T 4003 Differentiation and inclusion in early childhood classrooms (3)
C&T 4080 Child development and intersectional identities (3)
C&T 4083 Home/school/community partnerships (3)
C&T 4112 Integrated curriculum in early childhood education: curricular inquiry and design (3)
C&T 4114 Integrated curriculum in early childhood education: diversity, equity, and technologies (3)
C&T 4131 Play, language, and early childhood curriculum (3)
C&T 4132 Language and teaching in the primary reading/writing classroom (3) or selected alternative
A&HM 4022 The artistic Lives of young children (2) or selected alternative
Out of Department Elective (6)
Elective (3)
Elective in special education (3)
Breadth Requirement
TC master’s degree programs require that students take course work outside of their major programs. This is also known as the Foundations Requirement. All M.A., M.S., and Ed.M. students must complete a minimum of 6 points out of their Academic Program at TC. The advisor and student will determine how the points can be reached.
Culminating Project:
Students complete an integrative project over the course of the degree program reflecting their growth as an early childhood teacher.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation which are listed in the Office of Teacher Education section of the catalog.