M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education with Initial Certification
* Program is no longer accepting applications.
In the Early Childhood Special Education M.A. Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, we prepare early interventionists and early childhood special education professionals committed to the well-being of young children with disabilities and their families, and knowledgeable about early intervention and early childhood special education (Birth-Grade 2). This degree program focuses on urban settings and centers issues pertaining to the education of children with disabilities and those receiving early intervention services, espousing a social justice perspective. Our students are prepared to engage with real world issues pertaining to early intervention and to the education of young children with disabilities via pedagogical, political, psychological, and sociological perspectives.
Through a curriculum that integrates early childhood education, special education, and bilingual education content, we aim to enable our initial certification students to become outstanding early interventionists, early childhood special education teachers, decision makers, and leaders. Honoring the importance of understanding children’s development and learning in contextualized and situated ways, the Master of Arts program emphasizes collaboration with families and other professionals and considers policies that affect families’ access to services. Our students participate in several field experiences, which serve as the foundation from which theories about development, learning, and curriculum come to life and through which teachers begin to construct their professional practice.
Admissions Information
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 40
- Entry Terms: Summer/Fall
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Students with Disabilities Birth-2
Application Deadlines
- Spring: N/A
- Summer/Fall (Priority): N/A
- Summer/Fall (Final): N/A
* Program is no longer accepting applications.
Supplemental Application Requirements/Comments
- 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)
- $65 Application Fee
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation, Preference that one (1) be academic
- GRE General Test
Requirements from the TC Catalog
Course requirements for M.A. students seeking initial certification as early childhood teachers (birth–Grade 2):
Core Courses
- C&T 4080 Risk and resilience in early development (3)
- C&T 4112 Integrated curriculum in early childhood education (6)
- C&T 4708 Student teaching- infancy and early childhood (two terms) (6)
- C&T 5118 Infant and toddler development and practice (3)
Methods Courses
- A&HM 4022 The artistic lives of young children (2)
- C&T 4131 Language and literacy in the early childhood curriculum (3)
- C&T 4132 Learning and teaching in the primary reading/writing classroom (3)
- HBSS 4116 Health education for teachers (1)
- HUDK 4027 How children learn math (3) OR
- MTSM 4057 Teaching & learning math in early childhood (3)
Foundation Courses
- C&T 4001 Differentiating instruction in inclusive classrooms (2)
- C&T 4114 Multicultural approaches to teaching young children (3)
- C&T 4615 Young Children, Families and Social Policy (3) OR
- C&T 4083 Working with families of young children with Disabilities (3)
- Out of Dept. Elective (2)
Culminating Project:
Students complete an integrative portfolio over the course of the program reflecting their growth as an early childhood teacher.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) has teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation which are listed in the Office of Teacher section of the catalog.