Master of Arts in Elementary Inclusive Education with Gifted Extension
Earn your degree and teacher certification in initial certification in Childhood Education for grades 1-6, Teaching Students with Disabilities for grades 1-6, and the New York State extension in Gifted Education.
This degree program is suitable for students who would like to be certified as general educators and special educators but are also open to working with students who have tested into gifted programs. The gifted education extension option includes both general education and special education courses as well as three courses in gifted education and an additional semester of student teaching in a gifted education setting.
This option may be selected during your application or during your course of study at Teachers College.
Upon completion of the program, graduates can also apply for teacher certification in states other than New York. While many of our graduates go on to teach in New York City schools, many secure teaching positions elsewhere in the U.S. as well as internationally.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 56
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: 1-6, NY State Initial: Students with Disabilities 1-6, NY State Gifted Ed. Extension
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
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 |
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.
The Gifted Extension option allows students in the Elementary Inclusive Education Program to pursue the New York State extension in Gifted Education along with dual certification in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Teaching Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6) by including 12 credits in gifted education in their course study. Students who choose this option complete an additional semester of student teaching (3 credits) in a gifted education setting along with three courses in gifted education.
Course Requirements for the 56-Credit Program (MA-GFEX-DUAL)
M.A. Elementary Inclusive Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities with Gifted Extension
Student Teaching Semesters - Restricted to Student Teachers
Course #, Course Name, and Credits
-
C&T 4123 Student Teaching Methods: Inclusive Teaching Seminar (Spring) 3
-
C&T 4124 Student Teaching Methods: Inclusive Teaching Seminar II (Fall) 3
-
C&T 4726 Professional Laboratory Experiences/Student Teaching in Elementary Schools(year-long course) 8
-
C&T 4132 Learning and Teaching in the Primary Reading/Writing Classroom 3
-
C&T 4019 Literacy Supports 3
Foundations and Methods Courses
Course #, Course Name, and Credits
-
C&T 4000 Disability, Exclusion, and Schooling 3
-
C&T 4320 Practicum for Disability, Exclusion, and Schooling 0
-
C&T 4143 Multicultural Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle School 3
-
MSTC 4040 Science in Childhood Education 3
-
MSTM 5010 Mathematics in the Elementary School 3
-
HBSS 4116 Health Education for Teachers 1
-
Various Educational Foundations * (Philosophy/Social Science in Education or Child Development) 3
-
C&T 4135 Emergent Bi/Multilingual Learners in Inclusive English-Medium Classrooms 1
-
C&T 4037 Relational Approaches to Challenging Behavior 2
-
C&T 4060 Literacy for Students with Significant Disabilities 2
-
C&T 4321 Practicum for Literacy for Students with Significant Disabilities 0
-
C&T 4301 Educational Assessment of Students with Disabilities 2
-
C&T 5081 Collaborative Communication in Cultural Contexts 1
Gifted Education Extension
Possibilities include, but not limited to:
Course #, Course Name, and Credits
-
C&T 4021 Nature and Needs of Gifted Students 3
-
C&T 4022 Instructional Models in the Education of Gifted Students 3
-
C&T 4023 Differentiated Curriculum for Gifted Students 3
-
C&T 4025 Nurturing Talents & Gifts during the Early Childhood Years 2-3
-
C&T 4026 Giftedness and Intelligence 2-3
-
C&T 4702 Student Teaching: Gifted 3
-
C&T 5024 Planning and Implementing Programs for Gifted Students 3
*An appropriate undergraduate course may be substituted for this requirement; please consult with Program Faculty.
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.