M.A. in Elementary Inclusive Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities
Earn your degree and initial certification in Childhood Education for grades 1-6 and Teaching Students with Disabilities for grades 1-6.
This clinically rich degree program allows students upon graduation, to work either as general educators or as special educators. By infusing the content of both general and special education throughout your program of study, you will gain a more coherent experience of what it means to teach inclusively. You will complete two semesters of student teaching, with practicum experiences interspersed throughout your program of study.
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: 44
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time, Part-Time
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: 1-6
- NY State Initial: Students with Disabilities 1-6
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.
Acceptance to the program requires strong academic credentials, robust and relevant professional or academic references, and a clear fit between program goals and the goals expressed by the applicant. At a minimum, applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or above and evidence a commitment to educational equity and diversity. We look for prior experience working with children.
The State Education Department of New York requires that individuals seeking elementary certification must have successfully completed at least six semester hours (in semester-long courses) of college level credit in:
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
When you apply, the Elementary Inclusive Education Program reviews the transcripts you send with your application to determine if you have met these requirements. You can be accepted to Elementary Inclusive Education without having completed these liberal arts courses; however, you CANNOT be recommended for certification in New York State until you have done so.
We recommend that you also review your transcripts to see whether you have completed these requirements. It is to your advantage to take some of these courses at an undergraduate institution. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests can also be taken in lieu of completing undergraduate courses.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2023-2024)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.
Students in this Elementary Inclusive Education Program will earn an M.A. degree and pursue New York State certifications in both Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Teaching Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6).
Course Requirements for the 44-Credit Program (MA-ELEM-DUAL)
M.A. Elementary Inclusive Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities
Student Teaching Semesters - Restricted to Student Teachers
Course #, Course Name, and Credits
-
C&T 4123 Student Teaching Methods: Inclusive Teaching Seminar I (Spring) 3
-
C&T 4124 Student Teaching Methods: Inclusive Teaching Seminar II (Fall) 3
-
C&T 4726 Professional Laboratory Experiences/Student Teaching in Elementary Education (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 4037 Relational Approaches to Challenging Behavior 2
-
C&T 5081 Collaborative Communication in Cultural Contexts 1
-
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
*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.