Elementary Inclusive Education MA Dual

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.


Bulletin Board in a classroom

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.

A group of students converse in a study group at Teachers College.

Admissions Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024 terms.

Master of Arts

  • Points/Credits: 44
  • Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall

Certification

View Public Disclosure Notification

  • NY State Initial: 1-6
  • NY State Initial: Students with Disabilities 1-6

Application Deadlines

  • Spring: November 15
  • Summer/Fall (Priority): January 15
  • Summer/Fall (Final): April 1

* The final deadline for this program has been extended to May 1, 2024*

Supplemental Application Requirements/Comments

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.

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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.

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