SAMPLE PROGRAM
The Special Education Program consists of 36 credit hours for students with initial certification in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education or Adolescence Education. In the Early Childhood Special Education program 33 credit hours are core courses and 3 credit hours are electives. In both the Childhood Special Education and Adolescence Special Education programs 30 credit hours are core courses and 6 credit hours are electives.
Core Courses
The core courses are designed to offer sequential learning experiences that will provide you with competencies that may be used across disability categories. You should take these courses in the suggested sequence. Descriptions of these core courses are listed in another section of this Web site.
Core Courses for the Master's Program in Early Childhood Special Education
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
| SPE700 | Educating Special Learners | 5 |
| SPE701 | Educational Assessment of Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE702 or EED716 | Teaching Math, Science and Technology in Inclusive Classrooms or Science and Math for Young Children | 3 |
| SPE703 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPE731 | Literacy & Social Studies Instruction for Childhood Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE732 | Learning Environments for Childhood Learners with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE798 | Young Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE753 | Practicum in Early Childhood Special Education | 6 |
| Elective course in Special Education | 3 |
Core Courses for the Master's Program in Childhood Special Education
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
| SPE700 | Educating Special Learners | 5 |
| SPE701 | Educational Assessment of Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE702 | Teaching Math, Science and Technology in Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| SPE703 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPE731 | Literacy and Social Studies Instruction for Childhood Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE732 | Learning Environments for Childhood Learners with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE733 | Practicum in Childhood Special Education | 6 |
| Elective courses in Special Education | 6 |
Core Courses for the Master's Program in Adolescence Special Education
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
| SPE700 | Educating Special Learners | 5 |
| SPE701 | Educational Assessment of Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE702 | Teaching Math, Science and Technology in Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| SPE703 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
| SPE741 | Literacy and Social Studies Instruction for Adolescent Learners with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE742 | Learning Environments for Adolescent Learners with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE743 | Practicum in Adolescent Special Education | 6 |
| Elective courses in Special Education | 6 |
Special Education Electives
You will take 6 elective credits as part of your master's degree program. The electives fall under two categories: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and Communication and Collaborative Partnership. Only one course must be taken from each of the categories.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
| EDS537 | Issues in Multicultural Education |
| EDS581 | Issues of Racism and Sexism in Education |
| SPE572 | Teaching Learners of Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds |
Communication and Collaborative Partnerships
| EDS732 | Group Dynamics |
| EDS545 | Cooperatively Structured Learning |
| SPE593 | Multiple Intelligences in Inclusive Classrooms |
| SPE761 | Working with Families of Students with Disabilities |
| SPE793 | Collaboration Strategies for the Educator |
NOTE: In addition to the above courses, applicants with initial certification in Early Childhood Special Education, Childhood Special Education or Adolescence Special Education will take two courses in which content and pedagogy are linked.
Fieldwork and Practicum
Since the program is also field-based, a significant amount of your training will be conducted in the professional field under supervision with students and cooperating teachers. The required practicum is offered during the spring, fall, and summer 1 semesters. Summer 2 practicum is available to those meeting certain criteria. This is important to consider in planning your program since working in the field demands that you have time available to spend in schools, clinics, and classrooms. This may necessitate an adjustment of your daily schedule. You must have a 3.0 average in all graduate courses and no more than two courses with a B- in order to enroll in the practicum course SPE733, SPE743 or SPE753, and to graduate.
Deadlines for practicum and practicum application forms are available in the Special Education Office, OMB 108.
Please Note: Courses taken prior to acceptance into the Special Education Program may not be fully credited on your plan of study, even if taken at SUNY New Paltz.
