Childhood Special Education – Behavior Disorders (MSEd)
Welcome to the Childhood Special Education – Behavior Disorders (MSEd) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the Childhood Special Education – Behavior Disorders (MSEd) program from acceptance to graduation.
The master’s degree in Childhood Special Education: Behavior Disorders offers two programs. Program 1 is for those who do not hold NYS certification.
Academic Plan
CSPE-MSED
Total Credits
Earn 43 to 55 credits
Advisors
- Elizabeth Klein, Faculty Advisor
- Nora McCormick, Administrative Advisor
- Robin O’Leary, Clinical Placement Specialist
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Students must consult with their faculty advisor to determine their particular course of study before registering for classes. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Hunter College Catalog
To review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements please use the course catalog for the year you were admitted to the program.
Course Catalog Summer 2022 onward
Course Catalog prior to Summer 2022
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Childhood Special Education – Behavior Disorders (MSEd) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Registration, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures
For courses with fieldwork components requiring 50 hours or more, students must apply to the Office of Clinical Experience and will be placed at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City.
Teacher Candidates working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete their fieldwork requirements in their current job if it is aligned to their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for eligibility:
- Teaching position must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Teacher candidates must submit documentation from worksite/school program director
For courses requiring less than 10 days or 50 hours of fieldwork, after attending class and receiving instructions from your instructor, teacher candidates are responsible for identifying placement within New York State. Please refer to the NYC Department of Education at schools.nyc.gov to find a school in your neighborhood.
Application
Teacher candidates must apply for the following courses with fieldwork components through the Office of Clinical Experiences before registering:
Registration and Placement Process
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission and notifies you via your myhunter.cuny.edu email address one week before registration opens.
- Teacher Candidate registers for course once permission granted.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences places teacher candidates at a Hunter College School of Education partner site and notifies you via myhunter.cuny.edu email address.
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Supervised Teaching: Student Teaching/Practicum
Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week for one semester. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
Registration and Placement
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.
Required Exams
Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for Supervised Teaching:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students with initial certification do not have to take the EAS exam.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi-Subject: Teachers of Childhood (Grades 1 – 6)
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities
Student Teaching Placement
Student Teachers are placed by Professor Klein with a mentor/cooperating teacher at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City. Students teach alongside the mentor/cooperating teacher throughout the semester.
Practicum
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete Practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for Practicum eligibility:
- The classroom must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students submit a letter from worksite/school program director
Practicum Site Approval Form
Application
All teacher candidates must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Winter Semester: October 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
- Summer Semester: March 1st
Registration and Placement Process
- Professor Klein reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
- Professor Klein and Dr. McIntyre (program coordinator of Behavior Disorders) grant registration permission.
- One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences or Professor Klein will inform you of next steps through your myhunter.cuny.edu email.
- If you require placement, Professor Klein and the Office of Clinical Experiences will place you at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City and notify your myhunter.cuny.edu email
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Internship Certificate
Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires NYS certification may apply for an internship certificate. Students must apply for practicum first and will only receive instructions thereafter.
Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
Supervised Teaching Time Record Form
Certification and Licensure
This program leads to dual certification in childhood education and students with disabilities grades 1-6. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for information and support.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.