Childhood Special Education – Learning Disabilities (Advanced Certificate)
Welcome to the Childhood Special Education – Learning Disabilities (Advanced Certificate) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the Childhood Special Education – Learning Disabilities (Advanced Certificate) program from acceptance to graduation.
This post-master’s, advanced certificate program in Childhood Special Education is designed for students with existing New York State certification in either Childhood Education Grades 1-6 or a different certification area of Special Education.
Academic Plan
CSPE-AC
Total Credits
Earn at least 17 credits
Advisors
- Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides, Faculty Advisor
- Nora McCormick, Administrative Advisor
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
Consult the program sequence for a suggested order of courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. 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 – Learning Disabilities (Advanced Certificate) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) that are embedded in coursework, and two semesters of Learning Lab.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is both embedded in coursework activities and assignments as well as implemented with students you are teaching. If you are not currently teaching, placement or match for fieldwork can be discussed with your instructor and/or faculty advisor. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Registration Processes and Procedures
Registration permission is required from your Faculty Advisor in conjunction with the Special Education Department office. Students register for all courses through CUNYfirst.
Learning Lab
SPED 782 and 784 is the Learning Lab Clinical Experience. Teacher candidates will tutor a student twice weekly throughout the Fall and Spring semester and receive clinical supervision of that work with the student. A student will be provided on campus. There is a once weekly seminar class as well. If possible, this course may be offered hybrid online where the teacher candidate tutors a student from his or her current teaching (with school and parental permission) and then participates in a seminar that is mostly online. Your faculty advisor will tell you if this is an option prior to registering for coursework for the Fall.
Registration Processes and Procedures
Registration permission is required from your Faculty Advisor in conjunction with the Special Education Department office. Students register for all courses through CUNYfirst.
Certification and Licensure
This program leads to New York State certification to teach 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.