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

Program Code for Certification

37799 – CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

Advisors

Newly Accepted Students

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.

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.

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.

Certification and Licensure

The Childhood Special Education – Learning Disabilities (Advanced Certificate) program 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. The program leads New York State certification to teach Students with Disabilities Grades 1-6.

Students must wait to apply for certification until they receive an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered. This usually occurs six to eight week’s after the conferral of your degree.

Types of Certification

Students are recommended for both initial and professional certification:

  • The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate and is valid for five years. Students who graduate from a Hunter master’s degree certification program without prior certification will be recommended for initial certification.
  • The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification.

Application Checklist

Additional Resources

Program Related Events