Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd)
Welcome to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd) program home page. Use this page as a guide to program 2 from acceptance to graduation.
Program 2 is for those who hold Early Childhood, Childhood, PreK to Grade 6, Middle Childhood or Adolescent Education New York State (NYS) certification
Academic Plan
DEAFW-MSED
Program Code for Certification
25658 – TEACHERS OF DEAF
Total Credits
Earn 33 to 39 credits
Advisors
- Thomas McIntyre, Faculty Advisor
- Valerie J. Lyons, Administrative Advisor
- Ileana Infante, 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
Program sequences provide 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.
Fall Start
Spring Start
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
Course Exemptions or Waivers
Exemption or waiver of a course requirement may be granted to a student who has completed a course at another college with the same or similar content as a Hunter College course required in your program. An exemption reduces the number of credits you need to take in your program. A waiver requires you to take an approved elective course of at least the same number of credits at Hunter to replace the waived course. Only matriculated students may be granted exemptions or waivers.
Exemptions allowed in the program: up to 12 credits plus an additional 6 credits in American Sign Language (SPED 72000 and SPED 72100)
American Sign Language Courses
Students can get an exemption for SPED 72000 and SPED 72100 depending on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI:ASL) results or American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI). The Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI:ASLP) is available at Lexington School for the Deaf for a fee of approximately $200. Because evaluation appointments fill up quickly, it is important to schedule as soon as possible.
- SPED 72000 exemption requires a level of Survival Plus or higher for SLPI or Level 1 for ASLPI.
- SPED 72100 exemption requires a level of Intermediate or higher for SLPI or Level 2 for ASLPI.
Students who are certified interpreters can qualify with a valid certification.
Students who qualify for an exemption for SPED 72000 and SPED 72100 do not need to make up the credits. Students who qualify for a waiver must take an elective to make up the credits.
Students who qualify for any exemption or waiver must complete the exemption/waiver form for each course and include the results for each course.
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Requesting Permission and Placement
For courses with fieldwork components requiring 10 hours or more, students must request permission from their faculty advisor/program coordinator to register. There is no application. Students are placed by Dr. Elaine Gale in Hunter College Partner sites including District 75 schools and private schools.
For courses requiring less than 10 hours of fieldwork, after attending class and receiving instructions from the instructor, students 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 a particular neighborhood.
Students 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
- Students must submit documentation from worksite/school program director
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) – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi Subject Childhood Grades 1-6 (Parts 1-3)
Student Teaching Placement
Student Teachers are placed by Dr. Elaine Gale 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. Student Teaching only takes place in the spring semester each year.
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 eligibility is approved by Dr. Elaine Gale.
Practicum Site Approval Form
Application
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st for practicum. Student Teaching is not available in the fall
- Spring Semester: November 1st for student teaching and practicum
- Summer Semester: N/A
Registration and Placement Process
- Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
- Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission.
- One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences will inform students of next steps through their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
- If students require placement, Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences will place them at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City and notify their 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 Time Record Form
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 Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd) program leads to single certification in Deaf and Hard of Hearing PreK-12.
Students who are completing or have completed the program will apply for their certification through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services. Students apply for either initial or professional certification.
Please note, the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) will no longer be a certification requirement as of April 27, 2022. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for more information regarding this change.
Types of Certification
The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior.
Initial 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.
Students apply and pay for their certification in their final semester.
Professional 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.
Certification and Exam Requirements
To apply for the initial and professional certification you must graduate and fulfill the following certificate and exam requirements over the course of the program.
Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students who have completed Educating All Students (EAS) for a prior certification, do not need to take the exam again.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi Subject Childhood Grades 1-6 Part 1(221); Part 2(222)
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website.
Need help preparing? The Hunter College School of Education Center for Career, Professional and Partnership Development (CPPD) conducts test preparation workshops regularly. Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.
Complete New York State Certification required workshops
All applications for New York State certification require that students take and complete the workshops listed below. Students who have completed these workshops for a prior certification, do not need to take them again.
School Violence Intervention and Prevention
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
Autism Workshop
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
Students may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.
Submit Exam Scores and Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Students must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated via the Workshop or Exam Completion Form.
Clear fingerprints with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
All students in programs leading to New York State certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Applying for Certification through TEACH Account and Program Code
How to Apply for Certification
The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for Initial and Professional certification through the New York State Department of Education’s TEACH Account.
1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account
Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application”. This will start a new application.
2. Verify/Update Profile
The Verify/Update Profile section will ask for education and employment history. For educational history, provide information from bachelor’s degree to present. For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public and private schools.
Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:
- Award Title: Master of Science in Education
- Program Code: 25658 – TEACHERS OF DEAF
- Major: Education
- Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).
3. Select Certificate(s)
Enter the following information for the certificates section depending on whether you are applying for initial or professional certification.
Initial Certification
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
- Select the Title: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Select your Certificate Type: Initial
Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.
Professional Certification
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
- Select the Title: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Select your Certificate Type: Professional
Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.
Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is in line with their Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd) certification at Hunter College will be recommended for professional certification in that area. On the next page, enter the Program Code 25658.
Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is not in line with their Deaf and Hard of Hearing – with prior NYS Certification (MSEd) certification at Hunter College will apply for their professional certification through Certificate Progression Pathway within TEACH. Hunter College cannot recommend these Teachers for professional certification. Do not use the Hunter College program code when applying for professional certification in another area. Select “No, I have not completed, nor am I enrolled in, An Approved Teacher Preparation Program at a New York State College or University.” You will answer several questions before TEACH selects the Certificate Progression pathway for you.
4. Complete application
Checking Certificate Status in TEACH Account
If you have applied for a certificate but have not yet graduated, the status of your certificate application will be “Not Ready for Review”. Once your graduation is posted, have met all the requirements and have institutional recommendation, your status will change to “Ready for Review” and NYSED will then review your application.
Expiring Certifications
If you will not graduate from the Advanced Certificate program prior to the expiration of your initial certificate, you may be eligible for an extension through NYSED’s TEACH Online Services. Create/Log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”
Out of State Certification or Licensure
Students applying for certification or licensure in states other than New York must complete the Out of State Certification and Licensure Form.
Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure
Registering for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE)
During the registration process enter all 9s when prompted for your Social Security Number (SSN). Once you do receive a Social Security Number, you will need to fax a copy of your Social Security Number card and Passport to the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) with a cover letter including your assigned New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) ID number to request they change your temporary Social Security Number replacement with your assigned Social Security Number.
The fax number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-7088. Follow up a few days later to ensure they have received your fax. The phone number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-2882.
Applying for NYSED TEACH Account without a Social Security Number
You do not need to wait for a Social Security Number (SSN) to create an account on the NYSED TEACH system. If you do not have a valid Social Security Number, you will need to email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number first. The access number is only for use with TEACH and meeting requirements for New York State teacher certification. If you do get a social security number, you must notify NYSED.
If you apply for OPT the process will generate a Social Security Number which you will use to create your TEACH account and apply for New York State Department of Education teaching certification. You should apply for OPT as soon as you can, but you cannot apply earlier than 90 days before your program completion date.
For general instructions on setting up your NYSED TEACH account, please refer to the Certification and Licensure section on this program page.
New York City Department of Education Employment with OPT once your NYS Certificate has issued
International students cannot apply for employment with New York City Public Schools until they have a Social Security Number (SSN). International students may qualify for employment in New York City public schools once they hold New York State certification and hold an OPT visa. You will be ineligible to apply to work for the New York City Department of Education unless you hold OPT authorization, have a Social Security Number and your New York State certification has issued. Candidates fitting the above criteria may apply online to the New York City Department of Education. Once the application is received and reviewed, further instructions will follow. This policy is subject to change at any time.