Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd)

Welcome to the Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd) program home page. Use this page as a guide to program 1 from acceptance to graduation.

The Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd) program prepares graduate candidates in support of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and primary age children (birth through Grade 2) and their families. Candidates are prepared for a variety of roles that include, but are not limited to, classroom teacher. These roles include coaching/consulting in homes and early childhood settings, leading community-based group learning experiences, coordinating resources and services within and across systems, and providing developmental supports across all early childhood settings. In every role, professionals are expected to partner closely with families, utilize family expertise and promote family confidence and competence. The Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd) program has a strong emphasis on quality inclusive practice and preparing candidates to support diverse children and families, spanning culture, language, socioeconomic status, and ability.

Program 1 is for those with no New York State certification or New York State certification in an area other than early childhood education.

Academic Plan

SENB2-MSED

Total Credits for Program 1

Earn at least 42 credits

Program Code for Certification

26294 – E CHLDHD SPEC ED DUAL CERT W/ANNOT

Advisors

Jamie Bleiweiss, Program Leader and Faculty Advisor for students with last names beginning with A through E
Bonnie Kielty, Faculty Advisor for students with last names beginning F through M
Melissa Jackson, Faculty Advisor for students with last names beginning N through Z
Imani Perez, Faculty Advisor for Fieldwork Courses (on leave)
Nora McCormick, Certification, Graduation and Administrative Advisor
Elizabeth Harrison, 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
- Please review the Introductory Webinar and email your faculty advisor with any questions.
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.

Students starting Fall 2016 or later

Fall Start

Spring Start

Students starting Spring 2016 or prior

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

Early Childhood Special Education dual certification with Annotation

Course Catalog prior to Summer 2022

Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families – MSEd

Clinical Experiences

The Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd) program prepares candidates for professional roles in classrooms, homes, and communities across the birth through grade 2 age range. Clinical experiences are a critical component of the program and designed to provide reflective experiences in order to develop competencies in working with young children of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, and languages and their families. These experiences are purposely sequenced so candidates learn new competencies that build upon those acquired in earlier experiences.

Students participate in clinical experiences which include:

developmental field experiences (fieldwork)
supervised teaching (pre-student teaching)
supervised teaching (student teaching/practicum)

Clinical experiences take place across three age group requirements, birth through 4 years; kindergarten; and first or second grade.

Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork)

Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork) are applied experiences in classrooms, homes, or community settings in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements. Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork) are not administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences. For support, please contact the course instructor. Registration, placement, and application processes for fieldwork requirements vary by course.

SPEDE 773

To receive permission to register for the first semester of SPEDE 773, students must complete the following application:

SPEDE 773 – Application

Supervised Teaching: Pre-Student Teaching

Students participate in supervised teaching (pre-student teaching). Pre-student teaching combines coursework and a sustained clinical experience in preparation for student teaching and/or practicum. There are two pre-student teaching courses. For both courses, pre-student teaching requires one full day per week over 10 weeks (to be assigned) for one semester if completed during the academic year. For the Early Childhood Education pre-student teaching experience (ECC 712), students can elect to complete it in the Winter over two weeks. For the Early Childhood Development and Learning pre-student teaching (SPEDE 776), students can elect to complete it in the Summer which consists of 2-3 days per week for 5 weeks. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors during the semester. Students may not complete SPEDE 776 in their current job.

Registration, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures

All students must apply to the Office of Clinical Experiences and receive permission prior to registering for pre-student teaching. Students will be placed at a Hunter College partner program in New York City, which includes community-based and New York City Department of Education programs.

Application

Students must apply for the following Pre-Student Teaching courses through the Office of Clinical Experiences before registering:

Application Deadlines

For ECC 712

Fall Semester: April 1st
Spring Semester: October 1st
Summer Semester: November 1st

For SPEDE 776

Fall Semester: April 1st
Spring Semester: November 1st
Summer Semester: March 1st

Registration and Placement Process

The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews pre-student teaching applications for eligibility.
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, the Office of Clinical Experiences will place students at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City and notify them via their myhunter.cuny.edu email.

Pre-Student Teaching Hours Time Record Form

Pre-Student Teaching 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 three full days per week for two semesters over the academic year. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study and meets specific Early Childhood Development and Learning (ECDL) practicum requirements. Should students complete both semesters as a practicum, students would complete an additional student teaching experience in a placement outside their worksite for five full days per week for the duration of the placement’s summer program. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester.

Registration, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures

All students must apply for student teaching/practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and, for student teaching, to be placed.

Required Exams

Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for their second semester of Supervised Teaching:

Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students with initial certification do not have to take the EAS exam.
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi-Subjects: Teacher of Early Childhood Birth-Grade 2 – (Parts 1-3)

All students will also be required to take the Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities for certification, but are not required to take it before student teaching or graduation.

Required Workshops

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop.

Students may take the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website. Once you complete the DASA workshop, submit copies of DASA workshop certification to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated via the Workshop or Exam Completion Form.

Student Teaching Placement

Student Teachers are placed by the Office of Clinical Experience with a mentor/cooperating teacher at a Hunter College Partner program 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 age-range must be aligned with pending certification and different from the age range of SPEDE 776
Student must be responsible for teaching at least three children with IFSPs/IEPs in one of the two remaining age ranges, with the final age range being completed in summer student teaching
Programs must be located in New York City
Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
Student must submit a completed Practicum Site Approval Form from worksite/school program director

Practicum Site Approval Form

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
Spring Semester: November 1st
Summer Semester: March 1st (SPEDE 77800 only)

Registration and Placement Process

The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
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, 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

Internship Certificate

Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires New York State 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

Supervised Teaching 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 Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families (MSEd) program leads to dual certification: early childhood and students with disabilities birth to grade 2. 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

Review Your Fingerprint Status

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. You can check your state clearance status on your TEACH account.

Take Required Certification Exams and Workshops

Exams

All students must fulfill the following exam requirements over the course of their program:

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) – Multi Subject Teachers of Early Childhood
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities

Exam Registration and Test Preparation

Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website. Need help preparing? Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.

Workshops

All students must fulfill the following workshop requirements over the course of their program:

School Violence Prevention and Intervention
- This workshop is included in coursework.
Prevention and Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
- This workshop is included in coursework.
Autism Workshop
- This workshop is included in coursework.
Dignity for All Students (DASA) workshop
- Students may take the Dignity for All Students (DASA) workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website. Once you complete the DASA workshop, submit copies of DASA workshop certification to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated via the Workshop or Exam Completion Form.

Apply for Graduation

In order to be recommended for certification, all students in all programs including advanced certificate programs, must complete their program and apply for graduation. For more information on the graduation process, please visit the School of Education Graduation and Commencement page.

Apply for Certification

Certification candidates must wait to apply for certification until receiving an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered. This will occur six to eight weeks after the Hunter College conferral dates of June 1 for spring grads, September 1 for summer grads and January 1 for fall grads. Candidates will be recommended for Initial and Professional certification. There are 4 steps in the application process:

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 the drop down next to Degree and Major, select the option that corresponds to the degree and major earned.

For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public, private and charter 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

In order to apply for two certifications, you will be required to submit two separate applications. Submit one full application and then restart the application process and submit the second application.

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Early Childhood Education
Select the Grade Level: Birth – Grade 2
Select the Title: a) Early Childhood Education Birth – Grade 2
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

and

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Early Childhood Education
Select the Grade Level: Birth – Grade 2
Select the Title: Students with Disabilities Birth to Grade 2
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

On the next page you will be prompted to enter the program code:

26294 – E CHLDHD SPEC ED DUAL CERT W/ANNOT

Professional Certification

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Early Childhood Education
Select the Grade Level: Birth – Grade 2
Select the Title: Early Childhood Education Birth – Grade 2
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

and

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Early Childhood Education
Select the Grade Level: Birth – Grade 2
Select the Title: Students with Disabilities Birth to Grade 2
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

On the next page you will be prompted to enter the program code:

26294 – E CHLDHD SPEC ED DUAL CERT W/ANNOT

4. Complete application (sign affidavit, sign application, make payment)

Read and sign the required affidavit and confirm and sign the application. Finally, make payment.

Additional Resources

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 and upload the required completed form for the state they are applying to.

For students applying in states that have a web based form (ex. New Jersey), please send the access information to Melissa Boronkas, Certification Officer at mb74@hunter.cuny.edu.

For more information on certification or licensure requirements in other states, please review the interstate agreement information on the National Associate of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification site.

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.

Letter Requests

Please use the School of Education Letter Request Form to request a letter from the School of Education to verify your education experience.

Internship Certification for Graduate Teacher Education Students

The Internship Certificate allows a teacher candidate to serve as a teacher of record while completing the master’s degree program. The Internship Certificate is reserved for graduate teacher education students who meet certain New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Hunter College School of Education requirements. For more information on the Internship Certificate with Hunter College, please review the Internship Certificate page.