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 M
- Melissa Jackson, Faculty Advisor for students with last names beginning N through Z
- Imani Perez, Faculty Advisor for Fieldwork Courses
- 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
Transfer of Credits, Exemptions and Waivers
Transfer of Credits
A matriculated student may request a transfer of credit for a graduate-level course completed at another institution. To be eligible, the course must have been taken within the past five years and closely match the content of a required course in the student’s Hunter College program. The request will be reviewed by faculty for equivalence. Each program sets the courses for which a transfer will be considered. Graduate students are limited to 12 transfer credits.
Exemptions or Waivers
An exemptions or waiver of a course requirement may be granted to a student who has completed an undergraduate course at another college or a graduate course taken over five years ago with the same or similar content as a Hunter College course required in your program. Not all departments approve the use of undergraduate courses for use in waivers.
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.
Students are permitted up to 12 credits of exemptions.
Transfer of Credit Form
Please complete the Transfer of Credit Request Form, sign digitally, pdf and attach all required documents. Then send it to your faculty advisor for review. Once you obtain your faculty advisor’s signature upload the required form to the School of Education form uploader.
Exemption and Waiver Form
Please complete the Exemption and Waiver form, sign digitally, pdf and attach all required documents. Then send it to your faculty advisor for review. Once you obtain your faculty advisor’s signature upload the required form to the School of Education form uploader.
Hunter College Catalog
Use the Hunter College Course Catalog to review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements.
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:
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
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
Application
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.
- SPEDE 778/9 – Semester 1 – Application
- SPEDE 778/9 – Semester 2 – Application
- SPEDE 77800 – Summer – Application
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
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Internship Certificate
The Internship Certificate allows a teacher or educational leadership candidate to serve as a teacher or leader of record while completing the master’s degree program. The Internship Certificate is reserved for graduate teacher or leader education students who meet certain New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Hunter College School of Education requirements. Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
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.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
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.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
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.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number to apply for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
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
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: 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
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for all processes involving certification such as fingerprinting, creating your TEACH Account, registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams, and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
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 or educational leadership candidate to serve as a teacher or leader of record while completing the master’s degree program. The Internship Certificate is reserved for graduate teacher or leader education students who meet certain New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Hunter College School of Education requirements. Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.