Severe and Multiple Disabilities Annotation Extension (Advanced Certificate)
Welcome to the Severe and Multiple Disabilities Annotation Extension (Advanced Certificate) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the program from acceptance to graduation.
This program is designed to prepare New York State certified teachers to serve as teachers of students with severe and multiple disabilities, including those with deafblindness, in educational programs from birth to grade 12.
Academic Plan
SPEDSMD-AC
Total Credits
Earn at least 19 credits
Advisors
- Virginia Gryta, Faculty Advisor
- Valerie J. Lyons, Administrative Advisor
- Robin O’Leary and Elizabeth Harrison, Clinical Placement Specialists
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 contact your faculty advisor for information.
- 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 Severe and Multiple Disabilities Annotation Extension (Advanced Certificate) 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.
Registration and Placement Processes and Procedures
There is an application which will be sent to your hunter email from the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) as the deadlines approach. Students are placed by Robin O’Leary in the Office of Clinical Experiences in Hunter College Partner sites including District 75 schools and private schools in grades PreK-12. For fieldwork requirements of less than 10 hours, work with your instructor for the related course.
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
All students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching/practicum requires 5 full days per week for two semesters in grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. 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, Placement and Application Processes and Procedures
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.
Student Teaching Placement
Student Teachers are placed by the Office of Clinical Experience 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.
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 Robin O’Leary or Elizabeth Harrison in the Office of Clinical Experiences.
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: N/A
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.
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 Teaching Time Record Form
Certification and Licensure
Graduates of this program will be eligible for New York State annotation extension certification in Severe and Multiple Disabilities. 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.