Early Childhood Urban Education/Urban Special Education, MAT
The Early Childhood Urban Education/Urban Special Education graduate program leading to a Masters of Arts in Teaching offers an integrated combination of rigorous academic study and clinically rich fieldwork focusing on the needs of all learners. The program culminates in a dual degree in regular and special education for students from birth to Grade 2, particularly those in an urban environment. The program offers a 12-month, full-time and part-time course of study, combining in person and online courses.
The MAT prepares candidates to be successful in obtaining New York State teacher certification as both an Early Childhood Teacher (birth-grade 2) and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities (birth-grade 2), including completing a Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA), which measures competency in instructional planning, teaching, and assessment and completing a Capstone research project. Graduates will be well-positioned for employment within the New York City Department of Education, as well as charter and private schools and early childhood centers.
At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:
- Create respectful, supportive, culturally relevant and challenging learning environments, specifically in urban settings.
- Plan developmentally and culturally appropriate lessons for all learners in a variety of settings.
- Implement lessons in all academic areas including reading, writing, critical thinking, and problem solving, using a variety of instructional strategies for general and special education students.
- Implement formal and informal assessments to monitor progress and ensure continuous development of all learners.
- Demonstrate ability to reflect on professional practice for continuous improvement.
- Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and advocate for all learners, especially those with disabilities.
- Meet the academic and assessment criteria to become a dual -certified teacher in New York State.
- Secure a first teaching position or secure a new position with enhanced credentials.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major-Related Courses | ||
| ED-605 | Foundations & Contemporary Issues Of Education | 3 |
| ED-610 | Foundations and Contemporary Issues Of Urban & Special Education | 3 |
| ED-612 | Early Development and Practice: Risk, Resilience and Early Intervention (Birth - Age 8) | 3 |
| ED-615 | Foundations of Literacy: Research and Practice | 3 |
| ED-625 | Curriculum in General and Special Education: Instruction & Planning in Inclusive Learning Environments to Support Whole Child Development | 3 |
| ED-630 | Language and Literacy Development in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Early Childhood Classrooms | 3 |
| ED-640 | The Development of Mathematical Thinking and Science Exploration in Diverse Early Childhood Classrooms | 3 |
| ED-650 | Collaborative Partnerships and Inclusive Practices in Special Education | 3 |
| ED-660 | Classroom Management Through Positive Behavior Supports | 3 |
| ED-710 | Student Teaching & Mentored Internship In a General Education Setting/Early Childhood Or Childhood Education | 6 |
| ED-712 | Student Teaching and Mentored Internship | 6 |
| ED-725 | Teacher As Researcher: Capstone Project In a General Education Setting/Early Childhood Or Childhood Education | 3 |
| Major-Related Courses Subtotal | 42 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
NYSED-licensed teachers who enroll in this MAT program will receive credit for ED-605 and ED-712, lowering the total requirements for completion to thirty-three (33) credits.
Other requirements of the MAT programs (both Early Childhood and Childhood) include the follow non-credit bearing seminars and workshops required to earn initial New York State certification:
- A three-hour online seminar in Child Abuse Prevention and Identification (1st Term)
- Workshops: Preparation for New York State EAS-Certification Exam (2nd Term)
- A two-hour seminar in Violence Prevention and Intervention (3rd Term)
- Workshops in preparation for New York State CST Certification Exam (Early Childhood/Childhood general Education and Special Education) (3rd Term)
- A six-hour seminar in Dignity for all Students (DASA) (4th Term)
- Workshop in preparation for the TPA and Capstone project
Recommended Sequence
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ED-610 | Foundations and Contemporary Issues Of Urban & Special Education | 3 |
| ED-625 | Curriculum in General and Special Education: Instruction & Planning in Inclusive Learning Environments to Support Whole Child Development | 3 |
| ED-640 | The Development of Mathematical Thinking and Science Exploration in Diverse Early Childhood Classrooms | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ED-612 | Early Development and Practice: Risk, Resilience and Early Intervention (Birth - Age 8) | 3 |
| ED-615 | Foundations of Literacy: Research and Practice | 3 |
| ED-620 | Observation & Assessment of Children With Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| ED-630 | Language and Literacy Development in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Early Childhood Classrooms | 3 |
| ED-645 | Application and Problem-Solving in Mathematics for Early Childhood and Childhood Classrooms | 3 |
| ED-650 | Collaborative Partnerships and Inclusive Practices in Special Education | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| ED-660 | Classroom Management Through Positive Behavior Supports | 3 |
| ED-712 | Student Teaching and Mentored Internship | 6 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| ED-605 | Foundations & Contemporary Issues Of Education | 3 |
| ED-725 | Teacher As Researcher: Capstone Project In a General Education Setting/Early Childhood Or Childhood Education | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |