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Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth - Grade 6 and Early Childhood

Master of Science
  • 48 Credits
  • School of Education
  • Bronx
  • Manhattan
  • Online
  • Westchester
  1. Academics
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  3. Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth - Grade 6 and Early Childhood
Teaching a student with disabilities.

Teaching Students with Disabilities Overview

Mercy is shaping talented teachers in our Special Education department, whether they are experienced educators or those new to the field. Our program is designed for those who have a passion for teaching young children with special needs and want to focus on the subject in a highly specialized way.

 

Kindergarten teacher at the blackboard.

This program leads to certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth - Grade 2 and Teaching Students with Disabilities, Grades 1 - 6.

This qualifies graduates to teach in public schools, which typically pay at a higher rate than private schools. Professional certification is for candidates who already possess initial certification, and three years of teaching in their content area. 

Teaching a young student with a disability.

Career Opportunities

Students are prepared to become teachers in:

  • Special education elementary school teacher
  • Special education preschool teacher
  • General Education birth – second grade teacher 

$78K Salary

Average Pay
For special education elementary school teachers in New York

$83K Salary

Average Pay
For special education pre-school teachers in New York

48 Credits

Total Credits to Earn Your Degree
Classes in Instruction to students with disabilities, Literacy Instruction for adolescents, teaching writing and the writing process

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online-learning

The Mercy Advantage

  • Triple Certification will lead to certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth - Grade 2, Teaching Students with Disabilities, Grades 1 - 6 and Early Childhood Education.
     
  • Online Course Completion Provides flexible scheduling - students can complete coursework  on their schedule.
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National Accreditation

Mercy University’s national accreditation provides a seal of approval and enhances our graduates’ credentials when seeking employment.

  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Professionals (CAEP)

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Official transcripts
  • Résumé
  • Effective Educator Statement

  • Students must submit an Effective Educator Statement to complete their application. You can download requirements here. Please submit the completed statement to your application portal. 

Kindergarten teacher helping students.

Outside The Classroom

The student teaching experience is a semester-long capstone course for initial certification candidates, in collaboration with local schools. Students will also complete 10 - 15 hours of fieldwork observation experience per course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, if the setting is birth through grade 2.

Yes, if the special class setting is birth through grade 6.

You will need to take the Educating All Students (EAS) test and the relevant Content Specialty Tests (CSTs).

You must be fingerprinted, take three workshops (DASA, Child Abuse and Violence Prevention), and apply to the state for certification.

Exams

Organizations

 

Program Details & Curriculum

Required Courses: 48 Credits Total

  • EDUC 500 Edu Fnd Diverse Perspectives
  • EDUC 502 Fndtns Educ Sdnts w/Dsblts
  • EDUC 513 Intr Erl Chld Ed:Fndtn/Meth/Mt
  • EDUC 522 Lang Develop & Lit Acquisition
  • EDUC 523 Develop and Exceptionalities
  • EDUC 529 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • EDUC 531 Tchng Stdnts with Dsblts B-6
  • EDUC 534 Differentiated Instructional Methods and Materials
  • EDUC 546 Educ Assesmnt SWD
  • EDUC 548 Prin/Strat Clsrm Mgt for SWD
  • EDUC 553 Math Cldhd/ECldhd Educ
  • EDUC 617 Literacy Instruct Birth - Grade 6
  • EDUC 641 Autism
  • EDUC 657 Collaboration and Consultation for Students with Special Needs
  • EDUC 674 Assistive and Learning Technology for Students with Disabilities and Special Needs
  • EDUC 709 Student Teaching Experience*

                              or

  • EDUC 713 Seminar in Teaching*

*Capstone/Clinical

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog. 

Students must submit an Effective Educator Statement to complete their application. You can download requirements here. 

Please submit the completed statement to your application portal. 

Download a copy of the Academic Sequence Map for:

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