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Teaching Students with Disabilities Advanced Certificate | Early Childhood or Childhood

Advanced Certificate
  • 15 Credits
  • School of Education
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  3. Teaching Students with Disabilities Advanced Certificate | Early Childhood or Childhood
Kindergarten teacher working with students.

Overview

This post-master’s program will prepare you to support infants, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary and elementary children and their families. You will be prepared to practice in inclusive, integrated, and self-contained classrooms, as well as homes and communities. This program is designed for teachers who hold New York State certifications and a master’s degree in Early Childhood or Childhood Education, Birth – Grade 2 and will allow the teacher to add either the SWD Certification in Early Childhood or SWD Certification in Childhood. 

Teacher giving student personal attention.

Career Opportunities

Students are prepared to become teachers in early childhood or childhood special education classrooms as well as special education settings, birth through 2nd grade or first through 6th grade.

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The Mercy Advantage

Coursework & Fieldwork

Courses are offered in the afternoon and evening. Some courses may be available in an online or hybrid format. Select courses have required fieldwork hours in classrooms, homes, or community settings. Students also participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree Transcript
  • Master’s Degree Transcript
  • Resume
  • Teaching Certificate
  • Effective Educator Statement

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Program Details & Curriculum

Teaching Students with Disabilities Early Childhood and Childhood

Total:  15 credits

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog. 

  • A master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Childhood Education from an accredited institution
  • New York State initial, professional or permanent teacher certifications in Early Childhood Education(Birth-Grade 2) or Childhood, Grade 1– Grade 6

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. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

To start your application, click here .

At the end of this program, beginning special education specialists will be able to:

  1. Understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
  2. Create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
  3. Use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
  4. Use multiple methods of assessment and data-sources in making educational decisions.
  5. Select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
  6. Use foundational knowledge of the field and the professional Ethical Principles and Practice Standards to inform special education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.

The Advanced Certificate in Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist Program at Mercy University is designed to prepare critical educators who are:

  1. Prepared to teach diverse students in inclusive classrooms and across a variety of settings and service delivery models.
  2. Prepared to serve as social justice advocates in order to ensure equity of educational opportunity for all students.
  3. Prepared to serve as critical and reflective practitioners who continue to examine, modify, and refine their own teaching practices, philosophies, and assumptions about teaching and learning. 
  4. Prepared to work collaboratively with families, educators, administrators, and community members in order to support, nurture, and maximize the social and academic potential of all students.
  5. Prepared to implement sound pedagogical practices that effectively address the varied academic and social needs of all students.
  6. Prepared to develop and disseminate knowledge about teaching, learning, and human differences in order to improve opportunities and outcomes for all students.

Download a copy of the academic sequence map for: 

Advanced Certificate - Teaching Students with Disabilities, Early Childhood and Childhood

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