Foundations and Social Advocacy Department
David Smukler, chair
Cynthia Moriarity, graduate coordinator
Cornish Hall, Room 1213
(607) 753-2447
Fax: (607) 758-5007

Overview

Expand on your strong commitment to inclusive special education for children in grades 1-6 by studying for the M.S.Ed. in teaching students with disabilities at SUNY Cortland.

Program Highlights

With your bachelor’s degree in childhood/elementary education or a bachelor’s degree in education that includes childhood education content areas such as health, physical education, art, music, early childhood, speech and language disabilities, or special education, you can extend your capacities in assessment, curriculum and instruction, educational research, and administration.

As you collaborate with our dedicated professional faculty, you’ll explore topics such as discipline and social skill development for students with disabilities, teaching the special education learner in the general education classroom, students with disabilities in context, and foundations of education. To receive an annotation in teaching students with severe and/or multiple disabilities, you also may choose courses in teaching students with severe/multiple disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Culminating Experiences

In addition to an internship in teaching students with disabilities that takes place in schools, in grade 1-6 classrooms, you’ll have many opportunities to work with families and learning communities in urban, rural and suburban areas. For your culminating master’s project, you’ll examine a research question or topic focused on issues relating to students with disabilities in educational settings.

Career Potential

The M.S. Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities from SUNY Cortland leads to NYSED certification in Students with Disabilities, grades 1-6. This program enhances your professional credentials and prepares you for potential positions such as special or inclusive education teacher, chair of a committee on special education (CSE), developmental disabilities specialist, or community or college instructor.

This program is intended for students who have a bachelor’s degree in childhood/elementary education or students who have a bachelor's degree in education that incorporates childhood education content including health, physical education, art, music, early childhood, speech and language disabilities, or special education. It requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of approved graduate course work including student internship and culminating experiences. Students may elect to take an additional six credit hours in approved course work to receive an annotation in Teaching Students with Severe and/or Multiple Disabilities.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a degree program stated in this catalog, you should present the following for enrollment in the program leading to a Master of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6):

1. Official transcripts documenting a B.A. or B.S. in childhood (elementary) education or a B.A. or B.S. in education that incorporates childhood education content from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. New York State Initial Certification in Childhood Education or in a field that incorporates childhood education content — evidence of pending or awarded certification.
3. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8
   Note: if you graduated more than 10 years prior to application, you may be required to provide additional evidence of more recent academic competence, such as continuing education courses, CEUs, or other appropriate documentation.
4. Submission of a personal statement indicating
   • reasons for wanting to work with students with disabilities, including personal experiences that have influenced this decision,
   • reasons for selecting SUNY Cortland for graduate studies and this program specifically,
   • discussion of long-term professional goals and your view of how this program will support achieving them, and
   • any other information deemed relevant.
5. Three letters of reference, available as part of the online application, detailing the ability to meet the rigors of graduate study and the commitment to, and competence in, working with students with disabilities.
6. An interview with the TSD program coordinator or designee, if deemed necessary after application review.

Applications will be accepted for fall admission only and must be received by July 1.

Advisement will be provided by the graduate program coordinator and/or department faculty.

Apply for the M.S.Ed. in teaching students with disabilities.