Overview
Dr. Susan Hildenbrand, Program Director
Mission
The mission of the Special Education: Childhood program is to provide a quality educational experience that prepares candidates for distinguished careers in Inclusive Education and for leadership roles in schools and communities. The Special Education programs develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions special educators need in order to effectively teach all students, including those with exceptional learning needs.
Childhood Options in Special Education (Grades 1-6)
M.S. Special Education Dual Initial Certification
Prepares non-certified graduate candidates who are pursuing childhood initial certification and certification to teach students with disabilities at the same developmental level and results in the M.S. in Special Education degree. (42 credits)
M.S. Special Education Initial/Professional Certification
Prepares teachers who are initially certified in childhood and are pursuing certification to teach students with disabilities at the same developmental level and results in the M.S. in Special Education degree. (30 credits)
Special Education Advanced Certification
Prepares teachers who have completed the master’s degree requirement and are pursuing certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 1–6. (18 credits)
Admission Requirements
For information regarding application and admission to a graduate program in Special Education, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8161 or email grad@sjfc.edu.
The Admissions Committee of the Special Education program and the graduate program director judge applicant qualifications.
To comply with New York State regulations, all applicants to graduate-level teacher certification (or educational leadership certification) programs that will start on or after July 1, 2016 must provide St. John Fisher College with official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Millers Analogy Test (MAT), or the Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST):
- Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) Note: This is also a required certification exam in New York State
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
For specific information regarding the Master of Science in Special Education program, please contact Dr. Susan Hildenbrand, program director, through the School of Education office, (585) 385-7297, or email shildenbrand@sjfc.edu.