Overview
Dr. Lucia Guarino, Chair
The mission of the hybrid Master of Science in Inclusive Childhood Education 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 inclusive childhood program develops candidates’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions that educators need in order to effectively teach students at the childhood levels, including those with exceptional learning needs.
The M.S. in Inclusive Childhood Education program prepares candidates for dual initial certification in childhood education and students with disabilities, grades 1-6.
4 + 1 Program
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education offers a 4+1 program designed to provide an accelerated pathway to New York State Teacher Certification for highly qualified students majoring in the liberal arts and sciences. This competitive program allows students to complete their baccalaureate degree in the liberal arts and sciences and their master’s degree in inclusive education with dual teacher certification in five years.
To be considered for the MS Inclusive Adolescence program, students must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree and majoring in either mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, history, American studies or English.
To be considered for the MS Inclusive Childhood program, students must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree and majoring in any of the liberal arts and sciences.
A GPA of 3.25 is required to be considered for the program.
The steps to pursue the 4 + 1 program are as follows:
- During the first semester of their sophomore year candidates will submit the School of Education 4 + 1 Program Application to the Chair of Inclusive Education, request letters of recommendation from three instructors, and complete an interview;
- If accepted, candidates will meet with their advisor to accelerate their baccalaureate degree program;
- During spring semester of the junior year, complete the Undergraduate Registration Form for 4+1 Graduate Education Program, found on the Registrar’s Office webpage under Documents and Forms.
- Also during spring semester of the junior year, candidates will submit an application form for the intended graduate program to Graduate Admissions for the upcoming fall semester;
- During fall semester of the senior year students will be completing their baccalaureate degree while beginning their master’s degree in inclusive education. The completed graduate courses are posted as undergraduate credit on the student’s academic transcript. The graduate courses are then added to the student’s graduate transcript at the end of the first semester of graduate study in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education.