Master of Science
Special Education and Literacy (I)
Get Certified to Teach Young Learners with Special Needs
Become qualified to teach students in grades 1-6 who find learning challenging.
The 43-credit master's in special education and literacy is designed for already-certified childhood educators looking to gain skills and credentials in teaching students with special needs. With joint literacy certification, increase your knowledge of literacy instruction and apply teaching methods during practical experiences that help diverse students gain critical strategies for reading and writing.
Earning this degree enables you to achieve initial/professional certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 1-6, and to teach all levels of literacy from birth through grade six. It also fulfills your graduate degree requirement for receiving professional certification in elementary education.
Program of Study
To fully prepare you to work with exceptional children in elementary classrooms, this curriculum includes intensive practicum and internship experiences.
Graduates are commonly employed as elementary school, special education, and literacy teachers in public and private elementary schools, and as specialists in disability services and community agencies.
Teaching Literacy to Diverse Students
- Classroom Literacy Instruction
- Practicum: Instruction to Prevent Literacy Difficulties
- Literacy in Society
- Developing Reading Comprehension and Content Knowledge for Students with Disabilities
Practica in Literacy Instruction
- Writing in the Classroom, 1-6
- Differentiated Instruction and Coaching, B-6
Teaching Children with Special Needs
- Instructional Environments and Practices for Students with Disabilities
- Math and Inquiry Instruction for Students with Disabilities
- Teaching Students with Severe and Multiple Disabilities
- Students with Emotional Disorders and Challenging Behaviors: Advanced Tiers of Support
- Assessment of Students with Disabilities
- Managing School and Classroom-Wide Student Behavior to Promote Efficient and Effective Instruction
Clinical Internship with Integrated Seminar in Teaching Students with Disabilities
In this full-time internship, you gain supervised clinical experience working with students with disabilities in education settings. The accompanying seminar covers special topics to help you succeed in your fieldwork.
Master's Project
NYSED Training requirements
- Needs of Students with Autism Training
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
TEAC Program Accreditation
This teacher preparation program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for the ten-year period of April 30, 2011 to April 30, 2021.
To pursue professional certification once you complete the program, you must request the University recommend you to the New York State Department of Education.
See graduate bulletin for details.
For more information contact Dr. Saddler at bsaddler@albany.edu.
NYS Teacher Certification
Earning this master's degree qualifies you to achieve initial/professional certification in teaching literacy to children from birth through sixth grade and initial/professional certification in teaching students with disabilities from first through sixth grade.
In addition, this graduate program leads to professional teacher certification in childhood education (grades 1-6) in New York State.
Upon receiving the Literacy B-6 certificate, teachers with a childhood certificate may apply for early childhood certification directly through the New York State Education Department.
Practical Training
As a graduate student at UAlbany, you move through an integrated sequence of courses and field experiences in which you acquire the knowledge needed to successfully teach in special education and literacy settings.
Courses are held online or in the evening on campus. During the school day, you develop skills teaching special education classes and interacting with students, colleagues, and administrators in elementary schools and human service organizations.
Careers and Advisement
The Pathways Into Education (PIE) Center is the central office on campus serving undergraduate, graduate, and prospective students interested in pursuing careers in education and programs leading to teacher certification.
Please call or email to schedule an appointment.
Graduate Advisement:
Email Graduate Advisement
(518) 442-3529