Master of Science in Inclusive Childhood Education Dual Initial Certification Program Requirements Beginning 2025-2026

M.S. in Inclusive Childhood Education Dual Initial Certification

Dual certification includes:

  • Childhood Education, Grades 1-6
  • Students with Disabilities, All Grades PreK-12

Requirements

The number of credits is indicated in parentheses at the end of each course title. For courses with a clinical experience component, the number of hours required is also designated in parentheses.

Note: Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.  Courses in which the candidate has earned a grade lower than a “C” must be repeated, which might prolong the duration of the program. All University policies for Academic Standing, Probation, and Dismissal apply.

Required Courses – 33-36 credits

  • GCED 531 - Field Experience - Childhood (0) (50 hours)
  • GCED 533 – Differentiated Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in Early Childhood (2)*
  • GCED 534  - Field Experience – Early Childhood (1) (50 hours)*
  • GEDU 501 - Issues in Health and Safety (0)
  • GEDU 502- Differentiated Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)
  • GEDU 520 - History and Philosophy of Education (3)
  • GEDU 526 - Diversity, Social Justice, and Schooling (3)
  • GEDU 536 – Growing Minds: Understanding Childhood and Adolescent Development (3)
  • GRDG 535 – Differentiated Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in Literacy (3)
  • GRDG 550 – Differentiated Literacy Instruction in the Content Areas (3)
  • GSED 501 - Inclusive Education in Today's Schools (3)
  • GSED 508 - Management and Collaboration in the Inclusive Classroom: Childhood (3)
  • GSED 515 - Educational Technology (B-Grade 6) (3)
  • GSED 531 - Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction in Mathematics, Science, and Technology (3)
  • GSED 555 - Field Experience – Students with Disabilities (0) (25 hours)
  • GSED 556 - Field Experience – Students with Disabilities (0) (25 hours)
  • GSED 585 - Student Teaching Seminar: Special Education and Childhood (0)
  • GSED 590 - Student Teaching: Special Education and Childhood (3)

*Optional courses to add Early Childhood certification, Birth-Grade 2

Residency/Apprenticeship Option

The residency program at St. John Fisher University offers graduate-level teacher candidates a yearlong, full-time immersive experience in a classroom leading to their initial NYS teaching certificate. When connected with a registered Apprenticeship, candidates are paid during their graduate program. Residents are hired in collaboration with a partner district and work with an experienced mentor co-teacher for the entire school year, enabling them to apply their graduate-level learning with guidance to their classroom teaching every day. 

Clinical Experiences and Student Teaching

Clinical experiences are required for certification and the master's degree. Candidates must successfully complete 150 hours of clinical experiences before student teaching. The semester long student teaching experience may be in any grade between 1st and 6th. It may or may not be in a high needs school/district. To qualify for student teaching, candidates must:

  • Complete all degree requirements
  • Complete the NYS requirements in the liberal arts and sciences

New York State Requirements: Inclusive Childhood Education

  • Candidates who are seeking the Childhood (Grades 1-6) and Students with Disabilities (All Grades) Certificates must have an adequate knowledge base for teaching to the New York State Learning Standards. This includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the liberal arts and sciences, completed with a grade of C or better for undergraduate courses or a grade of B- or better for graduate courses, as well as coursework in math, science, English, and social studies.
  • Transcripts are reviewed prior to admission to determine adequate preparation for the program. Candidates with inadequate preparation will be required to take additional coursework prior to student teaching.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ. Visit the catalog website to access current and past catalogs.