Mar 10, 2025  
Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 
    
Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Childhood Special Education: Behavior Disorders - MSEd


Program Coordinator

Tom McIntyre
914 West Building
(212) 772-4706
thomas.mcintyre@hunter.cuny.edu


This graduate program (Academic Plan: CSPE-MSED and CSPED-MSED) prepares teacher candidates for effective teaching of students with behavior/mental challenges autism, and learning disabilities. Graduates from the behavior disorders track of the Childhood Special Education program are well prepared to teach in all educational settings, serving in hospitals, clinics, and public, charter, private, and parochial schools. They do so in roles such as collaborative teach teachers (CTT), inclusion support providers (“push in” teachers), head teachers in self-contained classrooms, behavior support personnel, and general education teachers.

The master’s degree in Childhood Special Education: Behavior Disorders offers two programs. Program 1 (Academic Plan: CSPE-MSED) is for those who do not hold NYS certification and leads to dual certification in childhood education and students with disabilities grades 1-6. Program 2 (Academic Plan: CSPED-MSED) is for those who hold NYS certification and leads to single certification in students with disabilities grades 1-6.

Admission Requirements


Program 1

For applicants who do not hold NYS Childhood or PreK-6 Certification

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0;
    or
    A master’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.5.
  2. A liberal arts or science major or interdisciplinary concentration of at least 30 credits.
  3. General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.
  4. Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Program 2

For applicants who hold NYS Childhood or PreK-6 Certification

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0;
    or
    A master’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.5;
  2. NYS initial or professional  certification in Childhood Education Grades 1-6 or PreK-grade 6. Those holding permanent certification must either show proof that they have satisfied the New York State requirements regarding wellness, child abuse, drug abuse, fire safety, and violence prevention or take

    HED 71500, a one credit course covering these topics.

  3. Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Progress Standards


  1. Minimum GPA for Retention - Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain at Hunter College. Students whose grades fall below this standard are required to raise their GPAs to at least 3.0 within one semester.
  2. No F in the first two semesters—students who receive a grade of F(WU) in any course in the first two semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.
  3. Progress holds due to Incomplete Grades - Students with two or more INs will not be allowed to register for any courses.
  4. Key Course Performance Standards
    • Students must receive a grade of at least a B in certain key program courses. (to be determined by programs, labeled in CUNY First, and noted in the catalog)
    • Students who receive a grade of F/WU in certain key program courses may not continue in the program (to be determined by programs, labeled in CUNY First, and noted in the catalog).

Course of Study


Academic Plans

  • Program 1: CSPE-MSED
  • Program 2: CSPED-MSED

Total Credits

  • CSPE-MSED: 43-55
  • CSPED-MSED: 39

Exit Requirements


  1. An overall GPA of 3.0.
  2. Program 2 must maintain a valid and appropriate NYS certification in general education.
  3. Complete the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop.
  4. EdTPA or “Action Research Project” in second semester of Student Teaching/Practicum.