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Diane Newman, Director: 212-875-4547
Master of Science in Education: 43 credits
This comprehensive program in Childhood Special and General Education allows you to earn both your master's degree in Education (43-46 credits) from Bank Street and your master's degree in Social Work (48 to 54 credits) from Columbia University School of Social Work for fewer credits than if you earned the degrees separately.
The 43- to 46-credit Bank Street College portion of this dual degree program prepares you to work in educational settings and to understand the educational tools and perspective needed when working with young children. It will provide you with the broad preparation you need if you wish to combine social work and education to meet the needs of the wide range of learners in grades 1 through 6.
You will learn a developmental-interaction approach to childhood education that will teach you to support the growth, development and learning of the whole child. You will learn assessment strategies that enhance your understanding of development and of the learning process, and teach you to recognize the difference between learning differences and learning problems. You will learn how to work with parents and other teachers and professionals to foster positive development in the child. You will discover ways to recognize and nurture individual learning styles and build home/school connections. In this curriculum-rich program, you will create exciting ways to engage young children in active learning. It prepares you to advocate for children and their families in clinical practice, program planning, classroom settings, or school social work.
For more information on the program at Columbia School of Social Work, call Karma N. Lowe at 212-851-2364.
Certification in Education
You will earn both initial and professional New York State certification in Childhood General Education and Childhood Special Education to work with children grades 1 through 6 in general education, special education and inclusion settings.
Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement
During one academic year of your Bank Street program, while you take courses, you will gain teaching experience and intensive advisory support through supervised fieldwork/advisement. Students in this program must complete supervised fieldwork/advisement as a student teacher, with placements at both the grades 1 through 3 level, and at the grades 4 through 6 level, and in general and special education settings.
Throughout your year of supervised fieldwork/advisement, your Bank Street advisor will visit you in your setting each month, and meet individually with you twice a month. You will gather with a small, supportive peer group once a week. The year of supervision and advisement is central to your professional growth and development as you become a successful educator.
Integrative Master's Project
Before graduating, you will complete an independent study (master's thesis), mentored directed essay, seminar-based master's project, or portfolio. This project allows you to pursue an area of particular interest to you, or to weave together the threads and understandings of your Bank Street graduate experience.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Childhood Special and General Education Dual Degree with Columbia School of Social Work program need to have a strong background in the liberal arts and sciences. Applicants must apply to the two institutions separately. Those applicants not accepted to Columbia School of Social Work would do the 52-credit Childhood Special and General Education Dual Certification program at Bank Street.
Further information
More Childhood Education programs (grades 1 to 6):