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Mimi Rosenberg, Director: 212-875-4544
Master of Science in Education: 36 credits
Master of Education: 36 credits
This dual degree program in Middle School Special Education and Social Work is especially designed for individuals who have a valid New York State certification in general education at the Middle School level who now wish to understand how to work with students with special needs and with their families. This program allows you to earn both your master's degree in Special Education (36 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.
Through Bank Street's portion of this dual degree program emphasizes collaborative ways of working with families, other teachers, and professionals to help support the positive development and modes of learning in the early adolescent. This program prepares you to work as an advocate for children and their families in clinical practice, program planning, classroom settings, or school social work. You will learn how to identify why some students struggle with learning difficulties and you will learn what steps you and the student can take together to ameliorate those difficulties.
For more information on the program at Columbia School of Social Work, call Karma N. Lowe at 212-851-2364.
Certification in Education
When you graduate from both programs, you will be eligible for New York State initial certification in Middle Childhood Special Education, prepared to work with a wide range of learners in grades 5 through 9. The program leads to professional certification for those who complete all New York State requirements and complete two years of classroom teaching beyond the mentored experience.
Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement
During one semester of your Bank Street program, while you take courses, you will gain teaching experience and intensive advisory support through supervised fieldwork/advisement. During that semester, 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 semester 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), directed essay or portfolio. Your choice will depend on your own goals and learning style. 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 Middle School Special Education Dual Degree program need to have a strong background in the liberal arts and sciences with a concentration in a subject that is taught at the middle school level: English, mathematics, a foreign language, social studies (history), biology, or earth science. You will need to apply both to Bank Street College and to Columbia University School of Social Work.
Degree Earned
Students for whom this is a first master's degree earn a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed). Students with a prior master's degree in Education earn an advanced Master of Education (Ed. M.) degree.
Further information
More Middle School Education programs (Middle Childhood certification, grades 5 to 9):