MSED IN INCLUSIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION
The master's degree in inclusive special education is a hybrid program designed to help teachers meet the ever-changing demands of diverse classrooms and may be completed by teachers with certification in nearly any area or grade level.
Teachers will learn to differentiate instruction and assessment to meet the needs of students with the full range of exceptionalities, including students with disabilities, English language learners, students who have experienced trauma and students who may be gifted.
The program has three different certification tracks. (Click on each track for more information.)
These programs meet the master’s degree requirement for professional certification in New York state.
Timeline and Course Overview Program
This program is offered in a hybrid format with the majority of instruction delivered online. There are only three face-to-face sessions each semester. These sessions are held on Saturdays to allow for working professionals to attend.
(PLEASE NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face sessions for the fall 2020 semester are canceled; only the online instruction will be held.)
Learn to give individualized instruction in diverse and inclusive settings
Building on the Franciscan philosophy of social justice, we strive to create inclusive communities that value diversity as a strength. This program prepares and mentors professionals who are able to individualize instruction in inclusive and collaborative environments.
Using critical pedagogy to meet the needs of diverse and marginalized populations, including students with disabilities, students for whom English is an additional language, and students experiencing trauma or living in poverty, teachers will become leaders and agents of change.
This program is founded in the School of Education conceptual framework of competence, experience, and social justice. This program is aligned with the CEC standards for professional special educators and students practice these competencies in hands-on, field-based experiences.
Students integrate social justice into their practice through respect for diversity, dignity and worth and creating learning experiences that are mindful of a full range of diversity.
Our inclusive special education program is designed to help graduates acquire:
- strategies to differentiate instruction for students with disabilities
- assessment and data literacies to meet the needs of all learners
- the ability to meet the needs of students for whom English in not a first language
- advanced collaboration methods
- the means to individualize and differentiate STEM content for all learners
- the ability to integrate meaningful instructional and assistive technologies
- the ability to design supportive environments to meet the social, emotional and behavioral needs of learners
Admission to this degree program is based on:
- Initial (or pending) Teaching certificate in elementary or secondary education
- Note: Candidates can be admitted prior to initial certification (passed edTPA and allNYS required certification tests) with a grace period of one semester from the start of the program to complete certification.
- Official transcripts of all prior college work (3.00/4.00 GPA)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Interview
- Impromptu writing sample (taken at interview)
- GRE or MAT score
NOTE: State law requires SBU to collect immunization records from students taking six or more credit hours in any semester.
Exit Criteria
In order to be awarded the degree in Inclusive Special Education, a student must meet the following criteria:
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
- Successful completion of the fieldwork and internship
- Submission of portfolio showing professional growth, accomplishments
- Successful completion of the capstone project
Consistent with our conceptual framework of Competence, Experience and Social Justice, students have the opportunity to gain experience by practicing their skills in P-12 classrooms. Field experience is integrated throughout the program with a culminating experience in SPED 590. Most working teachers can complete their field experience in their own classrooms/schools. For those who cannot, we will work with you to locate an appropriate placement.
St. Bonaventure's Dean's Scholarship can reduce tuition costs by 20%, making St. Bonaventure an exceptional value among Western New York colleges and universities.
Students pursuing Literacy Teacher Birth-Grade 6 certification may be eligible
for the federal TEACH Grant.
For more information, visit our Graduate Tuition and Financial Aidpage in Graduate Admissions & Aid.
Upon completion of the MSED in Inclusive Special Education graduates will:
- use their understanding of the unique strengths each student brings to the classroom to develop meaningful and challenging learning experiences for a wide variety of learners;
- create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that support all learners;
- develop curriculum that supports all learners to achieve high standards;
- create assessments and use data to make instructional decisions for a wide variety of learners;
- use evidence-based strategies to advance learning for all learners;
- engage in professional and ethical practice;
- collaborate in a culturally responsive way with a variety of stakeholders to meet the needs of a wide variety of learners.
Oct 13, 2020 | Dr. Rene' Hauser, director of the MSED in inclusive special education program, presented a webinar for the Assessment Network of New York on June 8 titled "Supporting Faculty in Building Standards-based Assessments."
Oct 13, 2020 | A peer-reviewed paper authored by Dr. Diana Lawrence-Brown, professor of inclusive special education at St. Bonaventure, was published in September in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education.
Jan 27, 2020 | Dr. Rene' Hauser, associate professor of education, gave a presentation Dec. 9 on disabilities to the student body of Oswayo Valley High School in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania.