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Graduate Programs in Special Education

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Be the Special Education Professional You've Always Admired

Choose Saint Rose for Your Graduate Study in Special Education

Experts predict that the United States will need to hire approximately 1.6 million new teachers in the next ten years. New York State alone will require about 180,000 new teachers over that same time, and special education teachers will represent a significant component of that need. A degree from Saint Rose will ensure you are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

Master's Degree Program Highlights

Our program by the numbers:

Program options for those who have a teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree in education:

M.S.Ed. programs

  • MSEd in Special Education: Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)
    This program is designed for candidates who hold provisional elementary education or initial early childhood certification at the time of acceptance into the program. This program leads to initial certification in special education at the birth-grade 2 level.
  • MSEd in Special Education: Childhood (Grades 1-6)
    This program is designed for candidates who hold provisional elementary education or initial childhood certification at the time of acceptance into the program. This program leads to initial certification in special education at the grades 1-6 level.
  • MSEd in Special Education: Adolescence (Grades 7-12) Generalist
    The Special Education Adolescence (Grades 7-12) Generalist Program is designed for students who hold provisional certification in secondary education or initial certification in adolescence education at the time of acceptance to the program. Students with the following content emphases may apply to this program option: Biology, Earth Science, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.
  • MSEd in Collaborative Support Teacher in Special Education Generalist (Grades 7-12)
    The Collaborative-Support Teacher in Special Education Generalist (Adolescence Level) is designed to prepare educators who have previous preparation and certification in related fields of teaching outside of adolescence education and wish to become certified in special education at the adolescence level (Grades 7-12).
  • MSEd in Special Education Professional
    This program is designed for candidates who hold provisional special education or initial special education certification and seek to deepen their knowledge of special education content. Possible concentrations include: Behavioral and social-emotional challenges, High-incidence disabilities, Low-incidence disabilities, Autism spectrum disorders, Early childhood special needs, and Inclusive education roles and responsibilities.

Nondegree certification

20 Hidden Gems - New York - Online Schools Guide 2023One-Year Online Certificate (CAS) in Special Education
This non-degree certificate-only program is open only to candidates holding a master’s degree or those earning a master’s degree in another area of education. Candidates must hold New York State teacher certification in early childhood, childhood, or adolescence education. Candidates must select coursework that corresponds to the initial level of certification. View Gainful Employment information related to this certificate program.

Program options for those who are seeking their first teaching certification through their master's:

MSEd in Childhood Education/Special Education: Grades 1-6
This program is designed for candidates who have already received a 4-year degree from an accredited college in a field other than education and are interested in pursuing special education and inclusive education at the graduate level. Upon graduation, candidates are eligible for certification in New York State in both special and general education.

MSEd in Adolescence Education/Special Education: Grades 7-12
This program is designed for candidates who have already received a 4-year degree from an accredited college in a field other than education and are interested in pursuing special education and inclusive education at the graduate level. Upon graduation, candidates are eligible for certification in New York State in both special and general education.

Exceptional faculty

Outstanding researchers and practitioners who put your education first.

Susan DeLuke, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Dr. DeLuke, director of social intervention programs at Saint Rose, consults to school districts across New York State on students with disabilities, and has worked as a school administrator and special-education teacher. Her teaching interests include behavior supports, assessment, and intervention; emotional, behavior, and mental-health concerns for children and youth; and autism spectrum disorders. Research interests include autism spectrum disorder, merging special- and general-education programs, and families advocating for their children with disabilities.

View Full Bio

Julienne Slichko, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

With many years of experience as a special education teacher in Capital District schools, Dr. Slichko helped develop the teaching practicum and was an instructional developer at University at Albany, where she helped faculty teach effectively using online technology. Her teaching interests include exceptionality, inclusion, partnerships with families, and assessment. She has published papers on teaching students with disabilities, the use of technology in teaching individuals on the autism spectrum, and comparison of best practices in school districts.

Our online program is strategically designed to foster an online
professional learning community through the cohort model. Although the entire program is asynchronous, there will be synchronous opportunities to collaborate with professors, as well as classmates. – Julienne Slichko, Ph.D.

View Full Bio

Theresa Ward, Ed.D. Associate Professor

Dr. Ward’s teaching and research interests include inclusive education, systems change, differentiated instruction, teacher education, and policy studies.

We’ve built in a high level of personal outreach to ensure that you feel our campus commitment to caring for our students. You’ll develop relationships with classmates as you study the coursework and begin your student teaching. In addition, we designed our unique scheduling options to allow busy professionals to focus on one course at a time. – Theresa Ward, Ed.D.

Frances M. Ihle, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Dr. Ihle has taught special education and literacy at Saint Rose since 2011; previous experience includes a doctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas, and being a high-school special-education teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She presently works to prepare students with disabilities for postsecondary success through Project ASPIRE and Project THRIVE, two federally funded grants awarded to Saint Rose in 2010 and 2019.

Her research projects and activities focus on academic discourse and teaching adolescents how spoken and written language patterns differ, and executive function coaching to help college students tutor their peers in self-regulation strategies such as planning, organization, and time management.

View Full Bio

Susan DeLuke, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Dr. DeLuke, director of social intervention programs at Saint Rose, consults to school districts across New York State on students with disabilities, and has worked as a school administrator and special-education teacher. Her teaching interests include behavior supports, assessment, and intervention; emotional, behavior, and mental-health concerns for children and youth; and autism spectrum disorders. Research interests include autism spectrum disorder, merging special- and general-education programs, and families advocating for their children with disabilities.

View Full Bio

Julienne Slichko, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

With many years of experience as a special education teacher in Capital District schools, Dr. Slichko helped develop the teaching practicum and was an instructional developer at University at Albany, where she helped faculty teach effectively using online technology. Her teaching interests include exceptionality, inclusion, partnerships with families, and assessment. She has published papers on teaching students with disabilities, the use of technology in teaching individuals on the autism spectrum, and comparison of best practices in school districts.

Our online program is strategically designed to foster an online
professional learning community through the cohort model. Although the entire program is asynchronous, there will be synchronous opportunities to collaborate with professors, as well as classmates. – Julienne Slichko, Ph.D.

View Full Bio

Theresa Ward, Ed.D.Associate Professor

Dr. Ward’s teaching and research interests include inclusive education, systems change, differentiated instruction, teacher education, and policy studies.

We’ve built in a high level of personal outreach to ensure that you feel our campus commitment to caring for our students. You’ll develop relationships with classmates as you study the coursework and begin your student teaching. In addition, we designed our unique scheduling options to allow busy professionals to focus on one course at a time. – Theresa Ward, Ed.D.

Frances M. Ihle, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Dr. Ihle has taught special education and literacy at Saint Rose since 2011; previous experience includes a doctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas, and being a high-school special-education teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She presently works to prepare students with disabilities for postsecondary success through Project ASPIRE and Project THRIVE, two federally funded grants awarded to Saint Rose in 2010 and 2019.

Her research projects and activities focus on academic discourse and teaching adolescents how spoken and written language patterns differ, and executive function coaching to help college students tutor their peers in self-regulation strategies such as planning, organization, and time management.

View Full Bio

Dana Abbott, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Dr. Abbott has taught special education or literacy at Saint Rose since 2010. Her previous experience includes teaching at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Post University, University at Albany, and Hudson Valley Community College; she also taught kindergarten and preschool students in Troy, New York. Her teaching interests include developmental assessment, students with disabilities, and positive behavior supports; she has published or presented on emotional behavioral disorders, and teacher certification and assessment.

View Full Bio

Dana Abbott, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Dr. Abbott has taught special education or literacy at Saint Rose since 2010. Her previous experience includes teaching at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Post University, University at Albany, and Hudson Valley Community College; she also taught kindergarten and preschool students in Troy, New York. Her teaching interests include developmental assessment, students with disabilities, and positive behavior supports; she has published or presented on emotional behavioral disorders, and teacher certification and assessment.

View Full Bio

Curriculum

While requirements vary from program to program, our Master’s programs include rigorous coursework and fieldwork to provide you with the skills and knowledge to be a confident, capable special educator.

Required coursework and fieldwork includes:

  • Educational research
  • Special education core
  • Advanced pedagogy
  • Literacy
  • Student teaching and internship work

Your program may require coursework in:

  • behavioral management and social environment
  • assessment in special education
  • instructional planning
  • collaboration

Great outcomes for special educators

The Certificate Program from Saint Rose allowed me to add a deeper level of understanding to my interactions with students. By receiving course work specific to students with special needs, I have been able to bring a deeper level of empathy and positivity to my teaching. The experience and passion of the instructors at Saint Rose made this an effective program to expand my understanding (and my certification!).

Ben Greenstone
Benjamin Greenstone
Lead special education teacher,
Troy Prep Elementary, Troy, NY

Contact Us Now

Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Frances Ihle

Special Education Department Chair

Hope Shuttleworth

Coordinator of Student Teaching

Got Questions?

Got Questions? (Grad Short Program Form)
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