Contact Us

Academic Programs

Dual Language / Bilingual Early Childhood Special and General Education

MSEd

  • Program Overview

    Interested in learning more about our TESOL, Dual Language, or Bilingual  programs?
    Join us for a Virtual Info Session | Thursday, December 14  | 6:00 PMRSVP for the Zoom link
    ___________________________

    The Dual Language Bilingual Early Childhood Special and General Education Dual Certification program prepares candidates to enrich the education of emergent bilingual children in diverse settings. 

    You will discover creative ways to help young emergent bilingual children learn and grow in early childhood general and special education settings. As a student in this program, you will have the flexibility to work in a range of settings and engage with children from diverse racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds, including children with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive variations. You will:

    • Learn to carefully observe children and use that knowledge to guide and inform your teaching.
    • Gain an understanding that learning develops through play, social interaction, and sensory experiences.
    • Construct developmentally responsive learning experiences that encourage all learners to follow their curiosities.
    • Develop a rich teaching repertoire to understand the intellectual, linguistic and emotional needs of students in dual language/transitional bilingual education settings.
    • Create accessible curricula so all learners can explore literacy, literature, mathematics, science, arts, and social studies content.
    • Develop a strong social justice focus in order to advocate for and with children and families.
    • Plan for dynamic and collaborative partnerships with families and school professionals.
    • Engage in critical explorations of yourself, others, and the wider world.

    This program culminates in a Master of Science in Education and requires 54 credits.

    Graduate class with instructor talking to some students

  • Admissions Requirements

    In addition to the main admissions criteria, there are additional requirements needed to apply for this program:

  • Coursework

  • Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement

    Supervised fieldwork/advisement lies at the heart of a Bank Street education. Through sustained experiences in the field, supervision from core faculty, and close collaboration with peers, our graduate students develop the ability to connect theory to practice and to reflect deeply on their own growth as educators.

    In this program, you will work in classroom settings as a head teacher or assistant (full-time) or as a student teacher (3 days each week):

    • Student teachers will be placed at three age levels within the early childhood range (pre-k, kindergarten, and grade 1 or 2), and in bilingual (Spanish or Mandarin) general education, inclusive, and special education settings.
    • As a working head or assistant teacher, you will use your own classroom as your fieldwork. You will gain experience in an additional setting through summer supervised fieldwork/advisement during a July (Summer 2) term.

    Taken concurrently with coursework, supervised fieldwork is designed to foster the integration of theory and practice. You will:

    • Be supervised by your advisor, a core graduate faculty mentor and experienced teacher.
    • Participate in a weekly conference group of 5-7 students and your advisor.
    • Reflect on a lesson with your advisor once each month.
    • Meet individually with your advisor once each month.
    • Complete projects to help you take a deeper look at the setting and students you work with.
  • Career Opportunities

    Your degree will provide you with a range of career opportunities:

    • Teach in dual language or transitional bilingual education classrooms.
    • Teach in early childhood general education, special education, or inclusion classrooms in public, charter or independent schools.
    • Work as an early-interventionist in social service or education-based agencies, as well as in hospitals or daycare settings.
    • Work one-on-one as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) in home and classroom and daycare settings.
    • Tutor or work as learning specialist in schools or in private practice.
      Work in special education teacher support services (SETSS) roles
  • Faculty

  • Certification

    Upon graduation, you will be eligible for New York State certification in Early Childhood General Education, Teaching Students with Disabilities, birth to grade 2, and the Bilingual Extension, provided you complete all other State certification requirements.

I knew Bank Street was the choice for me. I feel that I have grown as a student, learner, and teacher for my students. Due to my advisor, professors, and mentors, I feel prepared to continue to advocate for myself and to use my teaching philosophy in any school I teach in.
Elizabeth Ortega, GSE '18