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Academic Programs

Dual Language / Bilingual Childhood Special Education

MSEd

  • Program Overview

    The Dual Language Bilingual Childhood Special Education program prepares candidates to enrich the education of emergent bilingual children in specialized settings.

    This program is for prospective and current teachers who wish to work with children in grades 1 through 6. 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:

    • Develop a rich teaching repertoire to understand the intellectual, linguistic and emotional needs of students in dual language/transitional bilingual education settings.
    • Construct developmentally responsive learning experiences that encourage all learners to follow their curiosities.
    • 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 (42-43 credits) or, for those with a prior master’s degree in education, a Master of Education (42-43 credits).

    Graduate student holding a fan in class

  • Admissions Requirements

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

    • Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin.
    • Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
  • 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 a classroom setting as a full-time head teacher or assistant, or as a student teacher (3 days each week):

    • As a student teacher you will be placed in one bilingual special education setting (Spanish or Mandarin) within grades 1-6.
    • As a working head or assistant teacher you will use your own classroom as your fieldwork. If you are not working in a special education setting you will need to complete a 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 inclusive and self-contained special education classrooms as the bilingual special education teacher.
    • Tutor or work as a learning specialist in schools or in private practice.
    • Work in special education teacher support services (SETSS) roles.
    • Work one-to-one as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT).
  • Faculty

  • Certification

    Upon graduation, you will be eligible for New York State certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, grades 1 to 6, and the Bilingual Extension, provided you complete all other State certification requirements.

I value Bank Street’s approach to teacher preparation because it recognizes that our work as educators is inextricably linked to how well we understand, honor, and engage with the many facets of our own identity, including biases, and the identities of our students and colleagues.
Rachel McEvoy
Carla España

Faculty Spotlight

A Podcast with Carla España

Carla España, Supervised Fieldwork Advisor/Course Instructor, Dual Language Bilingual & TESOL Programs, was featured on The Book Love Foundation Podcast to discuss the importance of responsive bilingual education, translanguaging, and her new book, En Comunidad: Lessons for Centering the Voices and Experiences of Bilingual Latinx Students.

Listen to the Podcast