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Academic Programs

Dual Language / Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education

MSEd, EdM

  • Program Overview

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

    You will discover creative ways to help young emergent bilingual children learn and grow in early childhood general 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 or, for those with a prior master’s degree in education, a Master of Education and requires 39 credits.

    This program is open to international applicants.

    Two graduate students talking in the lobby

  • Admissions & Tuition

    This program has options to begin in the fall, spring, and summer.

    The summer and fall applications are currently open.

    Application Deadlines

    • Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision.
    • You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
    • In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis.
    • We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

    Summer 1, Summer 2

    Round Application Deadline Materials Deadline Decision Release
    1 January 2, 2026 January 7, 2026 February 4, 2026
    2 February 1, 2026 February 6, 2026 March 2, 2026
    3 March 1, 2026 March 6, 2026 April 2, 2026

    Fall

    Round Application Deadline Materials Deadline Decision Release
    1 February 1, 2026 February 6, 2026 March 2, 2026
    2 March 1, 2026 March 6, 2026 April 2, 2026
    3 April 1, 2026 April 6, 2026 May 4, 2026

    Admissions Criteria

    In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Dual Language / Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education program you must:

    • 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 Childhood Education, Grades 1-6 or Early Childhood, Birth – Grade 2.

    Please review How to Apply for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.

    Tuition

    At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Dual Language / Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education program requires 39 credits for completion. Read more on our Tuition page

    Financial Aid

    The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Read more on our Financial Aid page

  • Curriculum & Courses

    View the coursework for this program.

  • Supervised Fieldwork

    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 pre-K through 2.
    • 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.

  • Certification & Careers

    Certification

    When you successfully complete the program, you will receive a master’s degree and be eligible for New York State certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, birth to grade 2, and the Bilingual Extension, provided you complete all other State certification requirements. Read more on our Certification page

    Careers

    After graduation, students pursue a range of career opportunities including:

    • Teaching in dual language or transitional bilingual education classrooms.
    • Teaching in inclusive and self-contained special education classrooms as the bilingual special education teacher.
    • Working as an early-interventionist in social service or education-based agencies, as well as in hospitals or daycare settings.
    • Working one-on-one as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) in home of center-based programs.

    Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.

  • Faculty

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