Why Choose Adolescent Education/Special Education?
Completing high school and transitioning into adulthood is a critical stage for all young people. It is important to prepare students of all abilities to finish high school and succeed in adult life.
The 37-credit adolescent/students with disabilities M.S. Ed. program is designed to prepare educators to meet the specific needs of students diagnosed with:
- learning disabilities
- emotionally disturbed/behavioral disorders
- autism
- physical disabilities
- intellectual disabilities
- multiple disabilities
As a student in this program, you will choose a generalist extension for students with disabilities in grades 7-12 in one of the following areas:
- English
- Mathematics
- Social studies
The Location
Located in the neighborhood of Riverdale, our campus is uniquely positioned within New York City’s Bronx borough, where the public school system serves nearly 45,000 students. As a graduate student in the M.S. Ed. Adolescence Education Students with Disabilities Generalist Extension in English or Math or Social Studies - Grades 7-12 program, you will gain at least 100 hours of on-site secondary classroom experience in some of the most socially and economically diverse school districts in the nation.
The Curriculum
Educational and psychological research and hands-on experience are at the core of this program. During your first semester you will develop an ability to evaluate primary research and design a research project -- essential skills to keep you on top of an evolving field. Building on this framework, you will learn how to assess academic skills of at-risk, ELL (English Language Learners) and disabled students, as well as how to accommodate students and differentiate instruction in special education and inclusive classrooms.
The program culminates with a seminar and fieldwork to help you strengthen your knowledge and practice your teaching skills in a special education or inclusive classroom in the Bronx or in Westchester.
Co-curricular Opportunities
There are so many ways to get involved on campus, locally and across the globe:
- Council for Exceptional Children - join a group of students and professionals to promote understanding and acceptance of exceptional individuals.
- Best Buddies - join a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of the mentally retarded by providing opportunities for socialization.
- Kappa Delta Pi – become an invited member of the international honor society for education and participate in outreach projects locally and internationally in locations such as Namibia, Italy, Turkey, Israel and Palestine.
- The Center for Optimal College Readiness (COCR) - work with kids, teachers and counselors, while collaborating with a team and making a difference in the local community.
- Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (L.O.V.E) trips - volunteer to work with disabled, orphaned children in Jamaica or at a summer camp for children with kidney diseases in Texas.
- Saturday Program of Recreation and Teaching (SPORT) Program – volunteer in a recreation program for local individuals with disabilities.
- The Manhattan College Games – participate in an annual day of non-competitive sports and physical activities for persons with special needs.