Special Education, PreK-8 Teacher Licensure Specialization

This teacher licensure specialization leads to a master's degree in inclusive education and Massachusetts initial licensure in special education, PreK-8.

Kindergarten students in classroom
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Program Overview

The Inclusive Education Master's Degree Program prepares educators to create and lead equitable classroom environments that encompass a range of student needs and promote equity, social justice, diversity and accessibility.

In this program, students will: 

  • Develop pedagogical skills to teach diverse learners 
  • Design and implement equitable curricula for grades PreK-8 
  • Explore intersectionality, inclusivity and universal design
  • Learn to foster care, connection and community with young learners and their families

All inclusive education master's students are required to take five core inclusivity courses as well as the coursework for their licensure. For the Special Education, PreK-8 Teacher Licensure Specialization, courses such as Striving Readers & Writers: Literacy in Special & Inclusive Education and Mathematics for Diverse Learners prepare educators to create and lead an inclusive classroom environment for diverse learners in grades PreK-8. 

Sample Courses

Striving Readers & Writers: Literacy in Special & Inclusive Education

EDU 620
This course explores literacy for young learners and provides participants with information on how to effectively teach literacy to all students. Course participants will learn how to design literacy lessons, utilizing universal design for learning and assessment practices, to create thriving readers and writers. Through this course, participants will learn about how to design and implement lessons focused on phonemic awareness, comprehension, oral reading fluency, and vocabulary. Additionally, course participants will learn pedagogical strategies for supporting young writers. Strategies to assess students’ literacy growth will also be addressed.

Mathematics for Diverse Learners

EDU 621
This course examines methods of teaching mathematics to diverse learners and contemporary methods of math assessment to ensure all students succeed mathematically. Course participants will develop instructional routines and apply standards in the design of curricula to improve how math can be humanized in classrooms. The course explores issues related to technology, math pedagogy, and math equity.

Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology

EDU 631
This course explores how curriculum built on the goal of student understanding, integrated with instructional approaches that emphasize reaching every learner, can provide teachers with more specific teaching targets and more flexible ways to reach them. Students will examine the teaching, instruction, and curricula required to meet the needs of diverse learners, who by virtue of their experiential, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, challenge traditional curriculum and instructional programs. Course participants will determine how to deconstruct curricular barriers and create and apply curricular solutions, including assistive technology and AAC, to maximize access and academic success.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Our inclusive education graduate students engage in action research, semester-long project-based learning, intensive residency and research with faculty.

Practica Placements

Licensure students complete practica placements at both urban and suburban sites as well as specialized locations. This is an opportunity for students to observe, assist and teach in a range of educational settings. All licensure students are required to complete a field experience or internship.

Partnerships

Stonehill has partnerships with several area school districts as well as specialized locations. Residency students can work in diverse settings at our public and private partner sites, including the League School and South Shore Educational Collaborative, among others. 

Students pursuing a master's degree leading to initial licensure in special education, PreK-8 can pursue their degree coursework at our off-campus instructional site, Stonehill at Riverview.

Project-based Learning

In courses such as Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology, students complete a semester-long assistive technology project focused on increasing curricular access.

Student Research

Students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research in a variety of areas. In 2019, three students worked with Elizabeth Stringer Keefe to examine the process of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the perspective of both parents and educators and presented their findings at the Massachusetts Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference.

Contact Information

Graduate Studies

grad@stonehill.edu
508-565-1600
Duffy – 124/126

The Office of Graduate Studies assists students as they explore graduate and professional opportunities offered at Stonehill College. 

Related Links

Apply Request Information Courses Tuition & Aid Licensure Preparation Off-Campus Partnerships Teacher Residency

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