SPECIAL EDUCATION MAJOR
Students interested in working as a special educator in public school settings with children Pre-Kindergarten (integrated preschools) through Grade 8 can pursue a major in Special Education. The Special Education major prepares students to teach all subject areas to children in inclusive settings as well as substantially separate classrooms. In accordance with Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), this career path also requires completion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
Overview:
The Special Education major provides a broad liberal arts background rich in content and supports the content-specific regulations from the MA DESE.
Students must pass both subtests (Reading and Writing) of the Communication Literacy Skills Test (CLST) as a requirement for being accepted to the Special Education major.
Students must also pass three additional MTEL exams: Foundations of Reading Test (FOR) and the Elementary content specific test, General Curriculum (03). The General Curriculum MTEL (03) is comprised of a Multi-subject subtest and a Mathematics subtest.
A passing score on the Elementary Mathematics MTEL (53) will also satisfy the Mathematics subtest requirement.
Students must pass ALL required MTEL exams by December 1st of the senior year in order to enroll in full practicum/student teaching. An alternative pathway to a Major in Community Education is available at this junction and a 9th semester practicum completion plan may be elected.
Once a student has successfully completed all college, program/major, and MTEL testing requirements the student may apply to DESE for an Initial License.
INSTITUTIONAL PASS RATES: Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure
Title II, Section 207 of the Higher Education Act requires all institutions with teacher preparation programs that enroll students who receive federal financial assistance to prepare annual reports on teacher preparation and licensing. Curry College had a 100% pass rate for all program completers during the 2020- 2021 reporting year. Information about Curry pass rates is available upon request by contacting the Licensure Officer/Title II Coordinator, (617) 333-2196.
The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure are administered Monday-Saturday at designated test centers in Massachusetts and in many states each academic year. Additional information regarding all state testing is available through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Educator Licensure 75 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148-9140; Telephone: (781) 338-6600; www.mtel.nesinc.com. For additional information about Curry College’s testing requirements, please contact Curry College Licensure Officer at 617-333-2196.
CORE REQUIREMENTS | Credits |
---|---|
Prerequisite Coursework: | |
ED 1300 Competencies for the Prospective Educator | 1.5 |
PSY 1400 Child Development | 3 |
Core Coursework: | |
ED 2161 Educational Psychology | 3 |
ED 2355 Children’s Literature: A Gateway to the World | 3 |
ED 2412 Strategies for the Effective Educator | 3 |
ED 2420 School, Family and Community | 3 |
SPE 2600 Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
ED 2700 Early Childhood Language Arts and Literacy | 3 |
SPE 3105 Institute on Learning Differences | 2 |
ED 3150 Classroom Management | 3 |
ED 3190 Classroom Assessment | 3 |
ED 3190 L Assessment Lab: Reading | 1 |
SPE 3416 Assistive Technology | 1.5 |
SPE 3417 Writing IEPs | 1.5 |
ED 3750 Sheltered English Immersion | 3 |
ED 3985 Education Capstone: Integrating Research Based Practices | 3 |
Required SMK Coursework and Co-requisite Field Work: | |
ED 3197 Pre-Practicum I: Elementary | 1 |
SPE 3350 Specialized Instruction for Children with Learning Disabilities | 3 |
SPE 3415 Advanced Curriculum & Assessment for Diverse Learners | 3 |
ED 3455 Pre-Practicum II: Special Education | 1 |
ED 3700 The Teaching of Reading / Field Observation | 3 |
ED 3701 Field Observation and Participation | 1 |
ED 4563 Senior Practicum: Special Education | 9 |
ED 4563 SM Senior Practicum Seminar | 3 |
Related SMK Requirements: | |
BIOL 1057 Life Science for Educators | 4 |
ENG 1180 Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
MATH 1550 Quantification in School Mathematics | 3 |
MATH 2550 Number Theory and Relationships for Teachers | 3 |
MATH 3250 Pedagogy and Specialized Instruction in Mathematics | 3 |
PHYS 1200 Physical Science for Educators | 4 |
PHYS 2001 Robotics and Engineering Lab | 1 |
PSY 2100 Adolescent Psychology | 3 |
P&H 1010 US History I | 3 |
P&H 2700 Thinking Historically about Contemporary US | 3 |