The Field Change and Career Change programs are intended to foster the development of skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to teach diverse populations of young children (birth to grade 2) across the full range of abilities. They are structured to prepare teachers to support the learning and development of students in general education, early intervention, “inclusion” and self-contained special education settings. These objectives are achieved by integrating knowledge of the importance of developmentally appropriate practices and play-based activities with an understanding of developmental delays and related disabilities. Specifically; the programs promote teacher knowledge and skills in:

• Providing developmentally appropriate environments for all children
• Addressing the needs of children with developmental delays and specific developmental disabilities
• Understanding different models of service delivery
• Selecting, using and understanding methods of developmental assessment
• Developing, modifying and implementing curriculum
• Aligning curriculum goals with appropriate state and national standards
• Working with interdisciplinary teams and culturally diverse families
• Using assistive and other technologies to enhance children’s learning and communicative skills
• Providing advocacy for children and their families in the framework of current legislation

Program graduates will be able to assume such positions as:

• Early childhood teachers in general education or inclusion settings
• Special education collaborative team teachers
• Special education itinerant teachers
• Special education teachers in self-contained settings
• Providers of one-on-one home-based early intervention services

Graduates of either the Career Change or the Field Change Master’s Programs will qualify for New York State dual certification in early childhood education (B-2) as well as for teaching students with disabilities (B-2), provided all state-mandated external tests; training modules and teaching experiences are completed.

Please note that the full degree cannot be taken at the Long Island Graduate Center and at least one course must be taken at our Queens campus.

Career Outcomes

The program is designed to foster the ability of teachers to development of skills, attitudes, and abilities needed to identify and remediate major learning and behavior disorders, ranging from mild to profound, regardless of etiology. Attention is also paid to diagnosis, intervention, program planning and program evaluation.

The program prepares graduates to:

Demonstrate knowledge of human developmental processes and variations

• Develop skills that facilitate the use of research in the broader context of special and inclusive education
• Recognize and interpret the significance of developmental deviations manifested by individuals with disabilities through formal and informal methods of assessment
• Use the basic principles and strategies of the science of applied behavior analysis with students who have disabilities
• Create and implement educational programs for children with disabilities