Program in Special Education

Helping students reach their full potential

Binghamton University is consistently ranked among the top 50 best public colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. As a premier university in the northeast, Binghamton is renowned for its academic excellence, research and value. Students from over 100 countries choose Binghamton because they know it’s one of the few American universities that emphasize meaningful cultural and intellectual exchange. 

Binghamton University is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and is located in the Southern Tier of upstate New York. The campus is situated on 930 acres of land, and is conveniently just a few hours from major urban centers such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. 

Master of Science in Education (MSEd) degree in Special Education

This program is designed to prepare teachers to operationalize “least restrictive environment” philosophies for children and youth with disabilities. Core themes include collaboration with families and other professionals and pedagogy that respects and responds to individual differences. For teachers with initial certification, this program provides knowledge and skills to fulfill various special education teacher roles in today's schools. Sufficient flexibility exists for individuals from undergraduate programs in special education to either deepen their skills in the field or link their special education foundation with the larger context of general education. Similarly, graduates of early childhood, childhood or adolescence education programs may extend their knowledge and skills with students needing special education. 

Degrees Offered 

¬ MSED in Special Education, Early Childhood/Childhood 

¬ MSED in Special Education, Adolescence 

¬ CERT in Special Education, Adolescence 

Student teaching 

Throughout their preparation, teacher candidates must complete classroom-based field experiences. These field experiences provide students with opportunities to apply 

instructional and leadership techniques learned in coursework in a classroom, school, or community setting. 

The field experience office coordinates these opportunities. Staff members collaborate with local school and community partners to identify meaningful and relevant placements with exceptional mentor teachers, allowing teacher candidates to gain diverse learning experiences in multiple settings. There are urban, suburban and rural schools in close proximity where student teaching opportunities are available.

SPED Faculty Research 

Building Adaptive Expertise and Practice-Based Evidence: Applying the Implementation Stages Framework to Special Education Teacher Preparation Loretta Mason-Williams, Jacqueline R. Frederick, and Candace A. Mulcahy Preparing pre-service special educators to meet classroom demands requires teacher preparation programs to design experiences for students to demonstrate routine expertise, while also building adaptive expertise. The authors describe a capstone project that meets these needs and prepares pre-service special educators for their role in the development of practice-based evidence. These aims align well with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Professional Standards.

After You Graduate

The completion of this degree and other requirements leads to a New York State certification as a special education teacher. Alumni of our programs in education teach at numerous schools both in our region and around the country Due to strict licensure rules, a New York State teaching license is well respected across the nation. Typically, graduates of the programs easily find employment as teachers in other states. 

Substitutes with a Purpose (SWAP) Program 

This unique opportunity allows students to complete necessary fieldwork requirements while receiving compensation to substitute teach. Through this program, students will establish connections and relationships with local school districts, gain experience by providing instruction, and manage the learning environment.

Alumni Highlights

Gavin Boehm, a TLEL MAT English alumnus and Union-Endicott teacher, was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Achievement Award in Writing Advisory Committee for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Read about his exciting accomplishment here. 

Rachel Murat, a TLEL MAT Social Studies alumna and Maine-Endwell teacher, was named the 2020 New York State Teacher of the Year. Read about her story here. 

Financing your education 

Graduate students at Binghamton University obtain financial support from a variety of sources, including loans, grants, assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, research and travel funding, Federal Work Study, and part-time employment. Many students seek out graduate assistantships, which allow students to earn stipends while gaining professional experience in an on-campus office or department. Learn more> 

Email address 

tlel@binghamton.edu 

Request information 

Mailing address 

Matthew McConn, Chair Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Academic B, Room 133 Binghamton University 4400 Vestal Parkway Vestal, NY 13850