Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2), B.S.

The Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2) program is not currently accepting applications. If you have any questions or would like to discuss other undergraduate degree options, please contact: Tim Findlay, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment at twfindla@syr.edu or 315.443.4269.

The B.S. program in Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education helps graduates make a difference in the lives of children through a strong inclusive education and content area foundation, making them engaging educators and advocates for their students.

Students are enrolled in both the School of Education’s Department of Teaching and Leadership and The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, providing the tools to assess student and understand needs, develop instruction that incorporates multiple learning styles, understand multicultural perspectives, and ultimately help all children succeed. This program meets the academic requirements for dual New York State initial teacher certification in Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 2) and Students with Disabilities (birth-grade 2).

Why Inclusive Education at Syracuse?

• 98% of School of Education graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months, and inclusive early childhood students have a 98% pass rate on the New York State edTPA examination.
• We define inclusion broadly, developing teachers ready to work with the full range of learners in schools, including students with disabilities, students who are not native English speakers, LGBTQ youth, and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. We believe that all students have the right to a meaningful education in a typical classroom setting, rather than relegating some students to special classrooms or spaces.
• Participate in EDU Sims, which are standardized simulations of common interactions in classroom and school environments to help you identify your strengths and develop your professional skills.
• Students are prepared to teach in preschools, early childhood centers, and K-2 school settings, providing general education instruction for all students with an emphasis on literacy development and foundational skills.
• At least 8 field placements starting in your first semester, in a diverse range of settings including urban and suburban schools; pre-school, kindergarten, and primary grades; and experience with infants and toddlers in daycare settings like the on-campus Bernice M. Wright Child Development Laboratory School. This is capped by 2 full-time student teaching in the spring of your senior year.
• Engage in rigorous professional preparation courses with a student cohort that progresses through the program together, providing opportunities to create lifelong colleagues.
• An emphasis on communication and collaboration in the Professional Block system. Students complete coursework and field experiences during Professional Block semesters with their cohorts, sharing theories and strategies they put into practice. Faculty also model this by coordinate assignments co-teaching block courses, and assessing student progress together.
• Inclusive education students have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in one of over 60 countries and take part in School of Education short-term study abroad programs. Through the Himan Brown Fellowship, School of Education students are also eligible for exclusive funding to support study abroad experiences.
• Continue your graduate studies at the School of Education with our SOE 50% Master’s and Certificate of Advanced Study Scholarships.

You will receive advising support, career services, and one-on-one mentoring from both School of Education and Falk College faculty. You’ll be a part of a close-knit and supportive learning community within a large research university, developing your professional portfolio and identity with faculty who are leaders and experts in their fields.

Our graduates are in PreK-12 schools, early childhood centers, and other youth contexts including:

• Educators in daycare or childcare centers
• Special or general education classroom teachers
• Teaching assistants or aide
• Consultant Teachers
• Teacher leaders, department chairs, and school administrators
• Research and advocacy organizations
• Community centers, agencies, and non-profit organizations
• Further studies including Inclusive Education: Severe/Multiple Disabilities, Educational Leadership, Literacy Education, or another area of interest

Program Details

As a student in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education program, you will combine studies in inclusion and special education, a human and family sciences concentration, and academic requirements from the liberal arts core. Coursework from the Falk College includes deep explorations of healthy infant, child, and family issues and development. Coursework in the School of Education explores language acquisition and literacy development, contemporary issues in education, and teaching methods and differentiation. Sample courses include:

• Introduction to Inclusive Schooling
• Play, Child Development, and Early Education
• Perspectives on Disability
• Power, Conflict, and the Family
• Collaborative Teaching for Inclusive Education
• Integrating Technology Into Instruction

Highly motivated students can often use their liberal arts electives and addition summer courses to get a minor in Disability Studies or a foreign language. Your first semester will include introductions to teaching methods, mathematics, science, writing and family development, as well as a field practicum experience in a pre-kindergarten setting. More information on academic requirements available in the Syracuse University Course Catalog.