Special Education: Childhood Program (XCE)

Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). Admission is competitive; not all qualified applicants are admitted.
  2. Certification or eligible for certification in early childhood special education, childhood special education, or generalist (7-12) special education. Applicants with certification or eligible for certification in early childhood education, childhood education, or secondary education must meet additional special education certification requirements once enrolled. For generalist (7-12) secondary program only, applicants without any teaching certifications will be considered. Applicants for the generalist (7-12) secondary program must meet additional special education certification requirements as well as New York State content core and subject area requirements once enrolled.
  3. A written statement describing the applicant’s philosophy of education and relevant experiences in the field that are applicable to the graduate course of study. This statement must adhere to standard written English.
  4. Faculty review.
  5. Completion of a special application (included in the online application).
  6. The ability to speak English and Spanish, and complete an oral interview (for Special Education: Bilingual Certificate Program applicants only).

In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.

Successful completion of the undergraduate program in exceptional education at Buffalo State is not a guarantee of admission to a graduate program. A point system based on the above criteria is used to evaluate applicants. Applicants with the highest point totals are admitted to the program each admission period. Only students admitted to the major (as majors or premajors) may take courses other than EXE 500.

Program Requirements

Preliminary Courses (0-18 credit hours)
Required for students without provisional/initial certification in childhood special education
EXE 500INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS3
EXE 501EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION3
EXE 502CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT3
EXE 503INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MILD DISABILITIES3
EXE 504GRADUATE PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION6
Required Courses (24-27 credit hours)
EXE 520TEACHING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE/MULTIPLE DISABILITIES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS3
or EXE 620 ADVANCED TEACHING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE/MULTIPLE DISABILITIES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
EXE 628COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATIVE PRACTICES IN INCLUSIVE SETTINGS3
EXE 631ADAPTING LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH MILD DISABILITIES3
EXE 632DIRECT INSTRUCTION INTERVENTION MODELS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS3
EXE 633ADAPTING CONTENT AREA INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DISABILITIES3
EXE 634APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS3
EXE 636PROMOTING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN THE SCHOOLS3
EXE 682INSTRUCTIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION 13-9
EXE 684GRADUATE SEMINAR IN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION3
Elective Courses (0-3 credit hours) 22
Select up to one from the following:3
PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN THE CLASSROOM
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS
TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO ADULT COMMUNITY LIFE
ADVANCED APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
ASSESSMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
INTERVENTION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION
Master's Project or Master's Thesis (3-6 credit hours)
EXE 690MASTER'S PROJECT3-6
or EXE 695 MASTER'S THESIS
Total Credit Hours30-54
1

EXE 682 is for students in the Childhood Program who do not complete EXE 504 .

2

 Selected under advisement.