Promote inclusive education.
Rooted in the philosophy of integrated learning and inclusion, our special education concentration within the elementary teacher certificate empowers you to teach children of all abilities. Our differentiated instruction ensures that you will be equipped with the skills necessary to educate and work with children that have different physical and mental disabilities. By understanding their unique developmental needs you can create a curriculum that works best for them, and give them a true opportunity for education.
This degree is offered by AU New England.
Program Overview
The program’s purpose is to provide a holistic and integrated experience for students. The best teacher can meet a wide range of needs, so AUNE’s elementary teacher certification program is already rooted in the philosophy of teaching children of all abilities and challenges. The AUNE faculty has long experience in teaching differentiated instruction. Those strategies and approaches are interwoven through all of the education courses.
This concentration is for Elementary Teacher Certification students who wish to also earn General Special Education certification. This concentration will prepare teachers to work effectively as either general or special education teachers, or both and to be leaders in educational environments that are in various stages of moving towards inclusion. Students in this concentration take the same core courses leading towards elementary certification as the students in the Arts and Humanities concentration and the Science and Environmental Education concentration. Additionally, they are required to take a set of courses specific to Special Education.
Graduates who successfully complete this concentration are eligible for Elementary Teacher certification in the State of New Hampshire and General Special Education certification in the State of New Hampshire.
Licensure Guidelines and Protocols
- Graduates of Antioch University New England’s education programs with a NH State Licensure Pathway who have met professional standards and completed NH state licensure requirements by their graduation date will be automatically recommended by AUNE for NH State Licensure.
- NH State law stipulates that the AUNE recommendation shall remain valid with the state for no more than 3 years from the date of the recommendation by the institution.
- Graduates who have not completed AUNE’s licensure requirements will have three years from their graduation date to meet the professional standards in order for AUNE to make the licensure recommendation to the State of NH.
- If it has been three years or more since the date of graduation, AUNE graduates pursuing NH State Licensure can no longer be nominated by AUNE for a license and must pursue an Alternative Pathway to Licensure.
Degree Requirements
Students will be required to take 42 credits to earn their Master’s in Education plus the following courses specific to the concentration:
- Leading Inclusion
- Teaching Exceptional Children
- Special Education: Families and Supportive Networks
- Special Education Law
- Special Education: Assessment and Instructional Strategies
- Special Education Internship
For course descriptions, please see the current course catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates master the knowledge, skills, and competencies listed in the standards for general special education certification. In particular, they are expected to know and to be able to explain:
- how children think and learn, and why fluency in multiple instructional strategies can be effective when teaching in classrooms whose children have diverse academic and social learning abilities;
- how to design curriculum that takes into account the developmental needs of the whole child, and how the child is influenced by family, cultural background, socioeconomic class, language, and social groups; and
- how and why collaborative practices between general and special education educators are important and are beneficial to all learners.
Admissions / Cost / Aid
How to Apply
- Complete the online admission application, including:
- Essay questions, admissions and program-specific
- Resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
- Non-refundable $50 application fee
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned a degree or certificate.
- email transcripts to [email protected], or
- mail to:
Office of Admissions
Antioch University New England
40 Avon Street
Keene NH 04341-3516
- Two letters of recommendation are required, from people who are in a position to evaluate your professional or academic work. The person making the recommendation may not be related to you.
- There are additional requirements for International applicants
- Interview with a faculty member of the department to which you seek entry if selected. This can be in person, by phone, or via Skype.
Official transcripts should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:
Office of Admissions
Antioch University New England
40 Avon Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431-3516
All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Application Deadline
| Term | Date |
|---|---|
| Summer Start Only | April 15 |
Criminal Background Checks
NH state law [RSA 189:13-a(IX)(b)] requires criminal history record checks, for students who enroll in an educator preparation program at an institution of higher education. Additional criminal history record checks, administered by the placement district(s), are required for student teachers and interns. Additionally, local school districts may require a background check prior to the start of any field experience, and students must comply with the local policies. The cost of all background checks are out-of-pocket costs borne by the student. Your AUNE admissions counselor will provide you with the correct form for your licensure area.
All applicants to a New Hampshire Professional Educator Preparation Program must provide documentation of passing scores on a nationally recognized standardized test of basic skills, most commonly, the Praxis reading, writing, and math tests (Praxis Core). It may also be possible to fulfill this requirement by submitting SAT, ACT, or GRE scores to the NH Department of Education for confirmation of passing scores for the year the test was completed. Comparable state-level tests, like The Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure can also be considered. Please ask your admissions counselor for further guidance if you have questions about this requirement. Complete Praxis Testing Requirements for licensure in New Hampshire can be found at www.ets.org/praxis/nh/requirements
Tuition & Financial Aid
A college education is an investment in your future. Let us help you understand the costs and explore the resources available to help make your college education even more affordable. The majority of AUNE students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public, and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants – are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AUNE.
Cost
| Elementary Education Initial NH State Licensure Pathway (Integrated Learning) | Tuition Cost per Credit | Total Program Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary / Early Childhood Education NH State Licensure Pathway, MEd | $1,046 | 40 |
| Elementary / Special Education NH State Licensure Pathway, MEd | $1,046 | 42 |
Upcoming Events
EdD & Professional Practice Info Session | AUO
EdD Program Info Session | AUO
EdD & Professional Practice Info Session | AUO
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