4+1 Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Education
Introduction
Our accelerated 4+1 pathways allow students to earn both a Bachelor of Science Degree in one of our Teacher Education Majors and a Master of Science Degree in Education in approximately five years, instead of the traditional six. Students who have room in their academic schedules may take up to two graduate-level courses during their junior and senior years, providing an early start to on their master's coursework and reducing overall time to degree completion.
Qualifications
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be formally admitted to into the graduate program.
4+1 Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Education Options
Below are the options for the +1 Master Degrees currently offered at Canisius University:
Teaching Students with Disabilities (All Grades) - HYBRID
This program prepares candidates already holding initial certification in Early Childhood (B-2), Childhood (1-6), Adolescence (7-12), or Physical Education (K-12) to gain Initial and Professional Certification in Students with Disabilities (All Grades). Expand your teaching knowledge to work with students with all disabilities, including mild disabilities, (ADHD, LD, SLI, etc.), intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Multiple Disabilities, and Emotional Disorders. You’ll be able to work in any type of special education setting including Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), Consultant Teacher, Resource Room, Self-Contained, Special Day School, and Residential Treatment Center models. Completing this degree program along with the Early Childhood/Childhood Bachelor’s also prepares candidates for the coursework required for the Special Education/Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) certification. Some of the courses in this program meet face-to-face every week, some are hybrid (they meet every other week in person), and others are completely online.
Literacy (All Grades) - ONLINE
Add on a Literacy (All Grades) certification. Recognizing the critical importance of foundational skills, the program provides teachers with the advanced literacy knowledge and strategies necessary to build strong reading and writing foundations from the earliest years. This 33-credit hour curriculum features two flexible 25-hour practicum experiences that can be completed in your local school district. The program enhances your expertise to lead literacy initiatives, serve as a literacy coach, work directly with students in small groups or one-on-one as a literacy specialist, or deepen your impact in any teaching role through a strong foundation in the science of reading.
TESOL (K-12) - ONLINE
Add on a TESOL (K-12) certification. The program provides flexibility in scheduling, eliminating time and travel barriers you may encounter as a working professional. Those interested in connecting live with their TESOL classmates can participate in TESOL community events, in-person and online, throughout the year. Candidates completing this program may be certified as TESOL teachers but may also use this professional knowledge to better reach the needs of a growing population of English Learners and multilingual learners in their classrooms. Students considering this path can work the required 12 language credits into their concentration.
Instructional Technologies & Curriculum Design - ONLINE
Add on an Educational Technology Specialist (All Grades) certification. This degree option is designed for teachers who hold initial certification in their content area and want professional certification. The focus is on the purposeful use of technology for teaching and learning. A major emphasis is on the application of technologies for content literacy in the K-12 environment.
Advanced Physical Education - ONLINE
The program is designed for students with initial New York State certification in Physical Education who must meet the state requirements for professional certification. Only NYS certified, or pending certification, Physical Education teachers are eligible for this path.
Advanced Special Education - ONLINE
This program enables you to develop a deeper understanding of etiology, related psychological and social factors, and techniques proven effective for teaching students with diverse learning needs. This master’s program is for you if you have already received a certification in Special Education (Childhood, Early Childhood, Generalist (7-12), or All Grades (PreK-12). You will earn professional certification in Teaching Students With Disabilities.
Roadmap
Teaching Students with Disabilities (All Grades) MSEd
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| SPE 580 | SPE 649 | EDU 615 |
| SPE 650 | EDAD 535 | SPE 652 |
| SPE Elective | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| SPE 692 | ||
Advanced Special Education MSEd*
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| SPE 653 | SPE 639 | EDU 615 |
| SPE 644 | SPE 650 | SPE Elective |
| SPE 690 | SPE 649 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| Elective or SPE 556 | ||
| Elective | ||
Literacy (All Grades) MSEd
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| EDR 507 | EDR 503 | EDU 615 |
| EDR 508 | EDR 509 | EDR 502 |
| EDR 510 | EDR 600 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| EDR 501 | ||
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL K-12) MS
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| TESL 581 | TESL 582 | TESL 585 |
| TESL 584 | TESL 583 | TESL 587 |
| TESL 586 | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| EDR 501 | ||
| EDU 615 | ||
| TESL 588 | ||
Instructional Technologies and Curriculum Design MS
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| EDT 506 | EDT 507 | EDT 501 |
| EDT 508 | EDT 509 | EDT 503 |
| EDT 504 | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| EDT 510 | ||
| EDT 511 | ||
Physical Education MS/Professional Certification**
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| PEG 614, 609, or 616 | PEG 611 | PEG 609, 614, or 616 |
| PEG 650 | PEG 651 or 670 | PEG 671 |
| PEG 615 or 660 | PEG 680 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| PEG 620 or 635 | ||
| PEG 684 | ||
- *
Only candidates with prior special education certification can participate in this program
- **
Only candidates with prior physical education certification can participate in this program.
To lighten the load during graduate semester, if students have space in their schedule during senior year, they may register for up to 6 credits of graduate courses. Students should meet with their faculty advisors to pick which courses would be best to take as an undergraduate. Taking graduate courses which will count towards their graduate degree, will require candidates to officially apply to graduate school at Canisius. Candidates will be automatically accepted if they have a GPA of at least a 3.0 in their undergraduate studies.
