The New England Center for Children and Simmons University have collaborated to offer a new master’s degree in education beginning this September. The new degree – which will be free to all NECC staff— is a two-year, non-licensure special education degree.
“This two-year program was developed in response to the changing needs and demographic of NECC staff,” shared Chris Evans, professor of practice and the graduate program director for Simmons University at NECC. “This program is geared towards international staff who are working at NECC in Southborough and other staff who are only seeking a master’s degree without licensure. Staff enrolled in the non-licensure program will be provided the flexibility by the University to transfer to the autism specialization/licensure program to pursue a Massachusetts teaching license, if so desired.”
For more than 30 years, NECC and Simmons have collaborated to offer graduate training to NECC employees. All courses are taught on-site at NECC in Southborough and provide staff practical training and experience, enabling them to have a wide variety of job offers in both public schools and private agencies upon completion of the program. Since 1992, more than 1,200 NECC staff have completed the master’s degree program.
Simmons University at NECC currently offers five programs in addition to the new master’s degree:
- Master of Education Autism Specialization- Southborough (graduates receive an autism specialization designation plus SEI endorsement)
- Post-master’s Licensure Program– Southborough (open to staff who currently hold a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. Graduates do not receive an autism specialization designation, but will receive SEI endorsement)
- Master of Education Non-Licensure– UAE (open to staff employed through NECC- MRC)
- Master of Education Autism Specialization- Partner Program (open to staff in the Public School Services programs. Graduates receive an autism designation plus SEI endorsement)
- Post-master’s with Licensure- Partner Program (open to staff in the Public School Services programs who currently hold a master’s degree in ABA. Graduates do not receive an autism specialization designation but will receive SEI endorsement)
Simmons’s fall semester begins on September 7.
For more information, visit the program page, or contact [email protected], or Heather Fortin [email protected].