Housed in the Division of Education are a major in Early Childhood/Childhood Education and a minor in Adolescence Education, Middle Childhood Specialist - Special Subjects. (Refer to the Graduate School Catalog for information on graduate programs offered by the Division of Education.)
Early Childhood/Childhood Education
Students completing the program meet the academic requirements of the New York State Education Department for certification in Early Childhood/Childhood Education.
Students who major in Early Childhood/Childhood Education receive an integrated blend of professional education methods coursework and field based opportunities in area schools that enable them to apply theory to classroom situations. These field- based experiences expose students to a diverse number of educational environments.
Students majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Education must complete coursework in the arts and sciences that is rich in breadth and depth and fulfill requirements in basic competencies and areas of knowledge in the following subjects: written communication, mathematics, computer, literature, foreign language, arts, social science, historical studies and natural science.
Academic Area of Concentration (or Second Major)
Students majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Education must complete 30 hours in an academic area of concentration or fulfill the requirements of a second major. In either case, students select an academic area that is aligned with the current New York State Learning Standards. Possible academic areas include English, Mathematics, Psychology, Science, and Social Studies (History). Half the coursework in the academic area of concentration must be taken at the advanced (300-400) level.
Admission to Program
At the end of their sophomore year, students may apply for admission into the Early Childhood/Childhood Education program. To be admitted, students must first interview with a member of the Education faculty, have an overall 2.5 GPA in their liberal arts coursework, and achieve a 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite education courses (ED 230 and ED 341). In addition, each candidate for the program must have taken
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the Liberal Arts & Science (LAST) section of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations.
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The Education portion of the program starts in the spring semester of the students’
junior year, and includes field-based coursework in early childhood/childhood curriculum, orientation, methods of teaching literacy, and integrated methodology of social studies, math, science and technology. The required concurrent field
experience in two extended placements in an area school is designed as an opportunity to blend theory with experiential application. The following fall semester students are placed in area schools for two student teaching experiences.
Concurrent coursework in advanced literacy methodology, and classroom assessment and evaluation strategies during this semester are designed to assist students with instructional planning and to incorporate and to align instruction, curriculum, and assessment with the New York State Learning Standards.
Additional Program Requirements
New York State Teacher Certification Examinations:
*Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W):
Prior to entering student teaching, program candidates must take the appropriate ATS-W section of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations.
*Content Specialty Test (CST):
Program candidates applying for their Initial (first) certification must take the appropriate CST section of the New York State Certification Examination.
New York State Mandated Workshops:
All students must complete a state required workshop in Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (CARR) and Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE).
Both mandated workshops are offered to students through the Division of Education.
Fingerprinting/Background Check:
Program candidates applying for Initial (first) certification must complete the fingerprinting/background check packet.
Prerequisite Courses
ED 230 Psychological Foundations of Education 3
ED 341 Social Foundations of Education 3
MAT109 Mathematics for Early Childhood/Childhood Teachers 4
GEO109 The Physical World 4
Core Courses
Spring Semester - Junior Year
ED 374 Integrated Methods: Social Studies, Science,
Mathematics and Computer Application 6
ED 375 Early Childhood/Childhood Practicum 3
ED 471 Methods of Teaching Literacy 6
ED 474 Orientation to the Early Childhood/Childhood Classroom 3 Fall Semester - Senior Year
ED 472 Competency Skills in Teaching Literacy 3
ED 473 Assessment in the Early Childhood/Childhood Classroom 3
ED 461 Student Teaching 12
Spring Semester - Senior Year
SED 456 Human Development: Exceptionality 3
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Adolescence Education, Middle Childhood Specialist - Special Subjects Admission to the Program
At the end of their sophomore year, students apply for admission to the program.
They must have the recommendation of their major division, an interview with a designated member of the Education faculty, and a 2.75 cumulative GPA plus a 3.00 GPA in ED 230 and ED 341. In addition, candidates must have taken the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST). During the Teaching Methods (ED 489) semester, students are required to take the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Finally, to be eligible for a New York State Initial License, the student must have passed the three state tests listed above, attend both a Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Workshop and a Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Workshop, as well as complete the fingerprinting/background check packet.
Preparation for a career in Adolescence, Middle Childhood Education combines an academic major in a particular field, such as English or biology, with a minor in the Division of Education. Adolescence Education, Middle Childhood Specialist subjects include biology, physics, chemistry, earth science, English, French, mathematics, social studies, and Spanish. Students majoring in Special subjects (Art and Business) may be enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, or the School of Art and Design of the New York State College of Ceramics. All students completing the program will receive certification in Adolescence Education (7-12). It is possible to receive an additional certification to teach Middle Childhood Education by completing additional coursework.
A student preparing to teach in one of these areas should consult the Director of Adolescence, Middle Childhood and Special Subjects Education before planning a program of major studies.
Adolescence Education - Overview of the Program
Each candidate must complete an academic major in the subject to be taught, together with professional education courses. In addition, a one-year program in the college-level study of a language other than English is required (total of 6 to 8 credit hours). The requirements include a full semester of student teaching.
Initial Phase
In the initial phase of the program students enroll in ED 230 - Psychological Foundations of Education and ED 341 - Social Foundations of Education. These first courses in which students enroll are designed to give a basic foundation of knowledge in several broad areas, as well as an introduction to the public school by requiring observations and participation in local public school classrooms.
Second Phase
In the second phase, students enroll in the following coursework: ED 345 - Education Fieldwork, ED 489 - Current Teaching Methods: Secondary Subjects and ED 413 - Children’s Literature in the Classroom. These courses are taken after a student satisfactorily completes the foundation coursework in Education (ED 230 and ED 341), but prior to student teaching. In these courses, students gain experience in public schools and develop a knowledge base in teaching methodology.
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Final Phase
In the final phase of the program, students enroll in student teaching while taking coursework simultaneously. ED 405 - Literacy in the Content Areas and ED 457 - Seminar in Teaching and Professional Development are taken concurrently with ED 461 - Student Teaching.
Course Requirements
Completion of Basic Competencies and Areas of Knowledge required for Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Completion of academic major in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
General Pedagogical Core
ED 230 Psychological Foundations of Education 3
ED 341 Social Foundations of Education 3
Specific Pedagogical Core
ED 345 Education Fieldwork 3
ED 405 Literacy in the Content Areas 3
ED 413 Children’s Literature in the Classroom 3 ED 457 Seminar in Teaching & Professional Development 3
ED 461 Student Teaching 12
ED 489 Current Teaching Methods: Secondary Subjects 3 Middle Childhood Extension Certificate
Those students who wish to complete additional certification in Middle Childhood must complete all coursework required for the Adolescence certification.
Additionally, students must complete ED 488 - Current Teaching Methods: Middle Childhood Subjects.