Elementary Education and Reading Department

Note: All education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the New York State Regents and the New York State Education Department. Although this catalog was accurate when submitted for publication, students should check with their advisor or the Office of Education Advisement & Field Experience concerning course or programmatic changes before matriculating into or registering for courses in these programs.

Teacher Certification Programs and Concentrations

The Elementary Education and Reading Department offers two undergraduate programs leading to teacher certification. Programs require students to complete a 30 s.h. concentration in an area consistent with the Common Core State Standards. A minimum of 18 credits of upper division courses are required for each concentration. Listed below are the programs with their concentrations:

Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)

Concentrations: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Technology, Earth Science, English, French, Spanish, General Science, Geography, Liberal Arts and Science, Mathematics, Political Science, or Social Studies.

Early Childhood/Childhood Education Dual Certificate (Birth - Grade 6)

Concentrations: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Technology, Earth Science, English, French, Spanish, General Science, Geography, Liberal Arts and Science, Mathematics, Political Science, or Social Studies.

Requirements for the Elementary Education Majors

Education students must complete the Professional Education course work sequence including at least 100 clock hours of field experience prior to student teaching and a full semester of student teaching.

Health Unit Requirement: One of the requirements for a New York State teaching certificate is successful completion of a unit of study covering the topics of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Education majors must satisfy this requirement by completing EDUC 213 .

Admission to Elementary Education Programs

Declaration of Major
Upon acceptance to the College students should declare a specific education program as their major and an area of concentration. At that time they will be assigned an advisor.
Application for Candidate Status
Students apply for candidacy one semester prior to taking the methods sequence. To be eligible for methods, the student must meet the following:

Must have completed all required coursework with no grades below “C” in 100-level courses prior to methods and student teaching.
Must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA in their professional education core courses, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and 2.8 minimum average in their concentration courses.
No grades below “C” (2.0) in 100-level coursework.
Have completed 92 semester hours by the end of the semester of application.
Removal of all incomplete and pending grades in required courses.
Passed the College Writing Examination.

Application for Student Teaching
Education students will follow application procedures determined by the Office of Education Advisement and Field Experience. Students in the semester preceding student teaching must attend the publicized Application Meeting. Subsequently, a student teaching assignment will be given provided eligibility requirements have been met.

Students must be a candidate in the teacher education programs.
Students must successfully complete all student teaching prerequisites designated by their program.
Candidates must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, a minimum 2.8 GPA in their concentration courses, and a minimum 3.0 GPA in their professional education core courses and a minimum 2.8 GPA in the methods sequence.
Candidates must achieve a “C” or better in each methods course to progress to their next semester (next methods or student teaching). If a student needs to repeat a methods course, a minimum 3.0 GPA across all methods courses must be demonstrated.
Application completed.
Approval by the Office of Education Advisement and Field Experience and the department chair.

Student Teaching Placements
Student teaching placements are made by the Office of Education Advisement and Field Experience in collaboration with the department chair and faculty.

Notes on Degree Requirements

In the methods sequence of 15 s.h., students are required to do extensive field work. Students are not allowed to take additional courses.

Programs

Bachelor of Science