Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 
    
    Sep 18, 2025  
Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Childhood Education (grades 1-6) with Option for Companion Certificate Program in Literacy (birth-grade 6)


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Program Code 0802

(Qualifying for Initial/Professional Certification)

Aim of the Program

The aim of this program is to provide professional training in the field of Childhood Education at the initial level. To achieve this aim, the program is designed to assist prospective educators to qualify for initial certification in childhood education by providing a concentrated core curriculum. Upon completion of all the requirements leading to the Master of Science in Education degree and New York State initial certification in Childhood Education (grades 1-6), candidates may apply to continue to the Companion Certificate Program in Literacy (grades 1-6), leading to an additional New York State certificate.

Program Description

This program is designed for college graduates possessing an appropriate liberal arts baccalaureate degree who have not had formal training in professional education and who wish to prepare for a career in childhood education. The Childhood Education program (grades 1-6) requires a minimum of 40 credits, which includes a supervised student teaching experience in area cooperating schools.

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be recommended to the New York State Education Department for initial certification. The candidate shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, namely the Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST), Educating All Students (EAS) and content specialty test(s) (CST) in the area of the certificate.  Additionally, the candidate must submit evidence of a passing score on edTPA, and electonic portfolio assessment. The initial certificate shall be valid for five years from its effective date. For the professional certificate, the candidate shall successfully complete three years of teaching experience one of which must be under the guidance of a mentor teacher.

Upon successful completion of the Childhood Education program, candidates may apply to continue to the Companion Certificate Program in Literacy (birth-grade 6) leading to an additional New York State certificate.

Degree Requirements


A minimum of 40 credits is required for the Master of Science in Education degree in Childhood Education. These credits are distributed as follows:

  • 34 credits of required courses;
  • A no-credit, eight-hour workshop in health education;
  • 6 credits of full-time, college-supervised student teaching;
  • Satisfactory performance on a written comprehensive examination (see Graduation Requirements ).

Student Teaching


Students are required to complete ED 5463  (Student Teaching in Elementary Education). This experience will be completed in one primary classroom (grades 1-3) and one intermediate classroom (grades 4-6) during one full academic semester, after completing course requirements. Completion of edTPA, an electronic portfolio assessment, during student teaching is a program requirement.

Companion Certificate Program in Literacy (birth-grade 6)


Upon successful completion of the above requirements, candidates may apply to continue to the Companion Certificate Program in Literacy (birth-grade 6) leading to an additional New York State certification. Candidates are recommended for each certification in separate semesters.

To be completed after above:


Students in the companion literacy program are required to complete ED 5620  (Applied Research Practicum in Literacy Remediation - Childhood). This course is a reflective practicum that is the culmination of the certificate program for teachers of literacy from birth to grade 6. The practicum involves tutoring diverse pupils with literacy problems, including native English speakers with disabilities and pupils who are English language learners.

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