Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to this Advanced Certificate Program in Middle Childhood Education in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching must be in the process of completing or possess initial or professional certification in childhood education (Grades 1-6) and demonstrated completion of at least 30 semester hours of college course work in the subject area to be taught. This course work leads to the extension of teaching of a subject in grades 7-9. Applicable subject areas, each requiring completion of 30 s.h. in the content area (with advisement):

• English: (undergraduate or graduate) beyond freshman composition
• Language other than English (undergraduate course work) beyond intermediate level
• Mathematics: (undergraduate or graduate) including 18 semester hours of nonintroductory course work including calculus I and II, probability and statistics, finite/discrete mathematics, higher geometry, linear algebra
• Social Studies: (undergraduate or graduate course work) nonwestern history, United States history, European history/western civilization, economics and sociology
• General Science: (undergraduate or graduate course work) biology, chemistry, geology and physics

Applicants must submit a completed application form obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions; possess a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all graduate course work; interview with the Middle Childhood Education Program Director.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 6

• CT 221 - Middle Childhood Philosophy and Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• or SED 221

• CT 248A - Middle Childhood Curriculum: 7-9 Semester Hours: 3

• or a methods course in the primary area of certification, specific to middle grade levelss (See adviser).

• SED 221 - Middle Childhood Philosophy and Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• or CT 221

Graduation Requirements

1. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall graduate work.
2. All course work taken in satisfaction of this certificate must have been taken within a five-year period.
3. Completion of the New York State Content Specialty Test (CST) in the applicable subject area.

Teacher Certification

Upon successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Students are required to have passing scores on each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE): the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the appropriate Content Specialty Tests (CSTs). Students not receiving passing scores on all New York state required examinations will not be eligible for certification. In addition to fulfilling educational requirements, the New York State Education Department requires that all prospective teachers being recommended for teacher education programs receive instruction for the purpose of preventing child abuse, maltreatment and child abduction and preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse. In addition, a seminar on SAVE legislation, and a seminar on safety education and fire and arson prevention are required in accordance with the Education Laws. No student is recommended for certification without the completion of all of these requirements. Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific requirements regarding certification.