Admission Requirements

Applicants must be in the process of completing or currently possess initial or professional certification in adolescence education (grades 7-12). Submit a completed application from obtained form 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.

The program leads to an extension of certification into grades 5 and 6 for the subject area of the original certification. These areas include English, mathematics, social studies and science (biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics).

Students who hold provisional rather than initial certification are required to demonstrate completion of 6 s.h. elective credit, of which 3 s.h. must be in the teaching of literature/language arts. Program director must approve electives.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 6

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

• or SED 221
  

• 
  Choose (with advisement) from the following: Semester Hours: 3

• CT 247A - Middle Childhood Curriculum: 5-6 Semester Hours: 3

• or a methods course in the primary area of certification, specific to grades 5-6

• 
  Recommendations:

• ELED 205 - Language in the Curriculum Semester Hours: 3

• (for grades 5-6) (for majors in English education)

• SED 276 - Teaching United States History—A Projects Approach Semester Hours: 3

• (for majors in social studies education)

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.

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.