Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the Foundations of Education Program are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. A committee of full-time members of the Foundations of Education Program bases its decision to accept or reject a candidate on a comprehensive review of the following criteria:

1. B.A. or B.S. degree, with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher may be accepted into the program on a probationary status if relevant considerations warrant such an exception.
2. A recent writing sample.
3. Statement of purpose for pursuing Foundation of Education studies.
4. Interview with a faculty member in Foundations of Education.
5. Initial certification in one of the content areas listed below for students seeking professional certification.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 33-36

I.  For students not seeking professional certification, the program of studies involves the following:

• Foundations of Education: 15 s.h.
  Students must complete 15 s.h. of 200-level courses in Foundations of Education. The student may select any 200-level course offered under advisement.
• Electives: 18 s.h.
  Electives may be chosen, under advisement, from Liberal Arts and Sciences, Foundations of Education, or other courses within the School of Education.

II.  For students who are seeking Professional certification in the content areas listed below, the program of studies involves the following:

• Foundations of Education: 15 s.h.
  Students must complete a 15 s.h. of 200-level courses in Foundations of Education. The student may select any 200-level course offered under advisement.
• Electives: 6 s.h.
  Students may select additional Foundations of Education courses or other courses from Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Education.

Content/Pedagogy Linkage - Semester Hours:12-15

Students who are seeking professional certification complete only the content-pedagogy linkage for the initial area of certification held.

Comprehensive Examination/Master’s Essay

In order to complete the Foundations of Education program, a student must either pass a comprehensive examination or write a master’s essay. If the student chooses the examination, faculty members create questions based on the student’s program of studies. The questions require the student to draw from ideas, theories, readings, and experiences from different courses. Though the examination is not intended to be research oriented, the faculty hopes it will provide students the occasion to arrive at new insights as they continue to think further about issues initially touched upon in their classes.

If students choose to write a master’s essay, they work with a full-time faculty member who has expertise in the topic of interest. From this collaborative relationship, the student and faculty member determine the parameters for the project. While the process is specific to the interests of the student, all individuals are expected to conduct an independent research project. The end product is intended to reflect the student’s enhanced knowledge and understanding of educational foundations issues in relation to a particular subject.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation from the program requires:

1. Satisfaction of all outstanding course requirements according to the student’s individual program of study (33-36 s.h.).
2. Completion of all course work with an overall GPA of 3.0.
3. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination or a master’s essay (see FDED 301 , 302 ).

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of degree requirements, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Contact the Office of Educational Support Services, 129 Hagedorn Hall, for information regarding any required Educational Law seminars* and other certification requirements. Forms for applying for certification can be found at the Office of Educational Support Services Web page under the certification tab.

*Please note, as of July 1, 2013, the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education now require a new six-hour seminar for Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention, required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA): http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/news/newsitem05162013.html.