Admission Criteria

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Applications for admission to the Master of Arts (MA) program in Bilingual Education Program in the Department of Teacher Education Programs  are made to the Graduate Admission Office. Students who do not fully meet admission requirements may be required to complete prerequisite courses concurrently with completion of the master’s program requirements. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. New York State certification (initial or professional) in one of the following areas: early childhood education, childhood education, middle childhood education, a special subject or career and technical education.
2. An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in all course work.
3. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
4. Interview with the director of the Bilingual Program.
5. Demonstration of proficiency in English and another language or a proficiency examination satisfactory to the department and consistent with the New York State certification guidelines. Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory score on the language proficiency examination are retested after remediation and are required to achieve a satisfactory score prior to completion of the program.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Candidates may wish to apply even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 31

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Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 while in the program. Grades of D or lower will not be counted toward the graduate degree but will be included in determining the grade point average.

Field Experiences

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A minimum of 50 clock-hours of supervised field experience is required. Students are placed in the settings specific to the foci of their base teaching certificates. All field experiences are incorporated into the course curricula and supervised by the University faculty. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Departmental policy is to place prospective teachers in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.

Supervised field experiences in designated schools are required in each of the following courses:

• CT 265 - Methods and Materials in Bicultural Education Semester Hours: 3

• 15 clock hours

• LYST 213 - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for Children and Adolescents Semester Hours: 3

• 10 clock hours

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language Semester Hours: 3

• 25 clock hours

Graduation Requirements

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1. Completion of all course work for the Master of Arts program in Bilingual Education with an overall GPA of 3.0.
2. Completion of the 31 s.h. course requirements in the MA in Bilingual Education program with no fewer than 25 s.h. in-residence.
3. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
4. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
5. All course work offered in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Footnote*

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*Course requires participation/observation in designated schools.

Teacher Certification Requirements

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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 December 31, 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.

To be eligible for the certification extension in bilingual education students are required to have passing scores on the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). Please contact the Office of Educational Support Services for specific certification requirements.