Childhood Education 1-6–M.S.E.D., Initial Certification Program

Program Description

The MSED Programs leading to Initial Teacher Certification in Childhood is a full-time or part-time program. This program is intended for candidates who desire to make a career change.

Application Requirements

Candidates seeking admission to the Master of Science in Education Childhood Education leading to initial certification must hold a BA or BS degree in one of the academic areas of English, Foreign Language, Social Studies, History, Mathematics, or one of the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) or have the transcripted equivalent of a major in one of the above fields. Candidates will be considered who have a liberal arts background that meets NCATE standards that includes a minimum of 12 credits of English, 12 credits of Social Studies, 10 credits of Natural Sciences, and 8 credits of Mathematics. Content area course work may be required as a prerequisite and must be completed prior to Degree Candidacy.

Further, all applicants must provide evidence of having the equivalent of one college year (6 credits college level or 4 years high school) of a language other than English. A computer language does not meet this requirement, but American Sign Language does. Applicants who lack an introductory course in Child Psychology must satisfy this prerequisite. Students must complete the NYS certification workshops SSHS 1020, Safe Schools, Healthy Students.

All applications must include the following materials:

1. Completed application form – Parts I and II
2. An official transcript for all undergraduate and graduate work.
3. Two letters of recommendation: One from a college Professor and a second from a work supervisor.
4. Minimum grade index of 2.70. If the index is 2.69 or below, the score from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), (General Aptitude) or Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) must be submitted with the application materials. To be considered, an applicant must score in the Fiftieth percentile or better.
5. Attendance at a Program Information Meeting. These meetings are scheduled prior to the deadline for completing the program planning. To schedule a time contact the Curriculum and Instruction Department at 315-312-4052 or email cigrad@oswego.edu.
6. Completion of the NYS Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST) certification exam.

Application materials are due by March 1 for summer and fall admission and October 1 for spring admission. All applicants will be reviewed at one time following the admission deadlines. Completed applications received after the closing dates will be reviewed in the next application period.

Note: Upon application, candidates’ transcripts will be reviewed to determine whether or not content requirements have been met in undergraduate work: 12 cr in English, 12 cr in the Social Studies area (not to include Psychology), 10 cr in the sciences to include at least one lab experience, and 8 cr in mathematics. Transcripts will be reviewed in respect to the completion of the equivalent of a Child Psychology course, the equivalent of one year of college level language other than English, and computer literacy. In addition, transcripts will be reviewed to determine the equivalence to the SUNY Board of Trustees General Education. Any requirements found to be lacking will need to be completed prior to the admission to Degree Candidacy. This course work will not apply to the graduate degree.

Degree Candidacy

Students accepted to the MSED-Childhood certification program must apply for Degree Candidacy after completing all prerequisite courses and 18 credits of their program; any course work taken in excess of 18 credits is liable to forfeiture. Candidates must have a B- or better in all education course work and an overall cumulative average of 3.0 to qualify for Degree Candidacy. Submit the completed candidacy application to the Graduate Office; the application and a current transcript is forwarded to the advisor. Students will then receive a letter advising them of their status.

The Program

Candidates for Childhood complete a program which includes required course work, a minimum 100 clock hours of field placement, development of a professional portfolio, and two supervised student teaching experiences. Candidates must complete appropriate non-credit workshops, Safe Schools, Healthy Students, relating information about drug/alcohol and tobacco abuse, mandated reporting of child abuse, and school violence prevention (Project SAVE) and school safety programs as prerequisites for student teaching placement. (Call Extended Learning at 315-312-2270 or email sshs@oswego.edu for information.)

Student Teaching

All undergraduate and graduate course work must be completed, Degree Candidacy filed, and SSHS 1020 requirement met prior to student teaching. Foreign Language candidate must also complete the Oral Proficiency Inventory (OPI).

Each candidate is provided two placements for student teaching by the School of Education Director of Field Placements. Due to the large number of placements that must be coordinated, candidates cannot request placements. Assigned placements must be accepted by candidates or candidates will need to wait for a reassignment in a future semester. Each student teaching placement is seven weeks in length and involves a full time commitment, Monday–Friday, the entire length of the school day. Announcements regarding student teaching will be posted online at www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/education/placement/index.html as student teaching applications are due an entire semester prior to the actual assignment.

Candidates earn either a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grade for each of the two student teaching experiences. If an unsatisfactory grade is earned, the candidate may have another placement. If two unsatisfactory grades are earned, the candidate will not be placed a third time.

Requirements of Student Teaching

1. completion of Degree Candidacy
2. completion of all undergraduate and graduate course work. Graduate course work must be completed with a minimum 3.00 GPA
3. completion of SSHS 1020—NYS Teacher Workshops
4. completion of Student Teaching Application one full semester prior to the beginning of the student teaching semester. Applications may be obtained from the Field Placement Office, 208 Park Hall