Program Description
The MST Program leading to Initial Teacher Certification in Childhood Education is a full-time 15 month program beginning each year in May and culminating in August of the following year. This program is intended for candidates who have a Bachelor’s degree in an area other than education and want to become a teacher.
Application Requirements
Candidates seeking admission to the MST in Childhood Education must hold a BA or BS degree, provide evidence of having the equivalent of one college year (six credits college level or four years of high school) of language other than English, Child Psychology, Computer Literacy, an Art, Music or Theatre course, MAT 106 “Number Systems and Operations” (or equivalent).
The application packet is due by January 15 each year. Applicants are encouraged to attend a Program Advisement session well in advance of the application deadline.
The following materials must be submitted online to the Graduate Studies Office, www.oswego.edu/gradstudies. Applicants will be notified of the review committee’s decision within six weeks from the date the application is complete.
- Program Advisement Form completed at a Program Advisement meeting. Schedule a meeting at www.oswego.edu/gradstudies and click on Program Advisement Meeting under “View Admission Requirement” or email cigrad@oswego.edu.
- Graduate Application, including Education Essay and Purpose Statement
- Official transcript for all undergraduate (cumulative 3.0 GPA is required) and graduate work. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 are welcome to apply, but you should explain in your Purpose Statement what skills /experiences you will bring to the program or any special circumstances that affected your GPA.
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission as mandated by New York State. Applicants may be conditionally admitted without scores, but test results must be submitted no later than ten days prior to the beginning of the semester.
- Two letters of recommendation: One from a college professor and one from a work supervisor that speak to your character, work ethic and abilities.
- Current resume
Degree Candidacy
Students accepted to the MST-Childhood initial certification program must apply for Degree Candidacy after completing 12-18 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.
The Program
This clinically rich program is a cohort model that combines coursework and supervised field placements. The Childhood program consists of 48 credits. The program prepares teachers to the level of excellence specified in the SUNY Oswego School of Education Conceptual Framework and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) guidelines.
Student Teaching
Each candidate will be provided two student teaching placements. Each placement is seven weeks in length and involves a full-time commitment, all day Monday – Friday. 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 SSHS 1020 —Safe Schools, Healthy Students (or equivalent) and DASA 1020 , DASA Training.
3. Completed Student Teaching Application packet
