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Chapter VI: Elementary and Secondary Teacher Preparation
Teacher Certification Preparation
SUNY Brockport offers undergraduate teacher preparation for students seeking a career in the teaching profession. Students complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in one of the academic majors, in conjunction with a teacher education program leading to certification. Each program provides opportunities for early participation, observation, or tutoring experiences, and culminates in a teaching experience in an area public school.
Graduates of SUNY Brockport are, in the broad sense, liberally educated persons with in-depth knowledge in the area of their academic majors.* Those who complete one of the College’s teacher preparation programs are, in addition, provided with the skills that are necessary to foster learning in an often culturally, socially and intellectually diverse group of students.
Teacher Certification
Students who complete a degree from SUNY Brockport that includes an approved program
of teacher preparation for certification are eligible for the College’s recommendation
for a teaching credential.
Approved programs satisfy New York state academic requirements and, under the terms of the Interstate Agreement, the academic requirements for an initial certificate in many other states. The Application for Certificate should be filed with the College’s Office of Certification and Licensure during the semester in which the student is completing degree requirements.
The New York State Education Department requires that all candidates for an initial teaching certificate achieve satisfactory scores on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the Content Speciality Test (CST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE).
For professional certification, the state requires completion of a master’s degree and appropriate professional experience.
Information concerning the pass rates of SUNY Brockport students on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and the statewide pass rates on those tests, is available on request from the College’s Office of Certification and from the Departments of Education and Human Development, Physical Education and Sport, Health Science, and Dance.
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards and revised NY State Board of Regents policies may lead to changes in education programs and certification requirements during the term of this catalog.
Information regarding New York state certification policies and procedures may be obtained from the SUNY Brockport Office of Certification. Information concerning Brockport’s professional education programs is available from the Departments of Education and Human Development, Physical Education and Sport, Health Science, and Dance.
Teacher Certification Programs
The BA/BS Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 2, Certification Program includes an approved academic major and additional pre-professional preparation cognates
courses. The professional education sequence consists of Child Psychology; Inquiry
into Learning; Principles for Healthful Living; Emergent Language and Literacy; Integrated
Early Childhood Curriculum I; Early Childhood Seminar; Sociocultural Diversity/Working
With Families; Diverse Needs of Learners; Supporting Young Children’s Language and
Literacy Learning, Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum II; Education in Society;
Practicum in Early Childhood Education; and Professional Development Seminar.
The BA/BS Childhood Education, 1-6, Certification Program includes an approved academic major and additional pre-professional preparation cognate courses. The professional education sequence consists of Child Psychology; Inquiry into Learning; Principles for Healthful Living; Emergent Language and Literacy; The Learner in Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies I; Language, Literacy, and the Learner; The Learner in Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies II; Diverse Needs of Learners, Education and Society; Practicum in Childhood Education; and Professional Development Seminar.
A student who is pursuing childhood certification may extend that certificate to Bilingual Education and thus be prepared to teach in either a monolingual or a bilingual Spanish-English elementary school classroom. The certification program includes a major in Spanish with a concentration in bilingual-multicultural studies, a practicum experience in a bilingual setting, and satisfactory completion of language proficiency examinations in both English and Spanish.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Social Studies Certification Program includes a major in history, additional course work in social sciences, and a professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and foreign language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, English Certification Program includes a major in English and a professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Mathematics Certification Program includes a major in mathematics and a professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Biology and General Science Certification Program includes a major in biology and a minor in one other science (chemistry is recommended). Students also will need to complete two courses with a laboratory in each of the remaining two sciences. The professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Chemistry and General Science Certification Program includes a major chemistry; two courses, each with laboratory, in the other three sciences (biology, earth sciences, and physics); and a minor in one of the other sciences (biology, earth sciences, or physics). The professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Earth Sciences and General Science Certification Program includes a major in earth sciences and a minor in one other science. Students also will need to complete two courses with a laboratory in each of the remaining two sciences. The professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA/BS Adolescence Education, Physics and General Science Certification Program includes a major in physics and a minor in one other science. Students also will need to complete two courses with a laboratory in each of the remaining two sciences. The professional education sequence consisting of: foreign language requirement (equivalent of six credits of same language); Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA Adolescence Education, French Certification Program includes a major in French, demonstration of language proficiency, and a professional education sequence consisting of: Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
The BA Adolescence Education, Spanish Certification Program includes a major in Spanish, demonstration of language proficiency, and a professional education sequence consisting of: Principles for Healthful Living; BCEC Experience (evidence of 40 hours or more of supervised field experience working in schools in Grades 5-12); Adolescence; Frameworks for Teaching; Middle School Curriculum and Instruction; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas I; Teaching English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language Inclusively; Secondary Students with Special Needs; Language Skills in Middle and High School Content Areas II, Education and Society; Practicum in Adolescence Education with Seminar; and Creating Positive Learning Environments.
A Bilingual Education Extension to an academic subject, 7-12, to physical education or to health education requires completion of a minor in Spanish (Track Two), interdisciplinary concentration in bilingual-multicultural studies, a practicum in a bilingual setting, and satisfactory completion of language proficiency examinations in both Spanish and English.
The BS Health Teacher, K-12 Program includes a health science major specifically designed for health educators; plus Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and Child Psychology. The professional education sequence consists of: Foundations of Health Education, Dimensions of Teaching School and Community Health, Field Experience in Health Education, Health Education Methods, Interpersonal Communication in Health Education Program Planning and Evaluation, and Practicum in School Health Education.
The BS Physical Education, K-12 Program consists of a major including courses in historical, psychological, sociocultural, philosophic, physiological, and kinesiological perspectives of sport, and competence in the activity areas, plus First Aid: Principles for Healthful Living, and Human Growth and Development. The professional sequence consists of Physical Education Curriculum, Secondary Methods, Measurement and Evaluation, Elementary Methods, Adapted Physical Education, Coaching Seminar, and Student Teaching/Coaching Practicum.
*Please note that childhood, early childhood, and adolescence education teacher preparation are not majors at SUNY Brockport; students preparing for a teaching career will complete both an academic major and an appropriate teacher preparation (certification) program.