Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department
Cynthia Benton, interim chair
Kimberly Rombach, graduate coordinator
Barbara Conrad, M.S.T. program secretary
Education Building, Room 1241
(607) 753-2449
Fax: (607) 753-5976

Overview

Create the kinds of nurturing environments that encourage scholarship and growth in emerging minds. Appreciate and support the diversity of learning styles. Help youngsters achieve success on the rewarding path to lifelong education as an elementary school teacher when you study for the M.S.T. in childhood education (1-6) at SUNY Cortland.

Program Highlights

Under the guidance of our expert childhood education faculty, you’ll build on a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences as you incorporate theory into practice. In just 15 months of full-time graduate study, including extensive school-based field experiences and two quarters of full-time student teaching, you can complete this highly marketable NCATE-accredited degree.

During three consecutive semesters plus one full summer of continuous enrollment from your starting semester through the completion of student teaching, you’ll delve into instructional options for the key topics of mathematics, science, literacy and social studies. You’ll also explore technology, research, social advocacy and working with diverse learners. Extensive practicum experiences provide the opportunity to apply theories in child development, educational foundations and classroom organization and management to real-world situations.

Culminating Experience

In addition to fulfilling the specific requirements for New York state certification, you’ll complete a minimum of two eight-week, full-time student-teaching assignments at two levels and a culminating research project.

Career Potential

With the well-regarded M.S.T. in childhood education, grades 1-6 from SUNY Cortland, you’re prepared to take your place as a teacher in the elementary school classroom.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of the online SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Application
2. An interview with graduate admissions representative
3. B.A. or B.S. in a liberal arts area from a regionally accredited college
4. Approved concentration of 36 hours in a liberal arts area
5. Minimum of two undergraduate courses in each of the following areas: English, social studies (history, geography, economics, political science, sociology), mathematics and science, as well as general preparation in the following areas: physical education, fine arts and career and occupational studies
6. Foreign language: Successful completion of one year of college-level study of a language other than English or the equivalent. More information is available under Teacher Certification  information for alternate ways of meeting this requirement.
7. Child psychology course
8. Health education course that fulfills state mandates for teacher knowledge of drug studies and alcohol/tobacco use prevention strategies (e.g. Health 265).
9. Basic competency in technology (computing) as determined by the students' records and experiences
10. Strong academic record, demonstrated by a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better, GRE scores, or other standard test scores, indicating the ability to do graduate-level work
11. Letter of introduction (writing sample) that includes a self-description, background of experience and goals to be completed as part of the online application
12. Resume

Due to the competitiveness for admission into the M.S.T. program, accepted students will be allowed to defer their admission for only up to one year. Accepted students who do not begin the program within a year of their acceptance will need to reapply to the program and pay any associated application fees.

Apply for the M.S.T. in childhood education (1-6).

Eligibility for Student Teaching

To be eligible to student teach, you must be in good academic standing, have no incompletes, complete all prerequisite education courses, have an overall Cortland grade point average of 3.0, have no grade lower than a C- in required education courses and complete the Child Abuse Recognition (CAR) and Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) workshops. You must be eligible at the time of application (the fall or spring semester prior to student teaching). If ineligible, you must reapply when eligibility is achieved. Applications for student teaching are accepted only during the fall and spring semesters at the established deadline. Winter and summer session courses cannot be used to attain eligibility for student teaching.

Minimum Average Required for M.S.T.

The M.S.T. degree will not be awarded to students who have lower than a 3.0 grade point average, both in the courses offered for the degree and in all graduate courses completed at SUNY Cortland.

Students enrolled in the M.S.T. program are required to maintain a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade point average in graduate work and will be dismissed from the College if they do not maintain the minimum average. Notification of dismissal will be made in writing by the dean’s office. No grade below C- will be counted toward the M.S.T.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all required courses in the M.S.T. program.
2. Overall grade point average of at least 3.0 in the M.S.T. program.
3. Appropriate teaching dispositions

Additional New York State Certification Requirements

1. Passing score on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
2. Passing score on the Assessment of Teaching Skills - Written (ATS-W)
3. Passing score on the Content Specialty Test (CST- Multi-subject)