2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 06, 2024  
2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Social Philosophy BA/MST 4+1 [SPHI]


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The 4+1 Program in Philosophy and Education allows SUNY Cortland students to complete a BA in Social Philosophy and an MST in Education in just five years. With just one additional year of coursework, students in the program graduate as certified teachers, able to teach grades 1-6. An advantage of this alternative way into elementary teaching is that upon completion of the BA and MST the newly qualified teacher does not need to complete another Master's Degree.

In addition to courses for the major in Social Philosophy students will complete the prerequisites for admission into the MST. The prerequisites include:

  • Two courses in each : English, Social Studies, Math, and Science
  • A concentration of 18-24 credits (effectively a minor) in one of the following: English, Social Studies, Math, or Science
  • A course in each : Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Health
  • A course in Child Psychology
  • A course in Foundations of Education
  • Competency in technology

Students in the program will apply to the MST graduate program in their final year of coursework.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Social Philosophy BA program, students will be able to:

  1. Judge and interpret texts critically
  2. Construct and write logical philosophical arguments
  3. Identify and classify the significant conceptual and ethical dimensions of diversity, pluralism and marginality
  4. Understand, interpret and judge the significant issues of social justice and peace
  5. Interpret and identify the major works of the global canon of philosophy

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Childhood Education (1-6) MST program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply and promote their knowledge of child development, learning, and learning environments to support each and every child's/student's development and learning.
  2. Develop authentic and meaningful relationships with families and utilize understanding of the communities in their field experience sites for planning and instruction.
  3. Engage in authentic assessment practices, including for planning, to engage and support each and every child/student and their families.
  4. Create and utilize developmentally effective approaches, educational technology, instruction, and classroom environments, to support each and every child/student's learning.
  5. Apply their accurate use of content knowledge to develop meaningful, developmentally appropriate, engaging, and culturally responsive curriculum and learning environments for each and every child/student
  6. Develop and demonstrate professionalism, guide decisions based on ethical standards and advocate for children and families in the field, collaborate with colleagues to support each and every child/student, and engage as a lifelong learner.

Minimum Average Requirement for MST

The MST 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 MST 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 MST.

Click here for additional requirements:

  • Graduate Admissions Process
  • Admissions Criteria
  • Application Deadlines
  • Student Teaching Eligibility

For more information, visit the Philosophy Department.

Undergraduate Requirements


A. Required Courses: 18 credit hours


100-level courses: 9 credit hours


200-level courses: 9 credit hours


B. Additional Hours in Philosophy: 15 credit hours


Choose any PHI courses at the 300-level and above

C. MST Prerequisites: 52 credit hours


GPA Requirement. Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above is required. 

Two courses in ENG (6 credit hours)

Two courses selected from SOC, GRY, HIS, POL or ECO (6 credit hours)

Two courses in MAT (6 credit hours)

Two courses selected from BIO, PHY, CHE or GLY (6 credit hours)

Liberal Arts Concentration in English, Social Studies, Math or Science (12 credit hours).
Complete one of the following minors:
English: Minor with an Emphasis in Language and Literature,
English: Minor with an Emphasis in Literature and Writing,
English: Minor with an Emphasis in Literature,
Sociology minor, Political Science minor, History minor, Geography minor, Math minor, Economics minor, Chemistry minor, Biology minor, Geology minor, or Physics minor.

Fine Arts: one course in GEAR [The Arts] (3 credit hours)

Physical Education: one course in PED (1 credit hour)

Health Science: one course in HLH (3 credit hours)

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120


Graduate Requirements


Program Requirements


Students are expected to maintain continual, consecutive enrollment in the program from their starting semester through to the completion of student teaching. When circumstances warrant, students may apply for a leave of absence. In the leave of absence application, students must provide a specific date of return to the university. Students must register for courses within one academic year of the original date of their leave of absence.

Students not returning to register within one year will be classified as officially withdrawn from the program. Students seeking to return to the program after more than a year's absence are required to reapply to the program and pay any associated application fees. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior course work may not apply to program requirements. 

A. Summer Sessions I and II: 12 credit hours plus 25 field hours


Summer Session I


      EDU 510 Inquiry into Teaching, Curriculum and Student Learning (3 cr. hr.)
      EDU 656 Classroom Applications of Child Developement, Classroom Behavior and Management (3 cr. hr.)

Summer Session II


      FSA 510 Teaching the Special Education Learner in the General Education Classroom (3 cr. hr.)
      LIT 511 Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades (3 cr. hr.)

B. Fall Semester: 15 credit hours plus 150 practicum hours


      EDU 657 Elementary School Practicum and Culminating Project Seminar I (3 cr. hr.)
      EDU 512 Teaching Elementary School Mathematics (3 cr. hr.)
      EDU 513 Teaching Elementary School Science (3 cr. hr.)
      EDU 514 Teaching Elementary School Social Studies (3 cr. hr.)
      LIT 516 Teaching Literacy in the Intermediate Grades (3 cr. hr.)

C. Winter Session: 3 credit hours


      EDU 551 e-Learning and the American Classroom (3 cr. hr.)

D. Spring Semester: 15 credit hours


Student Teaching      

      EDU 690 Student Teaching I (6 cr. hr.)
      EDU 691 Student Teaching II (6 cr. hr.)
      EDU 698 Student Teaching Seminar and Culminating Project Seminar II (3 cr. hr.)

Total Credit Hours Required: 45


Example of B.A. in Social Philosophy over four years


First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Fall


  • (3 cr. hr.)
  • MST prerequisite (3 cr. hr.)
    MST prerequisite (3 cr. hr.)
    MST prerequisite (3 cr. hr.)
    Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 12


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