Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department
Kim Wieczorek, chair
Jacob Hall, M.S.T. program coordinator
Kelly McKenna, M.S.T. program administrative assistant 

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 and as a graduate of the M.S.T. in childhood education program (1-6) at SUNY Cortland.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this 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/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.

Program Highlights

Under the guidance of our expert childhood education faculty, teacher candidates will build on a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences as they incorporate theory into practice. In just 12 months of full-time graduate study, including extensive school-based field experiences and one semester of full-time student teaching, candidates can complete this highly marketable CAEP-accredited degree.

Starting with full-time summer enrollment through the completion of student teaching, candidates will delve into instructional options for the key topics of mathematics, science, literacy and social studies. Teacher candidates will 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.

Candidates in the part-time MST program may apply for a residency option, which provides the opportunity to complete coursework in the second year while being employed by a participating school district in a mentor teacher's classroom.

Starting fall 2023, all coursework is fully online while field work will remain in-person near candidates' homes. Part-time fall semester and spring semester start are also available. 

Culminating Experience

In addition to fulfilling the specific requirements for New York state certification, candidates will complete a full-time student-teaching assignment in an elementary classroom.

Career Potential

With the well-regarded and part-time pathways for the accelerated M.S.T. in childhood education, grades 1-6 from SUNY Cortland, teacher candidates are prepared to take their place as a teacher in the elementary school classroom.

Graduate Admission

Evaluation Policy

At the State University of New York College at Cortland, we seek a diverse and academically strong student body. Our admission policies and practices will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or marital status.

Required Materials

1. Completed online Graduate School Application - Apply Now
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Office, indicating a major in a liberal arts area
   Note: candidates for admission must present evidence of bachelor's degree conferral prior to the start of their academic program.
3. Letter of introduction (writing sample) that includes a self-description, background experience and goals 
4. Resume 
5. Two letters of recommendation

Admissions Criteria

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

1. A strong academic record, demonstrated by an overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 scale
2. Approved major or concentration of at least 30 credit hours in a liberal arts area
3. At least two undergraduate courses in each of the following areas: English, social studies (history, geography, economics, political science, sociology), mathematics and science
4. One foundations of education course
5. One health education course that fulfills state mandates for teacher knowledge of drug studies and alcohol/tobacco use prevention strategies such as the following Cortland course: HLH 265 or HLH 199

NOTE: Exceptional applicants who do not meet all of the above requirements will be considered on an individual basis. Qualified applicants who have content deficits may be required to complete program related undergraduate coursework prior to program completion. 

Deadlines

Applications: April 1 — Summer only start date

Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a space availability basis.
Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.

Accepted students in the M.S.T. in childhood education program will be allowed to defer their admission for 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.

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 and Reporting (CAR), Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) workshops. You must be eligible at the time of application (the fall semester prior to student teaching). If ineligible, you must reapply when eligibility is achieved. 

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 in education courses 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

New York state teacher certification requirements for qualified students are as follows:

1. Educating All Students Test (EAS)
2. Content Specialty Tests – Multi-subject with three subtests, including mathematics, English/language arts/literacy and Arts and Sciences subjects (CST-Multi-subject), Teachers of Childhood (Grade 1 - Grade 6)

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