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Our certification program is separate from the Colgate degree, and students will need to apply to get into the program. The director of the program advises students on Colgate coursework, classroom observation placement, student teaching placements in local schools, and all other NY State license requirements based on certification pathway as they are earning their degree at Colgate.

Our secondary education certification program (grades 7-12) is offered at the undergraduate and graduate (MAT) levels. with certification available in English, history, mathematics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and physics. The program combines a major in one of these chosen academic fields with courses in educational theory and practice. Students who complete the program will have a strong background in teacher education and a New York State-approved major from a department on campus. Colgate also offers a tuition-free 9th semester option where you'll student teach the fall semester after you graduate. This allows undergraduate students more time to complete all teacher certification requirements. 

University catalog

Adolescence/Secondary Education NYS Certification Course Requirements 

Educational Studies Courses for Certification Requirements

• EDUC 101 - The American School (for Foundations of Education requirement)
• EDUC 202 - The Teaching of Reading (for Literacy Skills requirements)
• EDUC 204 - Child and Adolescent Development (for Development and Learning requirements)
• EDUC 207 - Inclusive and Anti-Ableist Education (for Teaching Students with Disabilities & Special Health-Care Needs)
• EDUC 454 - Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Problems
• EDUC 455 - Student Teaching (for 70 day student teaching requirement)
• One EDUC elective (for Social and Cultural Diversity in Schooling, Teaching, and Learning requirement),
• EDUC 456 - Dignity in Schools (0.25 credits), (for DASA requirement) - a 2-week, all-day course that starts before student teaching, many times one week before Colgate classes start in the fall. Students will need to complete the following before this course starts (NY State requirement):
  • 100 hours of fieldwork observations,
  • 3 workshops (Child abuse, reporter & violence intervention and prevention), and
  • Fingerprinting (not located in Hamilton, NY)

One of the following courses (for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment requirement):

• EDUC 231 - Inquiry Based Teaching in the Schools
• EDUC 214 - Theories of Teaching and Learning
• EDUC 321 - Psychological Perspectives in Education

One of the following lab courses (for the fieldwork requirement):

• EDUC 214 Lab- TPP Observation Hours
• EDUC 231 Lab-TPP Observation Hours 

One of the following courses based on certification field (childhood education students take both):

• EDUC 451 - Seminar on Curriculum and Instruction in English/Social Studies (for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment requirement)
• EDUC 453 - Seminar on Curriculum and Instruction in Science/Mathematics (for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment requirement)

Certification Content Required Coursework for Secondary Pathway (grades 7-12):

English: major in English with coursework in composition, English literature, poetry, playwriting, grammar, and English linguistics. 2 classes of study in related areas such as speech, drama, theater, and journalism. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.
Social Studies: major in History with coursework in areas such as: economics, government, United States history, world history, geography, sociology, anthropology, and political science. 1 class in economics and 1 class in geography are required. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.

Mathematics: major in math with coursework in areas such as: mathematical reasoning, quantitative methods, number theory and concepts, algebra, analytic geometry, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, data analysis, probability, and discrete mathematics. A maximum 2 classes of S.H. of statistics coursework (offered by a Mathematics or Statistics department) can be accepted. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.

Chemistry: major in Chemistry with coursework in areas such as: scientific methods, matter and atomic structure, energy, chemical bonds and molecular structure, chemical reactions and quantitative relationships. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.

Biology: major in Biology with coursework in areas such as: scientific methods, cell biology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, comparative anatomy, genetics and evolution, biological diversity, human biology, and ecology. Introductory chemistry sequence is also required. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.

Earth Science: major in Earth and Environmental Geosciences  with coursework in scientific methods, space systems, atmospheric systems, geological systems, and water systems. 2 classes in astronomy are required. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information. 

Physics: major in Physics with coursework in scientific methods, mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, waves, sound, light, and quantum theory and the atom. See the Teacher Preparation Director for more information.

Related Programs

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)

The Masters of Arts in Teaching at º£½ÇÉçÇø is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The Teacher Preparation Program at º£½ÇÉçÇø has received accreditation of its educator preparation programs under the AAQEP standards with a successful Quality Assurance Review in Spring 2022.