Childhood Teacher Certification

The elementary certification program is offered at the undergraduate level only. The program leads to certification in grades 1–6. It combines a major in an academic field 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.

Students should begin the certification program as early as possible, but no later than the beginning of their sophomore year. Students must formally apply to the program by November 1 of their sophomore year, and it is strongly recommended that they apply during their first year at Colgate. Students must reserve the fall term of their senior year for student teaching, two teaching seminars, and an advanced course on the diagnosis and remediation of reading problems.

Certificate Requirements

Education as a Social Institution

EDUC 101 - The American School

Social and Cultural Diversity in Schooling, Teaching, and Learning

One from the following:

The Nature of Childhood Education and Development

All of the following:

And One of the Following

Professional Student Teaching Semester

Educational Studies

Course requirements outside of Educational Studies

One laboratory science course in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy
One American history course
One computer literacy course from COSC 100 , CORE 143S , or PSYC 309
One mathematics course

Other Requirements

Fieldwork — 100 hours
Child abuse workshop (two hours of training in the identification of suspected child abuse/maltreatment)
Violence intervention and prevention workshop
Fingerprinting
DASA training (Dignity for All Students Act)