Welcome to the Department of
Elementary Education and Reading

Dr. Hanfu Mi

We have a long and distinguished history in teacher education and we take great pride in continuing to promote excellence in classroom teaching. All of the programs within the Division of Education are nationally recognized and are served by faculty committed to professional excellence in teaching and research.

The Elementary Education and Reading Department is the largest on campus, serving approximately 1100 elementary education majors at the undergraduate level.

Currently, the Department offers three teacher education programs:

Early Childhood Education (Birth through Grade 2);
Childhood Education (Grade 1 through Grade 6);
Early Childhood/Childhood Dual Certificate (Birth through Grade 6)

The curriculum in each program consists of coursework in three areas: general education, a liberal arts concentration, and professional education. Within the general education component, candidates take courses in a variety of disciplines to build academic and professional excellence. The Department has carefully designated courses in Mathematics, Science, Social Science, American History, Western Civilization, Humanities, Arts, and Basic Communication that closely align with the New York State Learning Standards and will prepare candidates to pass the New York State Teacher Certification exams. Through additional coursework in one of thirteen designated concentrations tied to the New York State Learning Standards, candidates gain an understanding of the structure and the critical thinking skills required in a discipline.

It is within the professional education courses that candidates expand their knowledge to include pedagogical content knowledge, i.e., knowledge that enables teachers to help students learn various content areas. Courses in education and educational psychology provide candidates with the knowledge, comprehension and application of effective teaching skills and strategies, based on current theory and research. Beginning with the first education course, Issues in Education, that may be taken as a freshman or a first-semester transfer student, candidates are introduced to the teaching profession, and they begin to investigate teaching effectiveness. Through a variety of early field experiences (over 100 hours prior to student teaching), candidates explore the educational implications of working with a diverse student body, and they observe, develop, and practice best teaching strategies.

Despite the large number of majors in our Department, education class sizes generally range from 20 to 30, and allow for plenty of classroom interaction, individual attention, and support from faculty. A particular strength of the program is that during the first semester of the senior year, candidates enroll as cohort groups of 20 to 25 in a block of five methods courses. The purpose of this is to promote a collegial and supportive environment as candidates develop and practice their teaching strategies. The methods semester culminates in a three-week full-time participation experience in local classrooms where candidates serve as teaching assistants. The final semester consists of two student teaching placements that may be done in various districts throughout New York State.

For those graduates ready to move on to graduate school, our Department offers graduate programs in Literacy Education Birth through Grade 6, and  Grade 5 through Grade 12 (both part-time evening programs), Special Education: Early Childhood Education and Special Education: Childhood Education.

If you are ready to make a contribution to the field of education, we hope that you will take some time to review our programs and decide to join us in our mission to promote excellence in teaching and the meaningful learning of all students.

We look forward to meeting you and working with you.

Undergraduate Programs

Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
SUNY Oneonta/Mohawk Valley Community College CHED (1-6)
Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade2)
Early Childhood/Childhood Education Dual Certificate (Birth-Grade 6)
Concentrations

Non-Course Requirements:
                   CHED 1-6
                   ECHE B-2
                   ECCE B-6

Graduate Programs

M.S. in Ed- Childhood Education~ Grades 1-6
Childhood Education with Literacy
M.S. in Ed- Literacy Education~ Birth-Grade 6
M.S. in Ed- Literacy Education~ Grade 5-12
Educational Technology Specialist
Special Education: Early Childhood Education
Special Education: Childhood Education
Admission Requirements