The Education Department is located in the St. Thomas More House at the corner of Route 9 and Fiddlers Lane
Phone: (518) 783-4122
Fax: (518) 782-6571
1 Fiddlers Lane - Loudonville, NY 12211

As an NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accredited institution, the purpose of the Department of Education is to provide sound professional preparation for secondary school teachers of academic subjects. The tradition of Siena College requires broad training in the liberal arts as well as a concentration in a major field of study. The Department’s goal is to enable educators to acquire the professional knowledge base and competencies characteristic of effective teaching. Through our goal of preparing teachers well-grounded in the professional knowledge base and the Franciscan liberal arts tradition, the mission of the Department of Education reflects the mission of the College. Within this framework, students develop the skills of critical thinking and expression as well as empathy and concern for all individuals.

The Department offers programs leading to New York State Initial Teacher Certification  in Adolescence Education (grades 7-12) in the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, and Spanish. The Department also offers a program leading to New York State Initial Teacher Certification in Business and Marketing (all grades).

As part of their course work, students will complete one hundred hours of field experience prior to the student teaching experience. For students in the certification sequence, these experiences are in varied secondary school settings. The experiences follow the guidelines outlined in the Field Experience Program Handbook provided to every participating student, classroom teacher, and principal. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Students who successfully complete EDUC—360 (Adolescence and Schooling) and EDUC—385 (Teaching and Learning in the Middle School), and who have completed an approved program for an initial certificate in adolescence education grades 7-12, are eligible for an extension of their teaching certificate into grades 5-6. This extension is not offered for students in programs leading to New York State initial teacher certification in Business and Marketing (all grades).

In addition, the department offers elective courses that will allow students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the field of education. For the non-certification student whose career goals are education-related, the department provides the opportunity to develop a sequence of courses that will serve as a foundation for graduate work in fields such as elementary education, school psychology, guidance and counseling, school social work, reading, or special education.

New York State requires that all prospective teachers study a language other than English at the college level for one year or its equivalent. The Department has guidelines for CLEP-exam “equivalence.”

The Teacher Preparation program at Siena College is accredited by the
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education