Education

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Accreditation

  • The Teacher Preparation Program at Siena College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
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FAQs Education Department

What about elementary education certification?
Siena College currently offers a program that leads to secondary certification only (grades 7-12) in English, History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, and Business and Marketing (all grades). However, most Liberal Arts Siena College graduates who have completed 4 or more Education courses and are recommended by Siena College’s Education Department can get automatic acceptance into the Masters level elementary certification at Sage Graduate School. Upon completion of that program these students will be certified to teach at the elementary school level.

What graduate level programs do you offer?
Siena College is strictly an undergraduate college and does not offer any
graduate level programs. We do, however,  have an agreement with Sage Graduate School’s School of Education, and Siena College graduates who are recommended by the Education Department may go on to the graduate programs that that school offers.

Can I get a major or minor in Education?
With the exception of a Religious Studies/Education major, Siena College offer a program that leads to secondary certification, but this is not a major or minor in education.  Students in the Teacher Certification Program must meet all of the course requirements for their major and will receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

When should I start to take Education courses?
Generally, work in the education core is completed in the sophomore and junior years. Although you will be advised through the appropriate department concerning requirements in your major, students in education programs should consult with the Education Department faculty early concerning program and certification policies. Students who are not formally enrolled in the Teacher Certification Program, but who are interested in using education for related career opportunities, may seek advisement from the Education Department staff as well.

What subjects can I get certified to teach?
Siena College’s Education department offers programs leading to New York State initial teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 7-12) in the following areas: English, French, Spanish, Social Studies (for American Studies, History, Political Science, and Sociology majors), Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Business and Marketing (in all grades for majors in Accounting, Economics [B.S.], Finance, and Marketing and Management)

Can I teach subjects below grade 7?
Students who successfully complete EDUC-360 (Adolescence and Schooling) and EDUC-385 (Teaching and Learning in the Middle School), and who have completed all other requirements of Siena Colleges program for secondary certification, are eligible for an extension of their teaching certificate into elementary grades 5-6. This extension only allows you to teach the subject area in which you hold certification—not all subjects in 5th and 6th grades

What other educational programs and opportunities are available?
The Education Department offers elective courses that will allow students in the Teacher Certification Program the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the field of education. For students who are not enrolled in the certification program, but whose career goals include teaching at the elementary grades level or 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.

Siena/Sage Graduate School Agreement

An agreement between SienaCollege and Sage Graduate School affords Siena graduates who have completed our secondary certification program automatic acceptance to a masters degree program in Elementary Education, Health Education, Guidance and Counseling, Reading, Special Education, and Reading/Special Education.

Siena students who do not enter our secondary certification program can still receive automatic acceptance in the programs listed by completing an acceptable series of courses at Siena with a recommendation from the Siena Education department faculty.

Other advantages include waiver of the application fee, graduate advisement in spring of the senior year and automatic acceptance into the one-year internship program and the opportunity to apply early for graduate assistantships in Sage Graduate Schools.

Religious Studies—Education Major:

This program is designed for Religious Studies majors who desire to teach or become coordinators of religious education programs. Students must fulfill all of the requirements for the major in Religious Studies and, in addition, take the following courses in education: EDUC-210, EDUC-260, EDUC-261 (with EDUC—365 strongly recommended), EDUC-481, EDUC –461, EDUC-485, EDUC-487, EDUC-488, EDUC-495, and EDUC-496. Students will be awarded a certificate from the Religious Studies and Education Departments attesting to successful completion of the above program.

Do I have to study a language other than English to become certified to teach?
New York State requires that all prospective teachers study a language other than English at the college level or its equivalent. The Education Department has guidelines for "equivalence." This means that to become certified to teach you must have at least one college level credit in a second language (including American Sign Language). However, some departments (English, History, and American Studies) require students to have a minimum of 6 college level credits in a second language to be eligible to receive the bachelors degree. You must check the second language requirement for your academic department and also check with the academic department to see if they allow American Sign Language to satisfy this requirement.

What are the requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Certification program?
Students must apply to the Education Professions Committee (EPC) for acceptance into the Teacher Certification program. This committee consists of a representative from the Writing Center and each of the following departments: Business, Biology, History, Mathematics, Chemistry, Education, Modern Languages/Classics, English, and Physics. The EPC will evaluate each applicant's portfolio which will contain the academic history of the student and the items listed below:

SIENA UNDERGRADUATES: minimum overall GPA of at least 2.75 (This varies by department)

  • Submit completed application to the Director of Clinical Experience
  • Successful completion of EDU 210, 260, and 261 [minimum GPA of 3.0 in education]
  • Endorsement by the subject matter department (Required GPA varies)
  • Submission of an acceptable writing portfolio
  • Endorsement by the Department of Education
  • Review and acceptance by the Education Professions Committee.

RETURNING STUDENTS: minimum overall GPA of at least 2.75 (This varies by department)

  • Endorsement by the subject matter department after a review of transcripts
  • Application for Student Teaching submitted to the Director of Clinical Experiences;
  • Application for Admission as a Special Student and $25 fee submitted to the Director of Clinical Experiences;
  • Successful completion of EDU 210, 260, and 261 [minimum GPA of 3.0 in education];
  • Submission of an acceptable writing portfolio
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation from former professors and/or employers
  • Endorsement by the Department of Education
  • Interview with and acceptance by the Education Professions Committee.

ALL MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCES ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE START OF STUDENT TEACHING (BEFORE OCTOBER 1 FOR THE FOLLOWING FALL SEMESTER AND BEFORE FEBRUARY 1 FOR THE FOLLOWING SPRING SEMESTER).

Do I have to take any state exams for certification?
For Initial Certification in 7-12 Academic Subjects (English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish and Social Studies) and Business and Marketing (all grades) in New York State you must receive passing scores on the following Three   New York StateTeacher Certification Examinations:

  1. Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
  2. Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills - Written (AST-W)
  3. Content Specialty Test (CST)

What are the course requirements for the program?
Students seeking certification, in addition to meeting College and major requirements, are required by the Department to complete the Education Core (EDUC—210, EDUC—260, and EDUC-261) and the
Professional Sequence (EDUC—461, EDUC—485, EDUC—487, EDUC—488, EDUC—495, and EDUC—496).

Generally, work in the Education core is completed during the sophomore and junior years. The Professional Sequence may begin in the second semester of a student’s junior year because EDUC—481 Instructional Theory and Practice in Inclusive Schools must be completed in the semester immediately prior to the student’s Professional Semester (EDUC—461 Literacy in Middle and High Schools, EDUC—485 Student Teaching Seminar: The Reflective Practitioner, EDUC—487 Clinical Experience in the Middle School and EDUC—488 Clinical Experience in the High School, EDUC—495 Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Workshop and EDUC—496 Child Abuse and School Violence  Workshop).

During the Professional Semester, the student will be required to participate in classes and seminars on a weekly basis in addition to student teaching.

Are field experiences required in any of the courses?
As part of their course work, students will complete at least a 20-hour field experience in all required education courses prior to the professional sequence. The experience follows the guidelines outlined in the Field Experience Program Handbook provided to every participating student, classroom teacher, and principal. It is expected that the placement will be in an elementary or secondary school. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

In the professional sequence, as part of EDUC-481, students complete a field experience of at least 20 hours in each future student teaching site.

What if I plan to study abroad?
Students planning to study abroad are urged to consult early with faculty in the Education Department about their schedules Students need to plan their programs so that they meet and follow the requirements of the Professional Sequence and Professional Semester (which is a full semester devoted to Clinical Experiences). The international experience may not interrupt the professional sequence.

What if I already have a bachelor's degree from Siena or another college or university?
On a limited basis the Department offers the opportunity to attain an Initial Teaching Certificate in Adolescence Education (grades 7-12) or an Initial Teaching Certificate in Business and Marketing (all grades) to individuals who already possess a bachelor’s degree. The program consists of a minimum of 28 credit hours, not including the State foreign language requirement. To be admitted the individual must follow the procedures for Returning Students. Further information is available in the Education Department. A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 is required. Individual programs will vary according to the prior educational experiences of the student. However, any program devised will always contain the requirement for completion of the entire Professional Sequence through Siena’s Education Department.

Who can take Education electives?
In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for certification, the Department encourages its students to elect other Education courses that will broaden the base of the student’s professional knowledge and increase his/her ability to deal with the complex problems being met by classroom teachers today. These electives are also open to non-Education students who desire to consider educational questions in a formal manner.