Phone: (845) 257-2800
Location: School of Education, Old Main Building, Room 114
Web address: http://www.newpaltz.edu/schoolofed/

Caring, Critical, and Reflective Professionals Responsive to the Needs of a Diverse Society

The School of Education is committed to the preparation of caring, critical, and reflective professionals who are academically strong, pedagogically skilled, and responsive to the needs of our diverse society. We strive to prepare strong educators and school administrators who create communities in classrooms, schools and alternative settings where all students learn in meaningful ways. Our work is grounded in these values and commitments, which we strive to nurture in ourselves as in our students:

  • Inquiry
  • Intellectual growth
  • Professionalism
  • Appreciation of human diversity
  • Advocacy for students
  • Democratic citizenship

Programs Leading to Teacher Certification

The Departments of Adolescence Education & TESOL and Early Childhood & Childhood Education offer undergraduate teacher-preparation programs in Adolescence Education (certification to teach grades 7-12) and Early Childhood & Childhood Education (dual certification to teach birth through grade 2 and grades 1-6) as well as graduate programs in these and other certification areas. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for programs offered by the Departments of Educational Studies & Leadership, Literacy Education, and Special Education.

Non-Certification Programs

The Early Childhood Studies program prepares students to work with young children in alternative learning environments, such as daycare settings, after-school and tutoring programs, children's programs in museums and other such institutions, and parent/caregiver educational programs and workshops in schools and hospitals. The programs leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree without recommendation for the issuance of a New York State teacher certificate.

Also available is a minor in Adolescence Education. Though the minor does not lead to eligibility for a New York State teacher certificate, it may be of interest to students seeking an introduction to the field of secondary education. For more information about this new program, please contact a faculty advisor in the Department of Adolescence Education & TESOL.

In addition to offering graduate degree and certificate programs, the Department of Educational Studies & Leadership supports undergraduate educator-preparation programs through its Educational Foundations Unit. The department's undergraduate foundations courses address the political, social and historical issues of American education and satisfy key teacher-certification requirements. An undergraduate minor in Social Justice Educational Studies is also available.

Accreditation

SUNY New Paltz is fully accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). AAQEP accredits programs that prepare professional educators (including teachers, school leaders and administrators, and other education-related personnel) and that lead to recognized degrees at the bachelor's, post-baccalaureate, or master's level and/or to recognized post-degree professional certificates or endorsements, across the United States and its territories and dependencies.