Teacher Education
Consistent with the mission of the College, the goal of the Teacher Education Division programs is to produce teachers who will:
- be flexible and caring
- be personally responsible
- have a multi-cultural perspective
- be independent, reflective life-long learners, who demonstrate continuous professional growth
- demonstrate attitudes that promote positive relationships and foster learning
- address the unique developmental and educational needs of each learner to assure success
- recognize their increasing responsibilities in the classroom and in the community.
Through the Education programs, Dominican College students are prepared to create a productive learning environment; to plan and execute instructional activities; to monitor and assess student learning; to address the special developmental and educational needs of students in lower and upper grades; to work effectively with all students, regardless of gender; to work with students from minority cultures and from homes where English is not spoken; to work with students with various disabilities and with those who have gifts and talents.
Masters Programs
For information about the Masters of Science in Education programs (Childhood Education, Teachers of Students with Disabilities, Educational Media/Technology and Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired), see section on Graduate Programs later in this Catalog.
Undergraduate students at the College who are interested in pursuing post-baccalaureate studies in one of these programs should consult their Faculty Advisors about the College's SYROP ("Senior Year Overlap") option, by which qualified seniors can finish their requirements for the baccalaureate degree while simultaneously beginning their progress toward the Master's degree. Courses for which a Portfolio can be completed and credited towards graduate study include: SE 330, SE 336, SE 441 and SE 465. For further information and timely advisement regarding this Option, the student should express his/her interest at the time of admission to the undergraduate program.
Undergraduate Programs
Dominican College offers programs leading to eligibility for New York State Certification in the following areas:
- Childhood Education
- Dual Certification in Childhood/Early Childhood Education
- Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities
- Adolescence Education
Biology
English
Mathematics
Social Studies
- Dual Certification in Adolescence Education /SWD Generalist (Grades 7-12)
Dominican College's programs in Teacher Education are accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (T.E.A.C.). TEAC, One Dupont Circle, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036-1110.
Students desiring to prepare for careers in Childhood Education or Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded to candidates who successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester hours in an approved program of study. A minimum of 90 semester hours in liberal arts, including a major, is required for the B.A. degree.
Majors may be selected from one of the following areas:
English (30 cr. beyond EN 113 or EN 115)
History (30)
Humanities (33–36)
Mathematics (31 beyond MA 112)
Social Sciences (36)
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree is awarded upon the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours in an approved program of study. A minimum of 75 semester hours in liberal arts is required, including a designated liberal arts concentration, which may be selected from the following areas:
American Studies (30 cr.)
Humanities (30)
Mathematics (31 beyond MA 112)
Natural Sciences (32)
Students desiring to prepare for careers in Adolescence Education, or Adolescence Education/SWD Generalist (Grades 7-120 must pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in a liberal arts major. The majors available are as follows:
Biology (31 credits)
English (36 credits)
Mathematics (37 credits)
Social Sciences (48 credits)
Childhood Certification Extension, Grades 7-9
Students in the Childhood Education program may pursue an extended certification to teach in the middle school (grades 7-9) as well as in grades 1-6, by meeting certain additional requirements in their subject area and in adolescent psychology, literacy, and methods courses. Certification may be obtained in English, Math, or Social Studies. In addition to their Childhood Education requirements, students who seek the upward extension must successfully complete PS 115 Adolescent Psychology AND one of the following:
ED/EN 455 Teaching English (Middle School)
ED/MA 456 Teaching Mathematics (Middle School)
ED/SS 457 Teaching Social Studies (Middle School)
Adolescence Certification Extension, Grades 5-6
Students in the Adolescence Education program may pursue an extended certification to teach in grades 5 and 6 as well as in grades 7-12 by meeting additional requirements in their developmental psychology, literacy, and methods courses. In addition to their Adolescence Education requirements, students who seek the downward extension must successfully complete an extended three credit Childhood Education methodology class from the following:
ED 463A Teaching Mathematics (Childhood Education)
ED 463B Teaching Science (Childhood Education)
ED 463C Teaching Social Studies (Childhood Education)
Early Childhood Certification Extension, Birth - Grade 2
Students in the Childhood Education program may also pursue an extended certification in Early Childhood Education. Those who wish to be eligible for this extension complete all of the requirements in Childhood Education and 12 additional credits of coursework dedicated to early childhood education (ED 333, 334, 335, and 336).
For all the Education programs and extension levels: in addition to enrolling in the Teacher Education Division, students must also enroll in the division which offers the major or concentration. Students will be assigned advisors from both divisions.
Certification Eligibility
The Division of Teacher Education reserves all rights and prerogatives with respect to accepting students into the Division, allowing students to continue coursework, and making recommendations for New York State teaching certification to the New York State Education Department.
Applicants for New York State teaching certificates are required to pass the appropriate tests in the New York State Teacher Certification Examination program.
A minimum of three tests and a teaching performance video is required for all students completing all program requirements after 4/30/2014:
- Academic Literacy Skills Test (A.L.S.T.) --formerly the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (L.A.S.T.)
- Educating All Students Test (EAST)--formerly Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (A.T.S.W)
- Teacher Performance Assessment Video (T.P.A.V.)
- Revised Content Specialty Test (R.C.S.T.)
Students seeking dual certification in the Students with Disabilities area must also take a second R.C.S.T. Exam
Students completing all program requirements before 5/1/2014 will be be grandparented under the former NYS Education Department requirements: L.A.S.T., A.T.S.W. and C.S.T.
(For the year of the most recently reported State results, Dominican students passed the L.A.S.T. at a rate of 92%, the A.T.S.W. at a rate of 100%, and the C.S.T. at a rate of 81%.)
Admission to the Programs:
- Office of Admissions determines eligibility to matriculate at Dominican College. Candidates for the Teacher Education Program must first be admitted to the College through the Office of Admissions.
- Students desiring to be accepted into a program leading to teacher certification make formal application to the Division of Teacher Education by the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students must file an application in their first semester at the College. Acceptance will be contingent upon the applicant's previous academic performance, as well as performance on the required screening tests in literacy skills (speaking, writing, reading) and an interview with the Director of Teacher Education. Where problems are detected, students will be advised to seek appropriate help, either at the College or outside, in order to enhance their pedagogical abilities and employment prospects. The interview will be conducted midpoint each semester during a two week period only. At the time of the application, students are required to submit a self-reflective essay and three letters of recommendation, on formal stationery, by former teachers, guidance counselors, employers, or professors other than those in the Teacher Education Division. Students are responsible for contacting the secretary in Casey Hall for the interview dates. Those who miss the schedule will have to wait for the following semester to be interviewed. Upon acceptance, the student will be appointed an advisor from the Teacher Education Division in addition to an advisor in the major or area of concentration. Registration forms must be signed by both advisors. The major/concentration advisor must be contacted first.
- For entrance and continuance in the programs, students must follow the prescribed courses of the program, maintain a minimum 2.7 cumulative index, and pass the newly developed New York State Academic Literacy Skills Test (A.L.S.T). Transfer students must have a minimum C+ in program courses they wish to transfer into the College in order to have these courses accepted.
- Students must earn grades of "C+" or higher for all prescribed courses, including courses in the major/concentration (whether or not this grade is required by the major/concentration program itself) and in the "Liberal Arts Requirements" specified below.
- No more than one Education course may be repeated, and that course may be repeated only once.
- All students, including transfer students, must meet the College's writing proficiency requirements: see English curriculum, "College English Requirements." Transfer students who enter with no transferable mathematics courses also need to take the math placement test. Students whose performance on these tests fails to meet College standards will be required to raise their competencies to a passing level before acceptance into the program. This effort may require appropriate laboratory and/or coursework as determined by the College.
- Students who hold a baccalaureate degree and are seeking credits toward certification may be admitted at the discretion of the Director of Teacher Education and must meet the same program admissions criteria as those for matriculated students. Post-baccalaureate students must submit their credentials to the NY State Department of Education for evaluation before being allowed to begin courses for certification.
- Students accepted into a Teacher Education Division program must submit and update each semester a student resume which conforms to a format provided by the division.
Up-to-date information about the labor market and job availability for teachers in the College's geographic area is available via internet at www.olasjobs.org.
General Program Requirements
- Completion of General Education Curriculum (see G.E.C. section) and required minimum in liberal arts courses*, including the courses specified for each program leading to initial certification;
- Major or area of concentration;
- Professional sequence as described on the following pages;
- Electives.
* 90 semester hours in liberal arts are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree; 75 semester hours in liberal arts are required for the Bachelor of Science degree.
SEMESTER HOURS IN EXCESS OF THE 120 MINIMUM ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE SOME PROGRAMS. TO MEET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, STUDENTS MAY NEED OR CHOOSE TO TAKE COURSEWORK IN SPECIAL SESSIONS.
