Teacher Education

Dominican University New York’s Teacher Education programs are committed to preparing teacher candidates who will be able to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. The goals of these programs are reflective of the University’s mission, informed by its heritage, and aligns its goals with the University-wide goals for every student in the following ways:

Educate the Mind – in keeping with this goal, we will produce teachers who have the knowledge/skills necessary to recognize their increasing responsibilities in the classroom and community.

Develop the Self – in keeping with this goal, we will produce teachers who are personally responsible, flexible and caring. They will be independent, reflective learners who demonstrate continuous growth.

Serve the Community – in keeping with this goal, we will produce teachers who have a multicultural perspective and have the knowledge/skills necessary to collaborate with colleagues and meet the unique developmental and educational needs of each learner.

Inspire Change - in keeping with this goal, we will produce teachers who demonstrate attitudes that promote positive human relationships and foster learning.

Through the Education programs, Dominican University New York 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, and Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired), see section on Graduate Programs later in this Catalog.

Undergraduate students at the University who are interested in pursuing post-baccalaureate studies in one of these programs should consult their Faculty Advisors about the University’s SYROP ("Senior Year Overlap") option, by which qualified seniors can finish their requirements for the baccalaureate degree while simultaneously be-ginning 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 under-graduate program.

Undergraduate Programs

Dominican University New York 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)
• Dual Certification in Adolescence Education/SWD with Biology, English, Mathematic or Social Studies (Grades 7-12)

Dominican University New York’s programs in Teacher Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Pro-grams (CAEP), 1140 19th St NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.

The undergraduate and graduate programs in Teacher Education at Dominican University New York are in transition from accreditation by CAEP to accreditation by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP):

The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation
P.O. Box 7511
Fairfax Station, VA 22039-9998.
Email: aaqep@aaqep.org.

Pursuant to the Regulations (§52.21) of the New York Commissioner of Education, the educator preparation programs offered by Dominican University New York are considered continuously ac-credited for purposes of meeting the New York State requirement that all such programs maintain continuous accreditation. Students desiring to prepare for careers in Early Childhood/Child-hood Education, 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 success-fully 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 123 or EN 115)
• History (30)
• Humanities (33–36)
• Mathematics (31 beyond MA 112)
• Social Sciences (Concentration: History) (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 7-12) 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 (Concentration: History) (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 215 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 ex-tended 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 9 additional credits of coursework dedicated to early childhood education (ED 333, 334, and 335).

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 two tests and a teaching performance assessment video is required for all students completing all program requirements:

• Educating All Students Test (EAS)
• Content Specialty Test (CST)

Students seeking dual certification in the Students with Disabilities area must also take a second CST/SWD.

Candidates for dual certification as 7-12 SWD Generalists are required to successfully complete the Multisubject (7-12) CST as well.

Admission to the Programs:

1. Office of Admissions determines eligibility to matriculate at Dominican University New York. Candidates for the Teacher Education Program must first be admitted to the University through the Office of Admissions.
2. Students desiring acceptance into a program leading to teacher certification make formal application to the Division of Teacher Education no later than the end of the first semester of their Sophomore year. Transfer students must file an application in their first semester at the University. 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 University or outside, in order to enhance their pedagogical abilities and employment prospects. The interview will be conducted midpoint each semester. At the time of the application, students are required to submit a recent photo, 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 Edu-cation 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.
3. For entrance and continuance in the programs, students must follow the prescribed courses of the program, maintain a minimum 2.7 cumulative index, and have a mini-mum of a C in all Component I courses. All students must have a minimum C+ in all other courses used to fill program requirements.
4. Once accepted into the Teacher Education program, students must earn grades of "C+" or higher in all subsequent 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.
5. No more than one Education course may be repeated, and that course may be repeated only once.
6. All students, including transfer students, must meet the University’s writing proficiency requirements: see English curriculum, “University 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 University 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 University.
7. 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.

Up-to-date information about the labor market and job availability for teachers in the University’s geographic area is available via inter-net at www.olasjobs.org.

General Program Requirements

• Completion of Dominican Curriculum 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 PRO-GRAMS. TO MEET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, STUDENTS MAY NEED OR CHOOSE TO TAKE COURSEWORK IN SPECIAL SESSIONS.

Liberal Arts Requirements

Childhood Education and Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities

1. Three (3) credits in Developmental Psychology I: PS 213.
2. Six (6) credits in Mathematics: MA 228, Dawn of Mathematics, and one other course under advisement.
3. Six (6) credits in Natural Sciences: one course in the Bio-logical Sciences and one course in the Physical Sciences.
4. Six (6) credits in English: EN 454, Literature for Children and Adolescents, plus at least three (3) credits by placement.
5. Social Sciences: Nine (9) credits: one course from American history (including New York history); one course from HI 451, HI 452, HI 453, PO 330, PO 337, SO 320; and either SO 226 or 224.
6. Six (6) credits in foreign language.
7. Three (3) credits in artistic expression and three (3) credits in history/appreciation of the arts (from GEC II offerings).
8. Three (3) credits in Communication Studies (CS111).

Adolescence Education and Adolescence Education/SWD Generalist (7-12)

1. Six (6) credits in foreign language.
2. Six (6) credits in Natural Sciences: one course in the Bio-logical Sciences and one course in the Physical Sciences.
3. Three (3) credits in artistic expression.
4. Six (6) credits in Math, (3) by placement and (3) by advisement.
5. Six (6) credits in English: EN 454 plus at least three (3) credits by placement.
6. Three (3) credits in Speech.
7. Three (3) credits in Developmental Psychology 1: PS 213 and three (3) credits in Adolescent Psychology: PS 215
8. Three (3) credits in Social Sciences--one course from HI 451, HI 452, HI 453, PO 330, PO 337 or SO 320

Qualifications for Student Teaching

1. Candidates for student teaching must apply to the Coordinator of Field Placements one semester in advance of the student teaching semester.
2. Eligibility will be contingent upon:
   1. Completion of all course requirements for certification.
   2. No grade lower than a "C+" in Education courses, in specified liberal arts courses, and in the major/concentration.
   3. Maintenance of a minimum cumulative index of 2.7.
   4. Satisfactory performance evaluations in pre-student-teaching field placements.
   5. Satisfactory skills acquisition in methods courses.
   6. Report of current physical examination.
   7. Completion of fingerprinting process.
   8. The recommendation of the faculty in Teacher Education and in the relevant major or area of concentration.
3. Students will be required to spend sixteen (16) weeks full-time in supervised student teaching, including two eight (8) week experiences on different levels appropriate to the area(s) of certification. An orientation session and scheduled seminars are also required in conjunction with student teaching. Student teaching placements are assigned at the discretion of the Teacher Education Division.

Students with substantial prior teaching experience may be eligible to present that experience in lieu of part of the student teaching requirement by means of the University’s Portfolio Preparation process. A maximum of five credits in student teaching may be earned in this way. For a student to be granted such credits, the Portfolio must be completed and approved at least by the end of the academic term before the application for student teaching is submitted.

Childhood Education or in Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities 

Students seeking qualification as teachers in the field of Childhood Education or in Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. The student pursuing the B.S. in Education, instead of majoring in a liberal arts discipline, majors in Teacher Education and takes an approved liberal arts Concentration in keeping with New York State standards. The B.S./Ed/Concentration path, with its substantial but concise liberal arts requirements, is an attractive option for many students, particularly those pursuing the full dual certification program in Childhood Education/Students with Disabilities, or Childhood/Early Childhood.

Dominican University New York offers a choice of four New York State-authorized Liberal Arts Concentrations:

• American Studies (30 cr.)
• Humanities (30 cr.)
• Mathematics (31 cr. beyond MA 112)
• Natural Sciences (32 cr.)

Each Concentration requires 30 or more credits of study in the specified field, and in each case Teacher Education standards assure expo-sure to 75 or more credits of liberal arts study in the student’s total program.

Two of the Concentrations (Humanities and Mathematics) are related to other programs in their fields and are outlined elsewhere in this Catalog: see the Humanities and Mathematics sections. The American Studies and Natural Sciences options are outlined below.

American Studies

American Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts concentration offered by the History program in conjunction with other programs and leads to the Bachelor of Science in Education. It is designed to provide students with an historical and conceptual framework for understanding the American experience and for analyzing contemporary social issues. Emphasis is placed on cultural, philosophical, political, and social ideas that have shaped the American people.

Natural Sciences 

Course offerings in the natural sciences provide a lab-centered environment in which student awareness of current concepts and theories is deepened. By design, opportunities for open-ended experiments and inquiry are incorporated in order to stimulate critical thinking and an analytic approach to problem solving.