Graduate Program in Childhood (Elementary) Education (grades 1-6)

The Saint Rose graduate program in Childhood Education is designed for students who want to teach grades 1-6 but who have an undergraduate degree in a field other than education. Students complete classroom, laboratory, and field experiences that will earn them initial and professional certification for grades 1-6 in New York State.

Passion. Knowledge. Purpose.

In the Saint Rose Childhood Education master's program, students develop a working knowledge of child growth and development, child-centered teaching, and developmentally appropriate elementary school curriculum. They also develop an understanding of children in terms of cultural, socioeconomic, and individual characteristics, which will enhance their ability to meet the needs of diverse populations. All students complete a research seminar, EDU 590, which requires an action research project in schools resulting in credible, original research, often with potential for publication.
 

Our Mentoring Faculty

Faculty who teach courses that require field work have experience supervising students in field placement positions and have professional experience in Grades 1-6. On-site supervisors of student teachers meet regularly with faculty from the School of Education to discuss the ways in which they can better prepare graduate students to meet the challenges of today's diverse school settings. In addition, our faculty spends time with each student serving as mentors and providing guidance with career objectives.
Small classes create an atmosphere of collegiality where students can interact and develop a network of colleagues as they are guided and facilitated by College faculty and supervisors who have had experiences in diverse classroom settings and who exemplify the reflective, scholarly, caring education professional.

 

Extensions

Grades 7-9 Extension
Students in the Saint Rose Childhood Education program have the distinct advantage of being able to pursue a grades 7-9 Extension to their teaching certification, making them eligible to teach in grades 1-9. Students interested in pursuing this option must complete all of the requirements for the Childhood Education program and have an approved concentration (36 credits) in one of the following content areas: biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, social studies, or Spanish. They also must complete two additional courses—Adolescent Psychology and Development (3 credits) and Middle School Education: Theories and Practice (3 credits).

Bilingual Extension
The College of Saint Rose offers the 12-credit Bilingual Extension to classroom teachers who are seeking certification to teach in bilingual (Spanish/English) classroom settings. The program is designed to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge that teachers must have to address the unique needs of bilingual learners.

Field Experience

Before student teaching, Saint Rose Childhood Education graduate students earn 100 hours of field experience in local school districts, including those considered high need. Since field experiences directly relate to course work, many Saint Rose education professors hold classes right within the elementary schools where Childhood Education students are conducting field experiences. As students near degree completion, they complete two full-time student teaching assignments, one in grades 1-3, the other in grades 4-6. Placements for Childhood Education field experiences occur in public schools, including urban, rural, and suburban districts, and in private schools.
 

Career Opportunities

Saint Rose education alumni are a major force in the teaching profession, especially in the greater Capital Region. In fact, about one-third of the teachers in the Capital Region hold at least one degree from Saint Rose. Graduates of the Childhood Education master’s program are qualified to work in various positions with state education departments, as classroom teachers in elementary schools, consultants to private agencies, and publishers of children’s books and materials.