Education

The Education Division offers an array of programs to prepare future educators and others who are interested in education-related fields at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

At the undergraduate level, the College offers majors in education leading to New York State teacher certification across three levels: early childhood (birth through grade 2), childhood (grades 1-6), and adolescent (grades 7-12).

• The Early Childhood/ Special Education program prepares candidates for certification in teaching both regular and special education from birth through grade 2.
• Childhood/ Special Education program prepares candidates for certification in teaching both regular and special education from grade 1 through grade 6.
• The Adolescent program prepares candidates for certification with three options: as a regular educator in one of five content areas (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Biology, or Chemistry), from grades 7 through 12. Candidates may opt to add coursework to earn dual certification in their content area and in special education. Or, those candidates who want to work primarily with students with disabilities in grades 7-12 may opt for the Adolescent Generalist Special Education Program.

In addition to programs that lead to certification, the education division offers an undergraduate major in Educational Studies. This major will provide students with the knowledge and skills to become successful partners in educational settings. Such settings could be publishing companies, law firms, businesses, museums, and social service agencies. This major will not lead to teacher certification.

At the graduate level, the education division offers a program that prepares candidates for initial certification in literacy birth through grade 6, and literacy grades 5-12. This program is designed for teachers who currently hold New York State teacher certification.

Mission of the Education Program

The mission of the Keuka College education program, in keeping with the College’s mission, is to provide our students with a strong liberal-arts based professional preparation program, which integrates experiential learning in an intellectually challenging and supportive learning environment. We seek to prepare professional educators who can meet the needs of diverse learners and who are committed to a lifetime of reflective practice, collaborative service, and ethical leadership.

In keeping with this mission, we present these philosophical statements that guide our teaching and program development, as well as the personal development of each learner:

• Experiential education is the cornerstone of an effective teacher education program.
• The best practice is research-based and grounded in theory.
• Reflection on practice is instrumental in the continual development of best teaching.
• Every teacher needs to be prepared in both methodology and content to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
• A teacher education program needs to prepare the future educator for life-long professional and personal growth.
• College faculty need direct experience in the classroom to become, and remain, effective instructors.

Education Admission Policy

Prospective students intending to major in unified childhood/special education, unified early childhood/ special education, or in adolescent education in English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, or social studies should declare their intention upon entering Keuka College. At the end of their sophomore year or after their first semester as a junior transfer, students must achieve the following conditions:

1. A grade of at least C+ in ENG 112 College English II, or its equivalent.
2. An overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of at least 2.75 in Education courses. Adolescent majors need a GPA of at least 2.75 in their content courses.
3. A grade of at least C in EDU 105 Introduction to Education, or its equivalent.

Requirements for Student Teaching

To be eligible for placement in student teaching, a student must have an overall grade-point-average (GPA) of 2.75, and a GPA of 3.000 in all education courses. In addition, adolescent education majors need content area GPA of 3.0. This level must be attained one semester prior to the student teaching placement. The student must have successfully completed the education Field Period requirements.

Student Teaching Placements

Early childhood/special education majors will be given two placements; one in pre-school and one in grades K-2. Students with identified disabilities will be present in at least one of those classes. Childhood/special education majors will be given two placements; one in grades 1-3 and one in grades 4-6. Students with identified disabilities will be present in at least one of those classes. Adolescent students will be given two placements; one in grades 7-9 and one in grades 10-12. Adolescent students seeking special education certification will have students with identified disabilities in at least one of those classes.

Job Placement Information

There were 53 program completers in the 2012-13 academic year. Fourteen students (26%) are employed in education positions and eighteen (34%) are pursuing a master’s degree. Of the 11 students with an adolescent education certification, five (45%) are fully employed; seven (64%) are pursuing a master’s degree. Of the thirty-six graduates with unified childhood-special education certification, eight (22%) have full- time jobs in education and ten (28%) are pursuing a master’s degree. Of the six graduates with unified early childhood- special education certification, one (17%) has a job in education and one (17%) is pursuing a master’s degree.

There are fewer teaching positions open in New York state. The number of positions varies depending upon the geographic area, and the type of certification held by the candidate. To investigate the possibility of openings in your certification area(s), visit the following Web site: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/regionofinterest.htm. The certification areas offered by Keuka College that have the most job openings available continue to be special education (at all levels), biology 7-12, and mathematics 7-12.

New York State Teacher Certification Examination Results

For the 2012-13 third-year cohort, the following pass rates were earned: LAST- 98%; ATSW- 100%; Multisubject CST- 100%, Students with Disabilities CST- 91%; Adolescent subject area CSTs- 100%; and Literacy CST (master’s level)- 100%. These scores are at or above average scores across the state.