the School of Education is committed to the preparation of skilled and dedicated teachers. Today, the School of Education continues its legacy of innovation and excellence in the development of caring, reflective professionals who are committed to critical inquiry and intellectual development, professional skills and dispositions, culturally responsive practices and social justice.
Class sizes in the School of Education average fewer than 20 students. Students complement pedagogical learning with subject matter expertise in their chosen academic major.
School of Education undergraduates enjoy an 85.8% pass rate on the highly rigorous performance-based edTPA certification exams.
The School of Education’s most recent NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) reaccreditation report earned it a rare five commendations.
Students complement pedagogical learning with subject matter expertise in their chosen academic major. Prior to student teaching, our students spend time in classrooms being guided by experienced master teachers and college faculty.
the School of Education is committed to the preparation of skilled and dedicated teachers. Today, the School of Education continues its legacy of innovation and excellence in the development of caring, reflective professionals who are committed to critical inquiry and intellectual development, professional skills and dispositions, culturally responsive practices and social justice.
The two academic units within the School of Education, the Department of Teaching & Learning and the Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership, offer courses preparing new teachers and supporting them as they move forward in their careers.
The School of Education offers baccalaureate and master’s degrees in early childhood/childhood and adolescence education, master’s degrees in literacy, special education, and humanistic multicultural education, as well as certificates of advanced study in educational leadership. Most programs lead to New York State teacher and leader certification. Graduates are well-grounded in content, theoretical and historical perspectives, pedagogy and clinical practice.
Accepted undergraduate students select to work toward their degrees and initial teacher certification in either Early Childhood/Childhood Education or in one of several academic subjects taught in middle and high schools.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Childhood Education, leading to dual teacher certification in Birth-Grade 2 and Grades 1-6
Bachelor of Science in Adolescence Education in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science (geology), English, Mathematics, Physics or Social Studies (history).
As one of the leading Schools of Education in New York State, we offer a number of programs to help current and future teachers develop as professionals and fulfill professional certification requirements. Concentrations include:
Childhood Education: Early Childhood, STEM (Science/Technology/ Engineering/Mathematics) or Reading Literacy
Adolescence Education: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, Mathematics or Social Studies
Literacy Education: B-6 or 5-12
Special Education: Early Childhood, Childhood or Adolescence Second Language Education School Leadership
The SUNY New Paltz campus offers a range of modern learning spaces, including the Sojourner Truth Library, state-of-the-art computer labs, art studios, theaters, language centers and media facilities, all providing an environment conducive to effective study.
For more than 100 years, the School of Education has been located in the Old Main Building, one of the most beautiful and historic buildings on campus. A $32 million renovation of Old Main brought high-tech classrooms, more and modern faculty offices, electrical upgrades and beautifully restored finishes to this campus landmark. The renovation is one of the most environmentally friendly projects the campus has undertaken. It is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified project on our campus.
Faculty members in the School of Education are well qualified and have active research agendas. They are committed to being caring, critical and reflective professionals responsive to the needs of a diverse society, which is the foundation of the unit’s conceptual framework.
Our faculty have published widely as authors of books, chapters, monographs and peer-reviewed articles in international and regional journals. Several faculty serve on journal editorial review boards for major publications.
We offer opportunities for student participation in research and in scholarly and creative activity.
Active engagement in field experiences increases knowledge of the classroom and enhances the student teaching experience. Fieldwork also allows teacher candidates to start developing diverse professional networks that will serve them well when beginning the job search process.
Fieldwork requirements vary depending on the major, but all students will complete at least two semesters of fieldwork totaling a minimum of 100 hours of classroom experience.
The Field Placement Office places students in the Mid-Hudson Valley, Lower Hudson Valley, NYC, Long Island, Utica and Australia. Generally, placements are in 45 and 50 school districts in any given semester.
Teacher candidates complete a semester of student teaching in their final semester of study. This is the opportunity most teacher candidates have been waiting for— the chance to apply their knowledge and skills in the actual classroom setting. Each student teaching experience is unique to the individual, but all teacher candidates complete two different placements within one academic semester.
A number of School of Education students each semester choose to complete their student teaching in New York City. SUNY New Paltz works with the SUNY Urban Teacher Education Center to provide students with the support necessary for successful student teaching experiences in New York. More information is provided at suny.edu/sutec.
The Center for Innovation in Education is designed to support clinically rich preparation and ongoing development of teachers and school leaders. The Center brings 21st century instructional technology to the wider education community in the region. Inquiry-based teaching and learning are focused in: multi-disciplinary collaborative curriculum development, integrating digital pedagogies and collective critical thinking; TeachLiveTM, a mixedreality, avatar-based simulated classroom or other school experience; and 3D printing.
The Center for Innovation in Education is designed to support clinically rich preparation and ongoing development of teachers and school leaders.
The Literacy Center‘s mission is to provide literacy instruction to children in our local communities and to offer our graduate literacy specialist candidates clinical opportunities in the diagnosis and intervention of reading and writing difficulties.
Literacy instruction includes teaching children and adolescents, as well as consultation with teachers on literacy issues across the curriculum.
provides powerful learning opportunities for working educators and pre-service teachers. Through this robust professional network, teachers collaboratively study and practice exemplary literacy skills with colleagues.
Funded by the State Education Department, this program’s mission is to enhance the math, science and technology skills of underrepresented and low-income students from local high schools. Its goal is to encourage students to continue their education after graduation in the fields of mathematics, science, technology and/or the licensed professions where minorities are traditionally underrepresented. The School of Education has been a program center since 1986.
Literacy instruction includes teaching children and adolescents, as well as consultation with teachers on literacy issues across the curriculum.
Since 1984, the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz has collaborated with area school districts to recognize teachers in the Mid-Hudson Valley for being outstanding in their fields and endeavors. This annual award is bestowed on teachers who have been recommended by area school administrators and are selected by a committee of education faculty and professionals. As recipients of this award, each teacher receives an honorary appointment as an adjunct clinical professor with the School of Education.
The New York State Master Teacher program is a community of outstanding STEM teachers sharing expertise in teaching math, science and technology content. SUNY New Paltz is home to the Mid-Hudson regional cohort, which has supported 140 Master Teachers since 2013 with 75 currently active program fellows. These are leaders in their schools and districts who share a passion for their own teaching and learning, and collaborate with colleagues and pre-service teachers to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEM education.
This five-year, federally-funded program supports migrant students in meeting New York State’s challenging content and performance standards in English language arts and math. Tutors work with school and families to help migrant youth at every stage of their education, from successfully completing kindergarten to graduating from high school.
The School of Education
State University of New York at New Paltz
1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561-2443
Old Main, 114
