Degrees: Education Concentration

Administration

• Anthony Polemeni, Dean of the School of Education and Psychology
• Yuriy Karpov, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
• Ronald Lehrer, Chair of Graduate Studies in General Education and Special Education
• Arthur Brezak, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in General Education and Special Education
• Devorah Zelasko, Coordinator of Undergraduate Field Experience and Student Teaching

About the Degree

THE DUAL EDUCATION CONCENTRATION PROGRAM IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Touro Undergraduate Dual Education Concentration Program (ECP) seeks to prepare elementary school teachers who will have the knowledge and skills to create a productive learning environment in the classroom. ECP students will be trained to monitor and assess student learning, and address the special needs of students, including those from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, those from homes where English is not spoken, students with disabilities, as well as gifted and talented students.

ECP students may choose either of the following tracks:
1. Early Childhood, Birth-Grade 2; or
2. Childhood, Grades 1-6.

This is a dual program. Any student completing the ECP, whether on the Early Childhood or Childhood track, will meet all of the academic course requirements for NYS teacher certification in BOTH general education and special education.

Students who complete the Touro ECP successfully and who meet all of the current New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements will be able to apply for Provisional New York State Teacher Certification.

The current requirements include the following:

1. Earned baccalaureate degree, with a major in Psychology, Judaic Studies or Humanities;
2. Completion of the approved Education Concentration Program at Touro College;
3. Completion of all New York State required core courses and seminars;
4. Rating of "Pass" on the New York State Certification Exams;
5. Submission of fingerprints.

Core Requirements

In addition to completing the new Education Concentration Program, all General Education and Special Education students must complete the following:

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Core

STUDENT TIME LINE

1. Students beginning their first education courses in the Spring 2001 semester, and thereafter, should choose 9 credits from among the following courses: EDU 201, 209, and 311, for the Early Childhood track (Birth-Grade 2), or EDU 201, 301, and 303 or 304 or 306, for the Childhood track (Grades 1-6). Note: Students do not have to take all 9 credits in one semester.
2. After completing 9 EDU credits, no student will be permitted to register for additional EDU courses without first being officially admitted into the ECP. Students accepted into the ECP will receive an ECP Admissions Certificate that must be presented at future EDU course registrations.
3. After completing 9 credits in EDU courses, students apply for admission to the Education Concentration Program (ECP). Contact your education advisor or call #(718) 252-7800, extension 218, to schedule an admissions interview.

   Requirements for ECP Admission:

   1. You must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher;
   2. You must have a GPA of 3.3 (B+) or higher in all EDU courses.
   3. You must have a B or higher in English Composition I and a B or higher in English Composition II.
   4. You must establish your writing proficiency by writing an acceptable one-half-page essay at the time of the admissions interview.
   5. You must bring a current student transcript with you to the interview.

   Students not meeting all of the above requirements will not be permitted to continue in the ECP or take further EDU/SpEd courses.

   Students who are admitted to the ECP must meet with an education advisor each semester before registering for new EDU courses. Reminder: You must bring your ECP Admission Certificate to these meetings and to every registration.

4. After completing required education and special education courses, you may apply for admission to Field Experience and Student Teaching I, Course EDU 318-Early Childhood, or Field Experience Course EdSE 319-Childhood.

   Requirements for Admission are:

   1. Presentation of your ECP Admissions Certificate and a current student transcript;
   2. Maintenance of GPA levels 3.0 overall; 3.3 in education;
   3. Receipt of a passing grade on the Student Teaching Admissions Test (STAT);
   4. Approval of Student Teaching Coordinator, Dr. Zelasko, and approval of Education Chair. Contact Dr. Zelasko at (718) 252-7800, Ext. 273 to schedule an admissions interview.

   Students not meeting all of the above requirements will not be permitted to continue in the ECP, and will not be permitted to register for Field Experience or Student Teaching courses that semester. A student may apply for admission one additional time the next semester.

5. After the student’s completion of student teaching and ALL ECP requirements, an ECP Exit Review will be conducted. The purpose of the Exit Review is to ensure that students have met all Touro College requirements for the ECP. Students meeting all requirements will be officially certified by Touro College as ECP completers. Each ECP completer will receive a Certificate of Completion.
6. After being certified as a completer, students will attend six two-hour seminars that will prepare them to take the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE).
7. After the student has passed the NYSTCE tests and has graduated with a Baccalaureate degree, Touro College will assist the student in preparing an application for teacher certification.