Bachelor's

Special Education and Childhood & Early Childhood Education (B.S.)

Program

The bachelor of science in Special Education and Childhood & Early Childhood Education with a Liberal Arts concentration (English, Foreign Language/Spanish, History, or Life Sciences) prepares Russell Sage College students for NYS teacher certification. You’ll take a variety of courses that prepare you for a successful and rewarding career in teaching. Courses include fieldwork and practicum experiences in school settings.

Requirements for admission include a minimum GPA of 3.000. With careful planning of the undergraduate program, students may accelerate their graduate study by beginning graduate level coursework in the senior year. [Childhood & Early Childhood and Special Education, 71-74 credits + Liberal Arts & Sciences concentration 30-36 credits]

Support Courses

  • Complete all of the following:
Item #
Title
Credits
3
Sub-Total Credits
27-28

Liberal Arts & Sciences Concentration

Students in the B.S. Special Education and Childhood & Early Childhood Education program must also complete a liberal arts concentration (30-36 credits) in one of the following areas: English, Foreign Language (Spanish), History, or Life Sciences.

English, 31 credits

• ENG 190 Introduction to English Studies, 4 credits
• ENG 309 Major Writers, 4 credits
• ENG 405 Senior Seminar/Project, 4 credits
• ENG Survey, 3 credits (ENG 201, ENG 202, ENG 206, ENG 208, or ENG 211)
• ENG Period, 3 credits (ENG 303, ENG 304, ENG 305, ENG 308, ENG 313, ENG 319, ENG 323, ENG 338, or ENG 341)
• ENG Child or Teen, 3 credits (ENG 165 or ENG 222)
• ENG Writing, 3 credits  (ENG 231, ENG 233, ENG 246, or HUM 314)
• ENG Period or Survey, 3 credits
• PHL 275 Critical Issues in Contemporary Culture, 4 credits

Foreign Language, 30 credits

• SPA 102 Cont Intro to Spanish, 3 credits
• SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I, 3 credits
• SPA 202 Int. Spanish II or SPA 211 Adv. Int. Spanish II, 3 credits
• SPA 200 Level Elective course, 3 credits
• SPA 200 Level Elective course, 3 credits
• SPA 408 Seminar, 3 credits
• Foreign Lang Elective course, 3 credits
• Foreign Lang Elective course, 3 credits
• Foreign Lang Elective course, 3 credits

History, 36 credits

• HST 105 US History I, 3 credits
• HST 106 US History II, 3 credits
• HST 155 Big History: Big Bang to AI, 3 credits
• HST 209 The World Since 1900, 3 credits
• HST 250 Methods, Media and the Public , 3 credits
• HST Elective (200 or 300 lev), 3 credits
• HST Elective (200 or 300 lev), 3 credits
• HST Elective (200 or 300 lev), 3 credits
• HST Elective (200 or 300 lev), 3 credits
• HST Elective (200 or 300 lev), 3 credits
• POL Political Science Elective, 3 credits
• ECO Economics Elective, 3 credits

Life Sciences, 31 credits

• BIO 101/BIO 101L General Biology I, 4 credits
• BIO 102/BIO 102L General Biology II, 4 credits
• BIO 110 Environmental Science, 3 credits
• BIO 207 Genetics, 3 credits
• BIO 359 Research Methods, 3 credits
• PHY 101/PHY 101L General Physics I, 4 credits
• PHY 102/PHY 102L General Physics I, 4 credits
• SCI 104 Physical and Earth Sciences, 3 credits
• SCI 120  Nutrition Science, 3 credits

Sub-Total Credits
30-36

Academic Standards

  • Cumulative GPA: to enroll in and remain in a Childhood & Early Childhood Education and Special Education program, students must have and maintain an overall Cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or higher.
  • Major GPA: students must achieve and maintain a major GPA of 3.000 or higher in all major course requirements prior to entry into the methods courses (EDU/SEE 300 level courses).
  • To be eligible for student teaching, a student must have achieved a 3.000 or higher cumulative average.
  • Students must earn a course grade of C or higher (2.000) in all courses required in the major program including the support and concentration courses.
  • All students in education are required to subscribe to a designated portfolio system.

Additional Information

  • U.S. citizenship or declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen is required for teacher certification in New York State.
  • Successful passage of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (LAST, ATS-W) is required of all applicants seeking certification.
  • Applicants for New York state certification will have to be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history review. The cost of this process will be the applicant’s responsibility. The Education Office will provide information on how to meet this requirement.
  • One student teaching experience must be at the 1-3 grade level and one at the 4-6 grade level. Students are personally responsible for transportation arrangements in connection with student teaching assignments.
  • All education courses required in Childhood Education, including the non-credit workshops, must be completed before beginning student teaching.
  • Data on placement of graduates: www.sage.edu/academics/schools/education/

Degree Completion Notes

  • Total credits required for a bachelor's degree (minimum): 120 credits
  • Cumulative GPA required for graduation (minimum): 3.000
  • Major GPA required for graduation (minimum): 3.000
  • 1/2 of major requirements must be completed at Sage (minimum)
  • Completion of all required General Education coursework
Total Credits
103-110