Teacher Preparation and Certification

Each teacher certification candidate must complete a bachelor’s degree that includes a minor or concentration in an academic discipline.  Individual transfer institutions select from the concentrations approved by the Board of Regents.  Check with the transfer institution before selecting a concentration.

Teacher Certification Levels and Concentrations

Early Childhood Education (Birth through Grade 2)

Special Education: Early Childhood Education (Birth through Grade 2)

Childhood Education (Grades 1 - 6)

Special Education: Childhood Education (Grades 1 - 6)

Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth through Grade 6)

Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5 - 9)

• Generalist
• Specialist options:
       - Biology
       - Chemistry
       - Earth Science
       - English
       - Mathematics
       - Physics
       - Social Studies
       - Spanish

Adolescence Education (Grades 7 - 12)

• Agricultural Subjects
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• English
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• French
• German
• Italian
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Social Studies (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Sociology)
• Spanish
• Technology

Special Education: Adolescence Education (Grades 7 - 12)

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• English
• Mathematics
• Social Studies

Other certification areas (PreK - 12) are:

• Agricultural Teaching
• Blind and Visually Impaired
• Business and Marketing
• Dance
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Educational Technology
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Health
• Library Science
• Music
• Physical Education
• Speech and Language Disabilities
• Technology Education
• Theatre
• Visual Arts
• TESOL

BCC can provide the general education courses and a portion of the courses needed for a major, concentration, or minor that is required for all teacher certificates. College foreign language requirements must be met for all teacher education candidates. Most or all of the pedagogical core is taught at the four-year teacher education institution. Students should explore the various teacher education institutions to determine which teaching certificates and concentrations each offers. Each one is unique and has its own requirements. With careful course selection, BCC graduates can enter most institutions as juniors. Teacher education programs require at least a 2.5 to 2.8 GPA for entrance into their programs.

Individuals interested in teaching careers are required by the New York State Education Department to have a proficiency in a language other than English, complete 300 hours of field experience/student teaching, obtain the appropriate bachelor’s degree from a teacher preparation institution, pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination(s), fulfill workshop training requirements (Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment and School Violence Prevention Training), and complete a Masters degree within five years of obtaining Initial Certification in order to qualify for Permanent Certification. More information can be found at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert

Teaching Assistant Preparation

The New York State Education Department is requiring increasing amounts of education as well as the examination of Communication and Quantitative Skills for the position of Teaching Assistant in the public schools. More information on college course requirements can be found at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80.htm#5.6b2ii