In the first year, you will enroll on a part-time basis completing 15 credits of graduate coursework, including brief field experiences in an high-need school. Upon successful completion of this year, you will be eligible to apply for the New York State Education Department transitional B teaching certificate. This certificate qualifies you to teach full time for three years in a high-need school.

While you teach full time, you will complete 15 graduate credits in the second year of the program and 12 graduate credits in the third and final year. During this period, a mentor teacher in the school setting and an Empire State College faculty member will supervise your work.

The program offers a strong foundation in teaching linked to content, child and adolescent development, and learning technologies. Courses are delivered online with opportunities for face-to-face instruction. You will have full access to Empire State College’s online resources including the online library and academic support for graduate-level skill development. The blended course delivery (in-person meetings and online coursework) requires that students possess computer literacy and are able to participate in this technology rich program.

Successful completion of the second and third years of the program (for a total of 42 credits) results in the award of a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Once you successfully pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination written assessment of teaching skills (ATS-W), you also will be eligible for the New York State initial teaching certificate.

Curriculum
First Year -- Introductory Year (15 credit hours)*
Fall Term
Effective Urban Schools 3
Child and Adolescent Development 3

Spring Term
Teaching and Learning 3
Exceptionalities: Individualizing Learning 3

Summer Term
Teaching Diverse Learners 3

Second Year – First In-service Year (15 credit hours)
Fall Term
Teaching and Curriculum 3
Mentored Teaching: Teaching and Curriculum 3

Spring Term
Educational Evaluation 3
Mentored Teaching: Educational Evaluation 3)

Summer Term
Content Area Study 3

Third Year -- Second In-service Year (12 credit hours)**
Fall Term
Literacy 3
Mentored Teaching: Literacy 3

Spring Term
Literacy Across the Curriculum 3
Mentored Teaching: Teaching Portfolio*** 3
Total 42 credits
* Each course in year one integrates structured field experiences in high-need schools. Successful completion of Year One leads to the NYS transitional B teaching certificate.** Successful completion of M.A.T. program leads to the NYS initial teaching certificate. *** Meets Empire State College’s M.A.T. project requirement.