Education

The Master of Science in Childhood Education program will foster and enhance students' competence in teaching, understanding of current educational research and theory, and knowledge in selected areas of the liberal arts and sciences. It is designed to serve dual functions through three distinct instructional sequences.
 

Degree Requirements

• Sequence 1 consists of a minimum of 32-38 graduate credits. This sequence is designed for those who have completed the course requirements for initial certification in childhood education from the New York State Department of Education. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for professional certification in childhood education. (Childhood Sequence 1 application CLOSED for SPRING 2025 AND FALL 2025)
   
• Sequence 2 consists of 36 graduate credits. This sequence is designed for college graduates who have not completed programs leading to initial certification in childhood education and wish to become elementary school teachers. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for initial certification in childhood education.
   
• Sequence 3 consists of 36 graduate credits. In all three sequences, students are required to complete an acceptable educational research project, which is carried out under faculty supervision in Educational Seminar I and II. This sequence is a 15-month teacher residency program designed for college graduates who have not completed programs leading to initial certification in childhood education and wish to become elementary school teachers. Participants will be eligible for a stipend for spending an entire academic year apprenticing in a host school.  Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for initial certification in childhood education. 

Admissions Requirements

• Sequence 1 – candidates must have completed the coursework leading to a New York State Initial Teaching Certificate in childhood education or early childhood. Overall grade point average (GPA) at or above 3.0. (Childhood Sequence 1 application CLOSED for SPRING 2025 AND FALL 2025)
• Sequence 2 - Baccalaureate degree in liberal arts and science or 36 credits in liberal arts and sciences concentration with at least six credits each in mathematics and laboratory science. Overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
• Sequence 3 - Baccalaureate degree in liberal arts and science or 36 credits in liberal arts and sciences concentration with at least six credits each in mathematics and laboratory science. Overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.3 is preferred.
   

Students select a concentration in one of the following areas: Biology, English, Mathematics, or Social Studies.  In both sequences, students are required to complete an acceptable educational research project, which is carried out under faculty supervision in Educational Seminar I and II.
 

Degree Requirements

• Sequence 1 consists of a minimum of 33-38 graduate credits distributed among 11 courses. This sequence is designed for students who have completed the required coursework for initial certification in a subject area in Adolescence Education (i.e., biology, English, mathematics, or social studies). Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for professional certification in a subject area in Adolescence Education.
   
• Sequence 2 consists of a minimum of 40-44 credits (social studies and English) and 46-53 graduate credits (math and biology). This sequence is designed for students who wish to become secondary education teachers in biology, English, mathematics, or social studies but have not completed the coursework required for initial certification. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for initial certification in a subject area of Adolescence Education.

Admissions Requirements

• Sequence 1 – candidates must have completed the courses required for a New York State Initial Teaching Certificate to teach in their area of specialization at the secondary (adolescence) level.  Overall grade point average (GPA) at or above 3.0.
• Sequence 2 – Baccalaureate degree in the appropriate major or 32 approved credits in the area of concentration.  Overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
   

The program prepares students to teach students with disabilities in childhood. It is designed to serve dual functions through two distinct instructional sequences.
 

Degree Requirements

• Sequence 1 consists of ten required courses and one elective for a total of 11 courses (33 credits). This sequence is designed for those who have completed the course requirements for initial certification in childhood education from the New York State Department of Education. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for professional certification in special education at the childhood level.
   
• Sequence 2 consists of 14 required courses and a three-to six-credit, field-based requirement for a total of 45-48 credits.  Several of the courses have fieldwork requirements.  All students complete an original research paper in special education. This sequence is designed for college graduates who have not completed the course requirements for initial certification in childhood education. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for initial certification in teaching students with disabilities in childhood.

Admission Requirements

• Sequence 1 - Special Education Childhood candidates must have completed the courses required for a New York State Initial Teaching Certificate in childhood or early childhood education. Overall grade point average of 3.0.
• Sequence 2 - Special Education Childhood candidates must have a baccalaureate degree in liberal arts and science or 36 credits in liberal arts and sciences concentration with at least six credits each in English, history, mathematics, and laboratory science. Overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
   

The program prepares students to teach students with disabilities in childhood. It is designed to serve dual functions through two distinct instructional sequences.
 

Degree Requirements

• Sequence 1 consists of ten required courses and one elective course for a total of 11 courses (33 credits). This sequence is designed for those who have completed the course requirements for initial certification in childhood education from the New York State Department of Education. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for professional certification in special education at the childhood level.
   
• Sequence 2 consists of 14 required courses and a three- to six-credit field-based requirement for a total of 45-48 credits. Several courses have fieldwork requirements as indicated in the course descriptions. All students must complete an original research paper in special education. This sequence is designed for college graduates who have not completed the course requirements for initial certification in childhood education. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for initial certification in teaching students with disabilities in childhood.
   

Admissions Requirements

• Sequence 1 - Special Education Adolescence Generalist candidates must have completed the courses required for New York State Initial Teaching Certificate in early childhood, childhood, or adolescence education and one year of college level foreign language or the equivalent.  Overall grade point average of 3.0.
• Sequence 2 - Special Education Adolescence Generalist requires at least six credits each in English, history, mathematics and laboratory science and one year of college level foreign language or the equivalent.  Overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
   

The Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Master's level program will prepare teacher candidates to be certified to teach English language learners (ELLs) in public and private schools. This program prepares students to teach children and adolescents for whom English is an additional language. This program will lead to New York State TESOL PreK-12 teacher certification by offering two pathways to NYS teacher certification and a Master's of Science in Education (MSEd) degree with a concentration in TESOL.

In addition, this program offers the MSEd degree with a concentration in TESOL to individuals not seeking NYS teacher certification but who are seeking the MSEd degree to work with English language learners (ELLs) in a range of public and private settings (i.e. community-based NGOs, etc.)
 

Degree Requirements

TESOL Tracks 1 and 2:

The TESOL Tracks 1 and 2 lead to a Master of Science in Education degree and to New York State Initial Teaching Certification in TESOL. The program requires twelve three-credit courses (36) credits.

TESOL Non-Certification Track:

The TESOL Non-Certification Track leads to a Master of Science in Education degree with a concentration in TESOL. The program requires twelve three-credit courses (36) credits.

Admission Requirements

• Track 1: Candidates must have completed the coursework leading to a New York State Initial Teaching Certification in early childhood, childhood or adolescence education or its equivalent from another state.  A copy of the certificate must be submitted when it is received from the New York State Department of Education.
• Track 2: New York State Initial Teaching Certification in another license area is NOT required for admissions.  However, applicants must have an introductory academic experience in the following areas: special education, learning and development, social foundations of education, and literacy education, linguistics or English Education.  Applicants may be admitted conditionally pending the completion of the required coursework.
   

In addition, the following are required for ALL tracks:
 

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in a liberal arts and science major
• Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0
• 12 semester hours of a language other than English
   

The College of Staten Island offers an advanced certificate in Special Education Childhood to provide an appropriate set of academic and clinical experiences for teachers preparing to work with special needs children.

The certificate consists of a sequence of four courses needed in the four areas (Foundations, Classroom Management, Assessment, and Pedagogy) required by the New York State Education Department, as well as two Practicum Mentorships in which teachers will be given an extensive opportunity to apply the principles of special education they learned in the courses into the school classroom.

Degree Requirements

The Certificate is a one year – 16 credit program which requires one foundation course, three core courses, and two practicums.
 

Admission Requirements

• A teacher or current graduate student who has a valid, initial or professional certificate in Childhood Education, Grades 1-6 or Adolescence Education grades 7-12.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in both undergraduate and graduate coursework.
   

The College of Staten Island offers an advanced certificate in Special Education Adolescence Generalist to provide an appropriate set of academic and clinical experiences for teachers preparing to work with special needs children.

The certificate consists of a sequence of four courses needed in the four areas (Foundations, Classroom Management, Assessment, and Pedagogy) required by the New York State Education Department, as well as two Practicum Mentorships in which teachers will be given an extensive opportunity to apply the principles of special education they learned in the courses into the school classroom.

Degree Requirements

The Certificate is a one year – 16 credit program which requires one foundation course, three core courses, and two practicums.
 

Admission Requirements

• A teacher or current graduate student who has a valid, initial or professional certificate in Childhood Education, Grades 1-6 or Adolescence Education grades 7-12.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in both undergraduate and graduate coursework.
   

The Post Master's Advanced Certificate for Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) will prepare teacher candidates to be certified to teach English language learners (ELLs) in public and private schools. This program will lead to New York State TESOL PreK-12 teacher certification.

Teacher candidates who have already completed an education Masters will be able to qualify for an extension certificate in TESOL by completing seven courses in the Advanced Certificate program. This program prepares students to teach children and adolescents for whom English is an additional language and is offered in two formats:
 

• In-classroom
• Online (cohort model) - can be completed in 18 months
   

Degree Requirements

Students in the Advanced Certificate for Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages are required to complete 21 credits.

Admission Requirements

• Master’s degree
• Baccalaureate degree in liberal arts and sciences major, or 36 credits in liberal arts and sciences concentration
• 12 semester hours of language other than English
• Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0
• Candidates should have completed the courses required for a New York State Initial Teacher Certificate in early childhood, childhood or adolescence education or its equivalent from another state
   

The Advanced Certificate for Bilingual Extension Certification program will prepare teacher candidates to work with English language learners (ELLs), heritage language speakers of languages other than English (LOTE), and English proficient students in bilingual programs in public and private schools.  This extension would allow students to teach in a bilingual education program. 

Degree Requirements

The program requires the completition of the following five 3 credit courses:

• Multicultural Foundations of Bilingual Education
• Bilingualism and Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Research
• Linguistics for Teachers
• Methods in Reading and Language Arts in Bilingual Education
• Methods Across the Content Areas in Bilingual Education

Admission Requirements

• Valid New York State Teaching license in one of the following areas:
  • Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) 
  • Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) 
  • Common Branches PreK-Grade 6
  • Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5-9) Adolescent Education (Grades 7 - 12) 
  • Literacy Education 
  • Students with Disabilities in Early Childhood, Childhood, Middle Childhood, or Adolescent Education or Special Education K-12 
  • Teachers of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or Speech and Language Impaired

• B.A with GPA 3.0 or higher
   
• Proficiency in any language other than English (satisfy one of the following):
  • 6 credits of advanced college language courses
    OR
  • Pass the ACTFL exam in any language other than English
    OR
  • Pass the New York State Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in the target language
    OR
  • Completion of high school or beyond in a non-English speaking country
     

Graduate Application:

• Application

Transcripts:

Request official transcripts from all US institutions attended to be sent to CAS. International Transcripts (For those who studied outside of the U.S.) will need to be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or  Education Credential Evaluators (ECE).  The evaluation must be sent directly to CAS.  There's a link in the Academic History section of the application to order your official evaluation. 

Application Fee:

Submit a $75.00 non-refundable application fee.  The fee must be paid online via the CAS application system.  Applicants who are veterans of the United States Military Service, currently on Active Duty or members of the National Guard or Reserves, may obtain an application fee waiver.  Veteran applicants must submit proof of their Veteran/Military status (ie., DD-214, Current Military ID Card, or Deployment or Pre-separation orders).  Please send proof to graduateadmissions@csi.cuny.edu.  Once we receive your proof, we will issue a fee waiver. 

Personal Statement:

A one- to two-page personal statement that discusses the academic, teaching, and/or work experiences that have led and prepared the applicant to pursue graduate study in education.
(For CHILDHOOD SEQUENCE 3 applicants ONLY, please refer to any experiences you have had working with diverse populations in your personal statement.)

Letters of Recommendation:

Two academic or professional letters of recommendation are required (one academic, one professional, preferred) testifying to the applicant's ability to successfully complete the program of graduate study.
 

Interview:

After initial review, applicants are required to participate in a phone or virtual interview. (CHILDHOOD SEQUENCE 3 applicants will require an interview)
 

English Proficiency Examination:

The TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam is required of students for whom English is a second language.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum required score is 79 (Internet). For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org. Our institutional code is 2778.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): We will only accept the academic exam scores. The minimum required score is 6.5 (overall band).  For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the IELTS website at www.ielts.org.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Minimum required score is 53. For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the PTE website at www.pearsonpte.com.
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum required score is 100. For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the Duolingo website.