Childhood Education - Earth Science

Overview

The curriculum in this Childhood Education - Earth Science major at SUNY Oneonta College consists of coursework in three areas: general education, a liberal arts concentration and professional education. Our education class sizes typically range from 20 to 30 and allow for plenty of classroom interaction, individual attention and faculty support.

A strength of the program is the “block” semester, when students enroll as cohort groups of 20 to 25 in a block of five methods courses. The purpose of these block semesters is to promote a collegial and supportive environment as students develop and practice their teaching strategies.

We have very strong partnerships with area school districts, and the block semester culminates in a three-week, full-time teaching assistant experience in local classrooms. The final semester consists of two student teaching placements, which may be done in various districts throughout New York state.

Teacher Residency Program

A new Teacher Residency Program offers an immersive experience for about a dozen specially selected teaching candidates each year. Through the program, which was developed in partnership with Oneonta's Riverside Elementary School and is now in its third year, student teachers spend two semesters working four days a week in Riverside classrooms, with one day of classes on campus.

By spending so much time in one school, our future teachers gain rich hands-on experience and have the chance to build relationships with both their teacher-mentors and the elementary school children.