Undergraduate Minor in Education

Application

Deadline: Rolling

The Program — Get a headstart on teacher certification!

For undergraduate students at the University at Buffalo interested in pursuing initial teacher certification to be able to teach in New York State preK-12 public schools, the education minor functions as an introduction to the education profession so that undergraduate students may explore the possibility of a career in teaching. The education minor provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to begin to develop pedagogical knowledge essential for effective teaching and it allows a head start on the course work leading to initial teacher certification through the University at Buffalo's graduate-level initial teacher certification program. This minor cannot in itself lead directly to initial teacher certification.

Course Work

The education minor consists of 19 credits: three required courses and three elective courses.

Required Courses

Educational Foundations (10 credits):

LAI 350 Introduction to Education (4 credits)
CEP 400 Educational Psychology (3 credits) *
ELP 405 Sociology of Education (3 credits) *, +

Electives

At least 9 credits (3 courses) chosen from the following electives:

LAI 205 Introduction to Child Development & Learning +, #
LAI 414 Language, Cognition, and Writing *
LAI 416 Early Childhood Education Theory & Practice
LAI 474 Teaching the Exceptional Learner +, #
LAI 490 Seminar and Practicum in Early Childhood #
CEP 401 Introduction to Counseling
CEP 404 Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Substance Abuse & Addiction
CEP 453 Introduction to Rehabilitation
LIN 496 Linguistics Teaching Internship
UE 252 Continuing Undergraduate Academies Experience Seminar, Community Linked Interdisciplinary Research

* May be applicable to Adolescence initial teacher certification program at UB
+ May be applicable to Childhood initial/professional teacher certification program at UB
# May be applicable to Early Childhood initial/professional teacher certification program at UB

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Sophomore or Junior Year

LAI 350 (prerequisite for CEP 400, ELP 405, and LAI 414)

Junior and Senior Years

CEP 400 (prerequisite for LAI 414), ELP 405, and three elective courses

The first course in the education minor, LAI 350, is an introductory course that provides a foundation for the other education course work and includes early field experiences. The remaining courses may be applicable to the graduate-level program leading to initial teacher certification (course-by-course applicability is indicated in the above-listing of courses). For example, students who successfully complete CEP 400, ELP 405, and LAI 414, and who later enroll in the graduate-level program leading to initial teacher certification for adolescence (grades 7–12) education, may include these courses in their course work toward initial teacher certification, thus reducing by nine credits the required course work in the graduate-level program. Coursework must achieve B- or better to be used towards initial certification.

Professionalism

Because the education minor functions as an introduction to the education profession, students enrolled in the education minor must begin to consider the meaning of professionalism and must begin to demonstrate professionalism, especially as related to their fieldwork in schools and other educational organizations as well as in university-based course work.

Professionalism comprises a variety of matters and although it is often difficult to comprehensively define, teach, and assess professionalism, the following offers some concrete descriptions that set a minimum standard of expected professional conduct.

When going to schools/organizations, students are expected to demonstrate basic professional competencies as would be expected of practicing teachers, including the following: arrive in a timely manner, present themselves in a professional manner as related to their dress, personal appearance, and hygiene, and maintain a courteous and respectful relationship with school/organization personnel, students, parents/guardians, etc. Failure to consistently demonstrate these competencies constitutes a lack of appropriate professional conduct.

Throughout their experiences in schools/organizations, students are reminded that the Graduate School of Education is committed to preparing teachers to teach all students in the public school system throughout the state of New York. As such, students must approach their fieldwork and course work with a commitment toward this goal and must act in a manner that is consistent with this goal.

Throughout their undergraduate career, students are expected to interact with and represent UB faculty, staff, and students in a professional manner consistent with UB policies and in line with the above expectations of professional conduct within schools/organizations.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the education minor, contact:

Karen R. DeGarmo
Email: edminor@buffalo.edu
Department of Learning and Instruction
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
505 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1000
Telephone: (716) 645-2455
Fax: (716) 645-3161

Graduate Initial Teacher Certification Program

If, upon completion of your undergraduate degree, you intend to apply to the graduate-level program leading to initial teacher certification, be sure to appropriately plan your undergraduate course work so that you will have met the admissions requirements as related to the undergraduate major and content-area distribution as well as the general education core in liberal arts and sciences. For information regarding these requirements, see the requirements page.

For information regarding application to the graduate-level program leading to initial teacher certification, contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
366 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Telephone: (716) 645-2110
Fax: (716) 645-7937
Email: gse-info@buffalo.edu