Undergraduate Minor in Education

The Program

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 schools, the education minor provides an opportunity to begin to develop pedagogical knowledge essential for effective teaching. This minor introduces students to the profession of education and provides them an opportunity to explore education as a career. Additionally, it allows them a head start on the coursework leading to initial teacher certification through the University at Buffalo's graduate initial teacher certification program. This minor cannot in itself lead directly to initial teacher certification.

Acceptance Criteria

Registration in the education minor is open to students who formally apply to the minor and who receive confirmation of acceptance prior to registration. Applications to the minor must be filed with the Teacher Education Institute (TEI) office in 375 Baldy Hall. Applications must include UB DARS report and/or official transcript. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for admission.

Course Sequence

The minor in education consists of 19 credits as described below.

Required Courses

Educational Foundations (10 credits):

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

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

*  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

First Year (sophomore year)

• Spring: LAI 350 (prerequisite for CEP 400 & ELP 405)

Second Year (junior year)

• Fall: CEP 400, ELP 405 (prerequisite for LAI 414)
• Spring: LAI 414 or elective

Third Year

• Fall: Two courses from the list of electives

The first course in the minor, LAI 350, is an introductory course that provides a foundation for the other education coursework and provides early field experiences.

The other two required courses, CEP 400 and ELP 405, may be used to meet requirements for initial teacher certification as an Adolescence (grades 7-12) teacher. The final three courses in the minor are electives, which may also meet initial teacher certification course requirements (depending on the certificate area).

Students who successfully complete CEP 400, ELP 405, and LAI 414, and who later pursue the UB program leading to initial teacher certification for Adolescence education may include these courses in their coursework toward initial teacher certification. This provides students a 9-credit head start toward their initial teacher certification.

Application

Download the Undergraduate Education Minor Application

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Graduate Initial Teacher Certification Program

http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/programs/tei/index.asp

Provisional Admission to the Initial Teacher Certification Program

Students who have completed 75 undergraduate credits in an approved major with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can apply online to the initial teacher certification for provisional admission pending completion of their undergraduate degree and other admissions requirements. Students who have been provisionally admitted and who have completed 90 undergraduate credits may take two graduate level education courses (upon advisement) and include them in their graduate program in education.

Undergraduate Coursework Required for Admission

For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification through the University at Buffalo graduate program, the following information will assist in the planning of undergraduate coursework.

For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification in adolescence education, English to speakers of other languages, or music education, note the following information regarding undergraduate degree and distribution requirements.

English to Speakers of other Languages

A baccalaureate degree in English, a language other than English, linguistics, or a speech-related field, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the major.

Mathematics

A baccalaureate degree in mathematics, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in mathematics.

In addition, the following mathematics distribution must also be:

• 2 courses in linear and/or abstract algebra
• 2 courses in calculus
• 1 course in geometry

Science

A baccalaureate degree, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the intended certificate area (biology, chemistry, Earth science, or physics).

In addition, the following science distribution must be met for each certificate area.

• 3 credits in biology
• 3 credits in chemistry
• 3 credits in Earth science
• 3 credits in physics

For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification in early childhood and/or childhood education, note the following information regarding undergraduate degree requirements.

University at Buffalo’s Approved Undergraduate Majors for Teacher Certification:

• Anthropology
• Art
• Art History
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Classics
• Dance
• Economics
• English
• French
• Geography
• Geological Sciences
• German
• History
• Italian
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physics
• Political Science
• Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (Health & Human Services: Early Childhood Concentration only)
• Spanish
• Theater

Admission to all graduate initial teacher certification program curricular options requires applicants to complete a general education core in liberal arts and sciences (for course examples, refer to the Undergraduate Catalogue at http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/index.shtml), which includes the following:

• Arts/Artistic Expression (3 credits)
• Humanities (3 credits)
• Writing/English Composition (3-6 credits)
• World Civilization (6 credits)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
• American Pluralism or equivalent (3 credits)
• Natural Sciences: lab-based biology, chemistry, geology, or physics (6 credits)
• Mathematical Processes (3 credits)
• Depth Requirement (3 credits)
• Language other than English (1st year, 2nd semester college course)
• Library Skills/Information Retrieval (online workbook)

Note: Currently, the requirements for the general education core in liberal arts and sciences will have been met as part of successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from the University at Buffalo, with the possible exception of the requirements for natural sciences and language other than English. For natural sciences, coursework must be in lab-based biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. For language other than English, coursework must be a college course at the first year, second semester level.

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Contact Information

For questions regarding the education minor, contact:

Teacher Education Institute
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
375 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1000
Telephone: (716) 645-2461
Fax: (716) 645-3631

For questions regarding application to the graduate initial teacher certification program, contact the Office of Admissions: gse-info@buffalo.edu.

Staff Listing

TEI Staff listing is available here.