The preparation of teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels continues to be one of the major responsibilities at Buffalo State.
The quality and diversity of the professional education programs have earned the college an excellent reputation for teacher preparation within New York State and across the nation.
Deciding to teach is only the beginning of your decision process...you will still need to determine whether or not you want to be certified to teach at the childhood level (Grades 1 to 6, Major Code CED), the early childhood level including kindergarten (Birth to Grade 2, Major Code ECE), or both (Birth to Grade 6, Major Code ECC). With some concentrations, you may also seek "extended" certification so you can build on the Grades 1 to 6 certification and also be able teach middle school.
Your bachelor's degree allows you to be recommended to the state of New York for initial certification. All bachelor's degrees at Buffalo State require a minimum of 120 credit hours; however, you should be aware that a B.S. (Bachelor of Science degree) in Elementary Education may result in more than 120 credits.
The faculty and the state of New York require that you must not only know how to teach, but that you must know what to teach. In other words, to teach in elementary schools you need a broad-based content education and an in-depth study of a given discipline, your concentration, as well as a professional sequence of courses on how to teach (pedagogy).
Our goal is to provide you with excellent instruction that furthers your fund of knowledge and fosters your development as accomplished reflective educators.
At the graduate level, the Elementary Education, Literacy and Educational Leadership Department offers master's programs in:
If you have questions, or want more information about these programs, please contact us at eergradprogram@buffalostate.edu.
Buffalo State University has been the gold standard in teacher education since 1871 when we first opened our doors as a New York State teacher college.
If your dream, like ours, is to become a teacher, Buffalo State education faculty are here to wholeheartedly support you on this journey.
Teacher Leader, Certificate of Advanced Study
Enrollment in all teacher education programs follows the guidelines for "Admission to Teacher Education Programs" found in this catalog. Applicants who do not yet meet all admissions criteria should consult with the department.
