Monroe’s Childhood Education (CE) degree is designed to prepare candidates for the unique needs of children in grades 1-6 in 21st Century classrooms. In addition to a rigorous academic course load that combines theory and best practices, CE students receive a variety of classroom experiences and expert coaching to develop the skills and pedagogy to become excellent teachers.
Candidates will also complete 180 hours of fieldwork before embarking on two semesters of student teaching (a minimum of 200 hours) across grades 1-3 and 4-6 to prepare them to meet the needs of elementary students and earn their initial New York state teaching license.
As you work toward your CE degree, you will:
Become well-versed in all aspects of child development and how to best meet the needs of all children in your classroom
Understand the challenges and risk factors facing diverse families and schools and develop skills to support the growth of the whole child
Learn to provide high quality instruction and intervention for all learners in grades 1-6.
Develop the interpersonal skills needed to be an effective teacher.
CE candidates learn from an experienced faculty of educators who are both content area and coaching experts. Working with individual faculty mentors, students develop into well prepared teachers. Candidates will also have the chance to take advantage of scholarship opportunities for CE majors.
Teaching Professions Scholarship
Monroe has also partnered with the New York State Education Department’s Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) to provide qualified candidates with a Teaching Professions Scholarship — meaning you may have the opportunity to earn your bachelor’s degree with no out-of-pocket tuition costs.
Our Admission Committee holistically reviews each applicant’s admission materials and selects the most highly qualified candidates. Detailed admission requirements can be found here:
Monroe’s dedicated faculty will combine challenging academic training with guided fieldwork. In every semester of your education, you’ll venture into public, Charter or private schools putting into practice what you learn in the classroom. Your professors, and the cooperating teachers whose classes you observe and assist, will be there to guide you every step of the way.
Student teaching is an integral part of the CE curriculum. In partnership with local public, independent, and charter schools, Monroe’s program will allow students to practice their teaching skills with support from both their cooperating teacher and Monroe professors. Over the course of their student teaching experience, candidates will learn:
How to develop short and long-term plans and lessons adhere to both the current school curriculum and Common Core State Standards.
How to develop classroom management and engagement strategies to create a positive, productive classroom environment in which all learners are valued and respected.
How to implement culturally responsive practices, including academic language supports, to address the needs of students from diverse backgrounds.
Candidates will help the schools in which they are placed; while their schools get to assess them for potential post-graduate employment.
Immediately upon entering the CE program, students will begin their fieldwork placements, observing real teachers in real classrooms even as they begin their academic coursework. Over the course of their education, students will be placed in 4 unique placements, allowing them to participate in classrooms across the two grade bands of grades 1-3 and 4-6, learning from a wide range of teaching styles and environments.
Your Future Career in Childhood Education
Well-educated elementary teachers have always been in demand, especially in high-needs, urban areas — and now more than ever. Some typical jobs for Monroe graduates include:
