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For student teachers: Michele Morales, Director, 212-875-4588
For working teachers: Diana-Elena Matsoukas, Director, 212-875-4616
For assistant teachers: Stan Chu, Director, 212-875-4499
Master of Science in Education: 45 credits
This 45-credit program in Early Childhood General Education is specifically designed for teachers and prospective teachers who wish to work with young children from birth through grade two, focusing on nursery school through second grade.
Young children are full of curiosity. For them, learning often takes the form of play, social interaction, rhythm and colors. Learning how children develop and grow can be fascinating work. This program will engage you in small classes exploring educational theory, reflective thinking, and direct experience with young children.
You will learn a developmental-interaction approach to early childhood education that will teach you to support the growth, development and learning of the whole child. You will learn to observe young children in specific ways that will provide assessment strategies to enhance your understanding of development and of the learning process. The program emphasizes collaborative ways of working with parents, other teachers, and professionals to help support the positive development and modes of learning in the young child. In this program, rich in curriculum in the areas of literacy and literature, experiential mathematics and science, and creative approaches to the arts and social studies, you will discover exciting ways to engage young children in active learning.
Certification in Education
You will earn initial and professional New York State certification in Early Childhood General Education to work with general populations of children birth through grade 2.
Supervised Fieldwork / Student Teaching / Advisement
During one academic year, while you take courses, you will gain teaching experience and intensive advisory support through supervised fieldwork/advisement. If you are not currently working in an early childhood setting, you will do your student teaching with placements at three age levels within the early childhood range. Working teachers and assistants who stay with a particular grade in the age range may use their own classroom as their primary site for college-supervised teaching, but they will also need additional college-supervised field experiences with children of diverse populations and other ages within the certification range. This requirement might be met, for example, through after school or summer school experiences.
Throughout your year of supervised field work/advisement, your advisor will visit you in your setting each month. You will meet individually twice a month with your Bank Street advisor, and you will gather with a small, supportive peer group once a week throughout the fall and spring terms. The year of supervision and advisement is central to your professional growth and development as you become a successful educator.
Integrative Master's Project
Before graduating, you will complete an independent study (master's thesis), directed essay or portfolio. Your choice will depend on your own goals and learning style. This project allows you to pursue an area of particular interest to you, or to weave together the threads and understandings of your Bank Street graduate experience.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Early Childhood General Education program need to have a strong background in the liberal arts and sciences.
Further information
More Early Childhood Programs (birth through grade 2):