This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2024-25.

The elementary certification program is currently offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The program leads to New York State teacher certification in grades 1–6. It combines a program of study with both liberal arts and educational coursework. Students are required to obtain 24 liberal arts credits out of a total of 32 in order to be eligible for state certification as an undergraduate.

Students should begin the certification program as early as possible in their academic career at Colgate. Students are required to apply to the teacher preparation program with a suggested deadline of November 1 of their sophomore year. Students will complete student teaching during the fall term of their senior year or in an extended ninth-semester. This professional semester includes two teaching methodology seminars, and an advanced course on the diagnosis and remediation of reading problems.

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Certificate Requirements

Education as a Social Institution

Social and Cultural Diversity in Schooling, Teaching, and Learning

One course from   

The Nature of Childhood Education and Development

All of the courses from   

Professional Student Teaching Semester

Course requirements outside of Educational Studies

Other Requirements

  • Fieldwork — 100 hours
  • Child abuse workshop (two hours of training in the identification of suspected child abuse/maltreatment)
  • Violence intervention and prevention workshop
  • Fingerprinting