Education



The education programs at Utica College provide course work in education, including student teaching, for students wishing to teach at the elementary or secondary level. Students combine education courses with a major in a liberal arts or science field. A business or computer science major is available for those wishing to teach business at the secondary level. Students who have completed a bachelor's degree and wish to become eligible for certification may enroll in one of UC's graduate education programs.

For information on our graduate programs, click here.

Programs


UC offers the following undergraduate programs in education:

The secondary education program (7-12 certification) requires that students select a major in the subject area in which they plan to teach. The areas open to students at Utica College are English, mathematics, science (majors in biology, chemistry, or physics), the social sciences (majors in economics, history, political science, social studies, or sociology and anthropology), and business and distributive education (majors in management or computer science). Certification in business and distributive education also requires a year of work experience in addition to college course work.

Students pursuing the elementary education program (PreK-6 certification) need to major in a liberal arts field. At Utica College, the following liberal arts majors are available: biology, chemistry, economics, English, history, international studies, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, social studies, sociology and anthropology, and communication arts. The program in English as a Second Language (PreK-12 certification) is open to English and social studies majors.

Student Teaching


Education students schedule one of the semesters of their senior year, usually the fall, to devote entirely to the study of professional education.

Special Opportunities


The Utica College partnership with the Utica City School District provides the opportunity for elementary education students to work with and observe children, faculty, and staff. Some UC classes currently are being offered at Kernan Elementary School near the UC campus.

The Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program is a collaborative project, launched in 1993, between Utica College and the Utica City School District designed to meet the challenges of motivating middle- and high-school students to stay in school, earn a New York State Regents diploma, and pursue post-secondary education. This program provides the opportunity for education students to work with students, faculty, staff, and youth advocates at Donovan and Kennedy Middle Schools and Proctor High School.

Members of UC's Teacher Education Advisory Committee, which consists of educators in the Utica area, are available to answer questions and provide information about the teaching profession and have recruited teachers interested in being mentors to UC students.

Faculty

To learn more about UC's distinguished Teacher Education faculty, visit our faculty page - click here >

Facilities


Utica College maintains seven academic computer laboratories on campus. These labs contain either IBM-compatible or Apple Macintosh computers. Classes are taught in some of the computer labs; all labs are accessible to any UC student during published hours. The labs are equipped with laser printers, and the computers have word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs. Student assistants and a Computer Help Desk provide any assistance that students need.

Career Opportunities


Students who successfully complete a bachelor's degree and the education program at UC, and who take the requisite New York state examinations, are eligible for provisional teacher certification in New York at the PreK-6 or 7-12 level. By interstate agreement, they also are eligible for provisional certification in most other states. Since requirements differ from state to state, however, students are advised to obtain information from the state in which they wish to teach.

Graduates of UC's education programs teach in area schools and all over the United States. Many of those who remain in the area maintain close contact with UC by serving on the Teacher Education Advisory Commmittee.