To read the course descriptions, click here.
To browse the full list of courses available by academic department, visit Courses of Instruction.
To browse the most up-to-date faculty listing, click here.
To browse the 2010-2012 catalogue online as a PDF, click here.
To browse the 2008-2010 catalogue online as a PDF, click here.
The 2006-2008 catalogue is still available online as a PDF. To browse it, click here.
If you have questions or comments about the new online catalogue, please send us your feedback.
The Department of Education offers courses within the Colleges’ liberal arts curriculum and programs that prepare students to become certified teachers. Courses are open to all students and address areas such as the psychology, philosophy, and history of education; multicultural education; the dynamics of learning language, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, and the arts; and issues regarding people with special needs. In addition to its several teacher preparation programs, the education department offers both a disciplinary and interdisciplinary minor and a Master of Arts in Teaching.
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
The department offers programs leading to New York State initial certification in childhood education (grades 1-6), childhood and students with disabilities (1-6), visual art (p-12), and several disciplines in adolescent education (7-12). New York State certification is recognized in many other states.
In all Hobart and William Smith certification programs, students learn to teach by teaching and devote the majority of their course concentrations to academic study outside of the department. Students in teacher certification programs may major in almost any discipline or program offered by the Colleges, with the proviso that those seeking adolescent certification or certification to teach art must major in the subject area in which they wish to be certified (e.g., mathematics, chemistry, art, English,).
Students typically apply for admission to the undergraduate certification programs in the spring of their first year. Those admitted begin in their sophomore year. Students who are willing to complete student teaching during a ninth semester may apply as sophomores. Students who transfer into the Colleges are admitted on a rolling basis. Admission to the program is competitive and is based on good academic standing, demonstrated interest in teaching, and personal traits such as initiative, punctuality and responsibility.
All students admitted to a certification program are required to complete four semesters of fieldwork (education practica) in local classrooms. Students must spend at least 40 hours per semester working in a classroom in which they are placed by the department. Tutors (sophomores) are expected to observe their cooperating teachers, work with individuals and small groups, and occasionally teach a whole class. Assistant teachers (juniors) take on increased responsibilities and regularly teach whole classes. Students are supervised as they teach and are offered personal guidance and encouragement to develop their own best teaching styles. In addition, all students must complete at least six teacher seminars that run concurrently with the fieldwork. Teacher seminars generally meet once a week and address issues of pedagogy.
One semester in the senior year is devoted to full‑time student teaching. Three course credits are granted for student teaching and an accompanying seminar. Student teaching is the only part of the certification program that is awarded course credit. Tutoring, assistant teaching, and the teacher seminars are all undertaken outside of the normal curriculum and are carried in addition to a full course load in other subjects. However, students may elect to take courses offered by the department leading toward a minor. All candidates for teacher certification in New York State must also pass the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations and be fingerprinted at their own expense.
Distribution Requirements for Certification
In addition to completing the education practica and teacher seminars as noted above, all students pursuing certification must fulfill the following distribution requirements: one natural science course (biology, chemistry, geoscience or physics, lab recommended), one social science or history course (two recommended), one fine arts course (art history is acceptable), one literature course (e.g., English, French, Spanish, German or classics) and two courses in a language other than English (or placement at or above the second year level in a language). Note: Distribution requirements are subject to change as New York state publishes new rules for certification.
Childhood (1-6) Teacher Certification
Students may prepare to teach at the childhood level (grades 1-6) by completing the childhood teacher certification program. Education practica in this program are completed in a variety of public and private elementary school settings in the Geneva area. Student teaching must be completed in the first through sixth grades. In addition to the distribution requirements noted above, students pursuing childhood certification must also complete a college‑level course in mathematics (or receive placement into MATH 130 on the Colleges’ Math Placement exam). Students may pursue most majors offered at the Colleges.
Childhood and Students with Disabilities (1-6) Teacher Certification
Certification in special education along with childhood education is available by completing the program in childhood and students with disabilities (grades 1-6). In addition to completing all of the requirements described above for childhood certification, students pursuing special education certification must take at least four courses in special education offered by the education, psychology, and sociology departments, and must complete two additional teacher seminars in special education. Student teaching is carried out in both general elementary classrooms and in special education settings. The special education program at the Colleges is intended to prepare students to work in a variety of school settings with children with and without disabilities.
Adolescent (7-12) Teacher Certification
Students may prepare to teach at the secondary level (grades 7-12) by completing the adolescent teacher certification program. The fieldwork in this program is conducted in the subject area in which students are preparing to teach. The department is licensed to prepare teachers of English, social studies, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, general science, French, Spanish, Latin, and mathematics. Adolescent certification candidates must meet certain requirements regarding their areas of concentration and must student teach at the seventh‑grade level or higher in the subject area in which they seek certification.
Teacher Certification in Art (P-12)
Students may prepare to teach art in preschool through grade 12. Students pursuing certification in art complete their fieldwork in art classrooms in kindergarten through high school and student teaching is carried out at both the elementary and secondary levels. In addition to the distribution requirements noted above, students pursuing certification in art must also complete a 12-course major in studio art as described elsewhere in the Colleges’ Catalogue with the proviso that the major include either four art history courses, or three art history courses and a course in aesthetics (PHIL 230); and that the art history courses address at least two historical periods or cultures.
REQUIRED TEACHER SEMINARS
The following teacher seminars are professional seminars that generally meet weekly. In order to register for any of these seminars, students must be enrolled in a teacher certification program. Teacher seminars carry no academic credit, but do appear on transcripts and are counted toward teacher certification by New York State.
Tutor Seminars
072-01 Teaching Students with Special Needs (Childhood and Students with Disabilities)
081-01 Teaching for Equity
082-01 Teaching Reading and Writing—Elementary
083-02 Teaching Secondary Science
083-03 Teaching Secondary Social Studies
083-04 Teaching Secondary English
083-05 Teaching Secondary Foreign Language
083-06 Teaching Secondary Math
083-07 Teaching the Arts
Assistant Teacher Seminars
082-02 Teaching Reading and Writing—Secondary
083-08 Teaching Elementary School Mathematics
083-09 Teaching Elementary School Science
084 Curriculum and Instruction
085 Protecting Children: Policies and Practices
TEACHER SEMINARS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
In addition to the required teacher seminars listed above, students pursuing certification in special education must complete the following seminars:
Assistant Teacher Seminars
073 Assessments and IEPs
074 Collaboration and Management
EDUCATION PRACTICA
The following education practica must be completed by all students planning to complete a teacher certification program. Students must be enrolled in a teacher certification program in order to register for any of these practica. Education practica carry no academic credit, but do appear on transcripts and are counted toward teacher certification by New York State. Students in these practica are required to spend at least 40 hours a semester working in local classrooms.
Tutor Practica
091 Tutor Practicum I
092 Tutor Practicum II
Tutor practica are completed by students during their first two semesters in a teacher certification program. These practica provide students with field experiences in local classrooms. Students are required to spend at least 40 hours a semester in a local classroom. In addition to observing master teachers at work, tutors are expected to help individual students with academic work, monitor the completion of guided practice by students, and plan and teach lessons to small groups of students. These practica run concurrently with teacher seminars, and provide the field component for those seminars.
Assistant Teacher Practica
093 Assistant Teacher Practicum I
094 Assistant Teacher Practicum II
Assistant teacher practica are completed by students during their third and fourth semesters in a teacher certification program. These practica provide students with field experiences in local classrooms. Students are required to spend at least 40 hours a semester working as assistant teachers in local classrooms. Assistant teachers are expected to teach lessons to small groups of students and to help individuals as needed. While taking on further responsibility for the entire classroom, they are expected to teach an increasing number of large group lessons. These practica run concurrently with teacher seminars, and provide the field component for those seminars.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
interdisciplinary, 6 courses
Six courses, at least two, but not more than three, in education. Courses in this minor must contribute to a theme grounded in education courses; courses outside education must be conceptually related to the education courses. At least four of the six courses must be at the 300 level or above. Only one independent study may be counted toward the minor. At least three courses must be unique to the minor. Any course used in meeting requirements for the minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
disciplinary, 5 courses
Any five education courses with at least two courses at the 200 level, and at least two at the 300‑400 level. Only one independent study may count toward the minor. SOC 261 Sociology of Education may substitute for one of the 200-level education courses; WRRH 322 Adolescent Literature, and AEP 335 Arts and Human Development may substitute for 300 or above education courses. At least three courses must be unique to the minor. Students majoring in arts and education may not minor in education. Any course used in meeting requirements for the minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
THE MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING PROGRAM
The MAT program is open on a competitive basis to students who are enrolled in the childhood, childhood and students with disabilities, or adolescent undergraduate Teacher Education Programs at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The program is designed to be completed in one academic year, during which students continue their liberal arts studies at the same time they prepare for teaching certification.
Students in the MAT program pursue graduate-level study in a discipline or program of their choice. They apply that study to teaching by completing a graduate-level education course, by student teaching, and by producing a master’s thesis. At the conclusion of the program students are eligible for a temporary New York State teaching certificate, which may be raised to the professional level after two years of full-time teaching.
Requirements of the MAT Program
The MAT program consists of nine graduate course credits. Candidates must pass all of the courses in the graduate program with a grade of B- or better and maintain a 3.0 GPA during the graduate year. In the spring semester of the senior year, students take EDUC 420 Research in Education. During that semester, they identify a graduate adviser, propose a graduate course of study, and prepare a proposal for a master's project or thesis. In the fall semester of the graduate year, students carry out their student teaching, and take an accompanying seminar. They also register to begin their master's project or thesis. In the spring of the graduate year, students continue to work on the master's project or thesis, and take EDUC 820 Graduate Seminar in Education Research, along with three other graduate courses in liberal arts disciplines or programs. Toward the end of the spring semester students complete their master's project or thesis and defend it before their graduate committee.
MAT Schedule
Spring Semester Undergraduate Senior Year: Students take EDUC 420 Research in Education. This course is a survey of educational research methods with a special emphasis on qualitative and teacher-generated research. Students are expected to carry out field-based investigations during the course and prepare a master's project or thesis proposal.
Fall Semester Graduate Year: Students pursuing teacher certification at the Childhood level (grades 1-6) take EDUC 604 Analysis of Teaching in Elementary and Special Education, Graduate Level (one graduate course credit), EDUC 605 and 606 Graduate Practicum in Elementary School Teaching (two graduate course credits) and EDUC 800 Master's Project or 802 Master's Thesis (one graduate course credit).
Students pursuing dual certification in Childhood and Students with Disabilities (grades 1-6) take EDUC 604 Analysis of Teaching in Elementary and Special Education, Graduate Level (one graduate course credit),EDUC 605 Graduate Practicum in Elementary School Teaching (one graduate course credit), EDUC 607 Graduate Practicum in Special Education (one graduate course credit) and EDUC 800 Master's Project or 802 Master's Thesis (one graduate course credit).
Students pursuing teacher certification at the Adolescent level (grades 7-12) take EDUC 601 Analysis of Teaching in the Secondary School, Graduate Level (one graduate course credit) and EDUC 602 and 603 Graduate Practicum in Secondary School Teaching (two graduate course credits) and EDUC 800 Master's Project or 802 Master's Thesis (one graduate course credit).
Spring Semester Graduate Year: Students take EDUC 820 Graduate Seminar in Education Research (one graduate course credit). They also take three upper level (300- or 400-level) liberal arts courses that are thematically related. At least one of these courses is taken in a department other than Education. All three courses are taken at the graduate level (three graduate course credits). Students also take EDUC 801 Master's Project or 803 Master's Thesis (one graduate course credit).
Eligibility for Admission
The MAT program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges combines with the work students complete during their undergraduate years in the Colleges’ Teacher Education program to convey all of the credits and experiences needed for teaching certification in New York State. Admission is therefore limited to students who will have entered the Teacher Education program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges during their undergraduate years, and will normally have completed all of the requirements for that program by the end of their junior year, with the exception of student teaching and the student teaching seminar.
Application Procedure
Students apply for admission to the MAT program in the fall of their junior year. Acceptance into the graduate program is selective and is based on the following:
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Note: Courses numbered 071 to 094 (teaching seminars and education practica) may be taken only by students who have been admitted to a teacher certification program. They carry no academic credit but are recorded on the student’s official transcript.
091 Tutor Practicum I (Offered annually)
092 Tutor Practicum II (Offered annually)
093 Assistant Teacher Practicum I (Offered annually)
094 Assistant Teacher Practicum II (Offered annually)
072 Teaching Students With Special Needs In this seminar students examine a variety of ways that teachers understand learners and design instruction in response to those learners. Students explore a range of strategies used by teachers to accommodate the needs of all students and discuss ways to evaluate student learning strengths and needs. (McCabe, Fall, offered annually)
073 Assessments and IEPs This seminar focuses on the appropriate uses and limitations of some of the assessment tools used in special education. Alternate and adaptive assessment approaches are considered. Students are also introduced to the process of developing an educational plan. (Kelly, Spring, offered annually)
074 Collaboration and Management This seminar investigates a variety of collaborative and management approaches effective teachers utilize. Students first explore the special education teacher’s participation as a member of school district and building level interdisciplinary teams and as a team collaborator with general education teaching colleagues. Students then carefully consider the special education teacher’s role as an advocate for students with special needs and their families. Finally, students examine classroom management strategies that promote a positive teaching-learning environment that supports all students. (Staff, Fall and Spring, offered annually)
081 Teaching for Equity This seminar establishes the foundations for effective teaching. As students develop keen observation skills they examine human development processes as manifested in classrooms. They explore the teacher’s complex role as well as the social context of schools. They are introduced to learning processes as they relate to motivation, lesson planning, and classroom management, and they study student diversity issues to insure that the needs of all students are met. In addition, the seminar outlines a framework for special education, IDEA, and curricular and instructional adaptation. (Banks, Sherman, Fall, offered annually)
082-01 Teaching Reading and Writing—Elementary This seminar, in conjunction with the accompanying field placement, shows students contemporary approaches for assessing and teaching reading and writing in elementary schools. Topics include emergent literacy and beginning reading, as well as encouraging reading for pleasure and promoting reading and writing to learn. Attention is given to issues of vocabulary, phonological awareness, phonics, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension as encouraged by New York State Learning Standards. (Temple, Spring, offered annually)
082-02 Teaching Reading and Writing—Secondary This seminar shows students how to use reading and writing to learn in secondary classrooms, including English as well as other disciplines. By taking the seminar and trying out the techniques in their accompanying field placement, students consider how to teach study skills, how to teach reading for meaning and for application, and how to promote writing in a range of genres, including as an aid to learning content subjects. (Temple, Fall, offered annually)
083-02 Teaching Secondary Science This seminar focuses on inquiry teaching and learning approaches to science. Students engage in a variety of science activities designed to model different teaching strategies. They analyze their lessons, incorporate technology where appropriate, and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all students. Students are encouraged to be reflective about their practice. Local, state and national resources are addressed with an emphasis on New York State Learning Standards. (MaKinster, Spring, offered annually)
083-03 Teaching Secondary Social Studies The purpose of this seminar is to acquaint students with social studies teacher certification requirements, the literature and professional organizations that serve as resources in social studies instruction, the process and substance of curriculum (with emphasis on New York State Learning Standards), and issues that are central to social studies instruction in the United States. Included in the course are the use of instructional technology in teaching, evaluative techniques, and integrating the social dimension into geographic concepts. Readings include the New York State Resource Guide, Drake and Nelson’s Engagement in Teaching History, selected literature for young people and selected articles from social studies journals. (Gibbon, Spring, offered annually)
083-04 Teaching Secondary English This seminar examines the theoretical and practical dimensions of effective teaching and learning in secondary English classrooms. Students reflect on their field-based experiences in secondary school settings and make connections to the reading and writing processes. They design, assess and analyze lessons that incorporate the New York State Learning Standards, adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of all students when appropriate. They review the journals and organizations that support the profession and develop an understanding of educational technology and its function in the English classroom. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)
083-05 Teaching Secondary Foreign Language This seminar addresses teaching, learning, and curriculum for students pursuing adolescent certification to teach a foreign language. After studying second language acquisition, students explore methods and techniques of teaching a language other than English as well as ways of developing cross-cultural understanding among adolescents. In addition to becoming familiar with New York State Learning Standards for teaching foreign language and other resources for teaching language, students explore ways to utilize technology and discuss means of assessing student achievement. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)
083-06 Teaching Secondary Math This seminar focuses on mathematics pedagogy that emphasizes problem solving, connections between mathematics and other disciplines, student-centered discourse, and authentic assessment in the contexts of New York State and national standards. Students develop and analyze lessons that incorporate appropriate technology to meet the needs of diverse student populations. Students reflect on their experiences in the concurrent field placement. (Kehle, Spring, offered annually)
083-07 Teaching the Arts (P-12) This seminar addresses the theory and practice of teaching the arts. After examining the artistic development of students in preschool through high school, students concentrate on developing methods of teaching the arts at all grade levels. Students design and critique arts lessons which meet the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts. Students also examine methods and techniques for assessing student performance in the arts, discuss ways of adapting arts activities to meet the needs of all students, and explore means of teaching the arts across the curriculum. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)
083-08 Teaching Elementary School Mathematics This seminar focuses on how children construct mathematical understanding and on pedagogy that facilitates the learning of mathematics. The emphasis is on designing and using child-centered explorations supported by multiple representations and by balanced attention to developing both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding. Students learn how to develop mathematical curiosity and appreciation, and how to help all children become confident mathematical problem solvers. The seminar is informed by National and New York State Learning Standards and is driven by the goal of becoming a reflective teacher of mathematics. (Kehle, Fall, offered annually)
083-09 Teaching Elementary School Science This seminar focuses on inquiry teaching methods to teach and learn science. Students engage in a variety of science activities designed to model different strategies. They analyze and assess their lessons, incorporate technology where appropriate, and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all students. They are encouraged to be reflective about their practice. Local, state and national resources are available, with an emphasis on the New York State Learning Standards. (MaKinster, Fall, offered annually)
084 Curriculum and Instruction In this seminar, students examine long-term curriculum development. After discussing curriculum theory students choose a theme in an area of the curriculum which they wish to explore and develop a “curriculum project” (short course or teaching unit) which could be used to teach their specific theme over a period of several weeks. Attention is given to aligning curricula with New York State Learning Standards and developing integrated curricula as well as adapting curricula for students with special needs. Students also examine a number of models of teaching. Groups of students are assigned different models of teaching, design lesson plans illustrating those models, and present those lessons for analysis. Assessment is also discussed in terms of the curriculum projects which students develop. (Gibbon, Sherman, Spring, offered annually)
085 Protecting Children: Policies and Practices This seminar focuses on three main areas of special need: substance abuse, identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment, and families in conflict. Students are informed about alcohol and other drugs, the physical and behavioral indicators of substance abuse, and mandated reporting procedures. The seminar provides an array of options for teachers who are confronted by problems raised by substance abuse. Students are given alternative means for creating safe and nurturing learning environments for all students, including instruction in fire and arson prevention, preventing child abduction, and providing safety education. Family dynamics, factors in the home, and the development of a sense of community and mutual respect are given special consideration. (Staff, Fall and Spring, offered annually)
200 Philosophy of Education This course is designed to help students articulate and critically examine their own philosophical notions of education. It addresses questions such as: What is education? What are the aims of education? What does it mean to be educated? What are the processes of education? What should be the relationship between education and society? Throughout the course, an emphasis is placed upon conceptual analysis of the problems of education in terms of contemporary educational practice. (Staff, Fall, offered alternate years)
201 Schooling and Social Equality This course traces a social and political history of American schooling. Beginning with the meteoric rise of formal schooling in the 19th century, the course examines how the common schooling movement radically transformed the economic and political significance of education in America. Next the course follows the schooling experiences of groups systemically targeted by policy makers: European immigrant, working class, Indigenous, Chicano/a, Black new immigrant and women of each group. We shall seek to understand the significance of schooling for various communities as well as the reforms produced from resistance and contestation. (Hussain, Fall, offered alternate years).
202 Human Growth and Development This is a survey of the major theories of human development. Topics include the progression and determinants of the development of personality, intelligence, language, social competence, literacy, and artistic and music ability. Readings are taken from works by Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Gardner, Gilligan, and others. (Staff, offered annually)
203 Children with Disabilities The intent of this course is for students to develop a thorough understanding of and sensitivity to children and youth who experience disabilities. The course examines the following questions: How does society determine who has disability? What impact does labeling have on children’s lives? How special is special education? What are the various disabilities children experience? How do children with disabilities fit in the mainstream of American life? Disabilities will be explored from a variety of perspectives (family, social, legal, education, etc.) There is a service learning component to this course. (Kelly, Fall, offered annually)
208 Teaching, Learning and Popular Culture This course examines the spaces where school, youth, and popular culture intersect. It looks at the ways popular culture and education oppose each other and investigates reasons why. Since young people are often at the center of this disconnect, students explore how they shape and reflect popular culture, how the meaning of youth shifts over time, how they use popular culture to learn, and how they negotiate disconnects between their lived experiences outside of school and what goes on in school. This course also looks at the multiple ways youth and teachers are constructed in various pop culture forms. Students examine how markers of identity like, race, class, gender, ability, age and sexuality are represented and what this means for educational practice and policy. (Banks, Fall, offered alternate years)
220 Storytelling and the Oral Tradition Storytelling is the oldest form of teaching; knowing how to marshal words, voice, gestures and sense to steer an audience’s collective imagination is still a useful part of any communicator’s competence. The scholarship concerning story and the oral tradition is hefty and interesting. In this course students develop and refine their skill as story tellers, as they consider dozens of stories from many traditions, and read scholarly analyses of the oral tradition. Students perform several stories in the course of the semester, both in class and for out-of-class audiences. The course is intended to fulfill a performing arts goal. Typical readings: Campbell, The Hero With 1,000 Faces; Hearne, Beauties and Beasts; Luthi, The European Folktale; MacDonald, Storyteller’s Start-Up Book; Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment; Rodari, The Grammar of Fantasy; Zipes, The Brothers Grimm; Yolen, Favorite Folktales From Around the World. (Temple, offered occasionally)
221 Understanding Autism This course provides an introduction to the complexities and controversies surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorders. The course begins with an examination of behavioral, social, language, and cognitive characteristics of Autism, Aspergers, and other conditions referred to under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The controversy surrounding possible causes of autism is discussed. The course also involves an in-depth study of research regarding current educational and behavioral intervention strategies for Autism, including the controversies surrounding various treatment approaches. (McCabe, Fall, offered alternate years)
222 Learning, Teaching, Schools, and Mathematics Contemporary society—through the sciences, many jobs, industries, health issues, economic theories, and technologies—depends upon mathematics and quantitative literacy. Mathematical knowledge has also been part of human culture since the earliest civilizations. Being more informed about mathematics education helps students be more responsive to contemporary educational issues. Student interest determines topics selected from: effective pedagogy, the cognitive nature of mathematical problem solving, the roles of mathematics in education and society, state and federal standards, comparative education, curriculum, assessment, and equity. Crosslisted with Cognition, Logic and Language. (Kehle, Spring, offered alternate years)
231 Linguistics & Eng Grammar for Teaching English as a Second Language This course aims to provide an introduction to the study of language to all students interested in the way language works. Students will learn linguistics by "doing linguistics", that is, by analyzing language data both in contrived exercises and in "live" samples (billboard signs, newspaper headlines, etc.). They will gain a basic understanding of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and language variation, and of the ways in which language is represented in writing. The course also aims to develop students' awareness of basic English grammar and to enable them to explain its rules to learners of English as a second or foreign language. (Approved as one-time only for Spring 2011)
252 History of Disability This course is an overview of historical perspectives of disability and special education using a social justice paradigm for analysis. This course has a larger goal of deconstructing concepts of normalcy and deviance as social and educational mechanisms. In addition, this course focuses on the historical significance of: the evolution of the specific terms and labels in the special education and special service fields as related to religious, social/cultural, medical, psychological and educational fields; past and present philosophies related to educational definitions, labeling issues and identification of individuals with disabilities; past and current factors that influence the overrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals in special education programs; historical legal treatment of individuals with disabilities; current legal mandates and policies that influence special education programs; social movements and their influence on perspectives toward deviancy within our society; special education and its impact on the field of education. (Pliner, Spring, offered annually)
270 Social Class, Consumption and Education This course explores multiple theoretical spaces that surround the concept of social class in the U.S. It examines the many ways histories, biographies, and societies intersect to inform economic relationships and institutions like schools. This course investigates social class in a variety of contexts and as lived experience. It differentiates between systemic and individual responsibility, recognizing that each stance is represented in social and political discourse. Students pay close attention to how identity markers like race, ability, sexuality, and gender intersect with social class to form complex layers that infiltrate policy and pedagogy at all levels of schooling. (Banks, Fall, offered alternate years)
301 Drama in a Developmental Context Students in this course study the relationship between dramatic experience and human development with an eye toward examining the educational potential of drama. In addition to exploring various perspectives on drama in education, students complete readings that analyze the functions of drama in human development. The course runs as a workshop/seminar in which students experience and analyze various methods of using drama for educational purposes. Students also develop a drama project which they teach to a group of local children. (Collins, Fall)
302 Disability in China This course uses the lens of state and society reform to examine disability in mainland China. The course begins with an introduction to limited services for individuals with disabilities before 1949 (establishment of the People’s Republic of China), and then examines reforms in society that impacted this population since 1949. A significant portion of this course is spent studying disability and society in China after 1978, the beginning of the reform period. While the course focuses on disability, readings include more broadly focused works to introduce students to the context of China in which persons with disabilities live. (McCabe, Fall, offered alternate years)
304 Representations, Inferences, and Meanings Learning, teaching, research, artistic expression, and everyday life all involve making sense of aspects of the world around us. In these activities, and across diverse disciplines, humans employ the same fundamental cognitive mechanisms and processes but generate very different results: mathematical proofs, poetry, scientific or historical explanations, paintings, etc. Students use cognitive science frameworks to trace the roles played by different ways of representing and connecting thoughts, and to explore how they simultaneously enable and constrain understanding. Students analyze episodes of sense-making and become more aware of their own cognition and better able to help others construct meaning. Crosslisted with Cognition, Logic and Language (Kehle, Spring, offered alternate years)
306 Technology for Children with Disabilities This course will actively explore the ways in which assistive technology (AT) and universal design for learning (UDL) can assist children with disabilities to increase their participation in education, community, and home environments, and will include social, legal, ethical, and ecological factors relating to children with disabilities and the use of AT and UDL. Participants will explore various technologies from non-electronic ‘low-tech’ to ‘high tech’ devices, as well as AT that enhances learning, communication, mobility and access. Participants will learn strategies to assess AT and the strengths and needs of children with disabilities, and will examine issues of independent living and self-determination. Participants will have hands-on opportunities to use a wide variety of AT. There is a service learning component to the class. (Kelly, Spring, offered alternate years)
307 Civil Rights Education Educational opportunity has been a cornerstone in ongoing struggles for civil rights in America. This course will trace the stories and struggles of historical actors that aimed to achieve educational opportunity and redefined the relationship between education and civil rights along the way. Throughout the highly interactive course students will employ an historical framework to critically assess the significance of school reform efforts as they relate to social justice. Students will also undertake a critical and personal exploration of human agency in struggles for reform, especially with respect to school reform. (Hussain, Spring, offered annually)
320 Children’s Literature This course considers contemporary works that represent the main forms of literature for children: tales and poems from the oral tradition; picture books; “easy readers”; chapter books; and novels for young audiences. We will look at works for children from a number of critical approaches, and try our hand at writing for children, and at storytelling. (Temple, Spring, offered alternate years)
332 Disability, Family, and Society In this course, students examine the experiences of individuals with disabilities and their families. Students learn about issues of family and disability at the individual, school, and societal level, including an introduction to multicultural and international perspectives on these issues. Students learn about different ways to understand families that incorporate environmental and social influences. Both the challenges and unique positive impacts of having a family member with a disability will be discussed. Family experiences are explored through readings that include research reports, family accounts, and first-person narratives. (McCabe, Spring, offered annually)
333 Literacy The teaching of reading and writing is explored from the perspective of those who are preparing to be educators, but also for those who wish to study literacy as a social issue. 800 million adults in the world are functionally illiterate. Sixty million of them live in the US. Why does literacy or the lack of it matter, both to individuals and societies? Why is promoting literacy such a challenge? What are some approaches to promoting literacy, on the level of the tutor or classroom teacher, the local community, and the international level? While we consider these larger issues, students in the course will learn methods of teaching reading and writing. (Temple, Fall, offered annually)
336 Special Topics in Education The purpose of this series of courses is to investigate a variety of specific, salient social issues in the field of education. Prerequisite: faculty recommendation. (Repeatable) (Staff)
338 Inclusive Schooling This course focuses on children with special needs within the larger context of general education and public school. Students discuss and debate the following issues: Who are schools for? How has society historically perceived children with disabilities? In what ways has the creation of special education impacted the field of education? Are inclusionary schools too idealistic to work? Is the merger of general and special education beneficial for all students? The class examines models of inclusive classrooms and schools with teachers, parents, students, and administrators who presently work in inclusive settings. Site visits are included. (Staff, offered occasionally)
346 Technology in Education: From the Chalkboard to Online Communities This course explores the relationship between the evolution of educational technology and the pedagogical purposes that technology serves. Beginning with an examination of educational technology throughout the 20th century (radio, television, film, etc.) students explore ways in which computers and online communities are currently used, and might be used, to create opportunities for meaningful learning. Some of the topics explored are historical patterns of technology use, identity in online environments, communities of practice, the digital divide, apprenticeship, discourse, and conflict management. (MaKinster, Spring, offered alternate years)
348 Our National Parks The U.S. National Park Service functions to preserve unique and invaluable cultural resources throughout the country. At the same time, our parks serve a number of more personal purposes. They renew our spirits, provide endless formal and informal educational opportunities and are diverse settings for recreational activities. Students explore our National Park system from educational, historical, sociological, cultural, scientific, political and economic perspectives. Controversies abound when one examines the history and current state of our parks. At the same time, contemporary threats to our parks include financial troubles, overuse by the public, pollution, industry pressures and political agendas. The complexity of these situations creates a series of educational challenges in terms of helping visitors, regional citizens and politicians make well-informed personal and political decisions. This course requires at least two weekend field trips. (MaKinster, Fall, offered alternate years)
349 The Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry in Schools Teaching science effectively requires teachers to understand how to engage students in scientific inquiry and create meaningful contexts for learning. Students will explore the nature of science and scientific knowledge and examine the similarities and differences between the lives of professional scientists and what K-12 students can do in classroom settings. Topics include identifying reliable curriculum resources, supporting students in learning, assessment, creating real-world contexts, how social and cultural aspects manifest themselves in science classrooms, and how to make science engaging and enjoyable. (MaKinster, Fall, alternate years)
360 Teaching for a Sustainable Environment Teaching to help solve environmental problems must occur across all segments of society: homes, schools, places of work, business and industry, laboratories, political arenas, and recreational venues. Teaching is defined very broadly as any action directed at people or institutions to promote a sustainable environment. Students examine the roles of ethical reasoning and critical pedagogy in helping address educational challenges posed by conflicting value systems. Students design projects to meet related environmental education needs on campus or in the surrounding community. Prerequisites: At least one course in environmental studies. Crosslisted with Environmental Studies. (Kehle, Fall, offered alternate years)
370 Social Foundations of Multiculturalism This course examines the institution of schooling, broadly conceived, as it is positioned in a multicultural and diverse society. It looks at historical and contemporary debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism and explores how the ideas are played out in U.S. education systems and in our everyday, public and private social experiences. Students examine the relationship of schooling to other societal institutions in order to understand the academic, political, and social effects on students and society. Throughout the course students tackle topics with an eye for meaningful incorporation of personal and systemic dimensions of diversity and broaden their knowledge about being responsible citizens of the world. (Banks, Spring, offered annually)
401 Analysis of Teaching in Secondary School This course is open only to adolescent teacher certification participants engaged as full-time student teachers. It provides a structure within which participants critically examine their classroom experiences of teaching, learning, and curriculum development, with the goal of becoming reflective practitioners. Texts and readings are selected from those that provide analysis of the experience of secondary school education, as well as those that provide rationales for the methods and purposes of the academic disciplines. Students must pass this course with a grade of C or better in order to be recommended for certification. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Gibbon, offered each semester)
402‑403 Practicum in Secondary School Teaching This is full-time student teaching. Students plan and direct instructional and ancillary activity, in a middle or high school classroom (in their area of certification), for a full semester. It is expected that the student take on all responsibilities normally accepted by secondary school teachers. These include supervision of students, curriculum planning and evaluation, reporting to parents, direction of paraprofessionals and classroom assistants, and participation in professional conferences or in-service training sessions. Students are guided by their cooperating teacher and are observed weekly by a College supervisor. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Gibbon, offered each semester)
404 Analysis of Teaching in Elementary and Special Education This course is open only to elementary and special education teacher certification program participants engaged as full‑time student teachers. It provides student teachers with an opportunity to critique education as it is offered in school settings for all children. Participants focus on becoming reflective practitioners and on developing and implementing curriculum to meet the needs of diverse student populations. Emphasis is placed on application of the above to the teaching of reading. Recent research pertaining to education is discussed. Students must pass this course with a grade of C or better in order to be recommended for certification. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Sherman, offered each semester)
405‑406 Practicum in Elementary School Teaching This is full-time student teaching. Students plan and direct instructional and ancillary activities in an elementary school classroom setting for a full semester. It is expected that the student take on all responsibility normally accepted by elementary school teachers. These include supervision of children, curriculum planning and evaluation, reporting to parents, direction of paraprofessionals and classroom assistants, and participation in professional conferences or in-service training sessions. Students are guided by their cooperating teacher and are observed weekly by a College supervisor. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Sherman, offered each semester)
407 Practicum in Teaching Children with Special Needs This is full-time student teaching, taken in tandem with Education 405 during the second seven weeks of the semester. Students complete student teaching (as described in Educ 405 above) in elementary special education settings. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Kelly, McCabe, offered each semester)
410 Analysis of Teaching in the Disciplines This professional field-based seminar focuses on the development of a deeper understanding of the disciplinary content the student teacher is teaching. Through weekly conversations with his or her student-teaching college supervisor, the student will develop a more advanced understanding of how content knowledge combines with pedagogical content knowledge in effective teaching. Weekly observations of the student teacher by the supervisor and readings selected from educational journals and books will support these conversations. Occasional group meetings may be held.
412 Analysis of Teaching the Arts This course is open only to students pursuing certification in art who are engaged in full-time student teaching. It provides a structure within which students critically examine their classroom experiences of teaching, learning, and curriculum development within the arts, with an eye towards helping students become reflective practitioners. Emphasis is placed upon helping students meet the developmental needs of all students (p-12) while also exploring means of helping all learners meet the New York State Learning Standards in the Arts. Students must pass this course with a grade of C or better in order to be recommended for certification. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Staff, offered each semester)
420 Research in Education Open only to students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, this course is a survey of educational research methods with a special emphasis on qualitative and teacher-generated research. The course is intended to support students as they prepare and present a proposal for a master’s thesis. Typical readings: Bogdan and Biklen, Qualitative Research for Education; Wolcott, Writing Up Qualitative Research Prerequisite: Admission to the MAT Program. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)
450 Independent Study
460 Baccalaureate Seminar: Moral and Ethical Issues in Education The course focuses on ethical and moral issues central to the process of education and the experience of schooling. Participants are expected to develop a position paper in which a point of view pertaining to a specific issue is articulated. (Staff, Spring, offered alternate years)
495 Honors
601 Analysis of Teaching in Secondary School, Graduate Level This course is open only to graduate students engaged as full-time student teachers in the adolescent teacher certification program. It provides a structure within which participants critically examine their classroom experiences of teaching, learning, and curriculum development, with the goal of becoming reflective practitioners. Texts and readings are selected from those that provide analysis of the experience of secondary school education, as well as those that provide rationales for the methods and purposes of the academic disciplines. Students must pass this course with a grade of B- or better in order to be recommended for certification. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Gibbon, offered each semester)
602‑603 Graduate Practicum in Secondary School Teaching These courses are open only to graduate students engaged as full-time student teachers in the adolescent teacher certification program. This is full-time student teaching. Students plan and direct instructional and ancillary activities, in a middle or high school classroom (in their area of certification), for a full semester. It is expected that the student take on all responsibilities normally accepted by secondary school teachers. These include supervision of students, curriculum planning and evaluation, reporting to parents, direction of paraprofessionals and classroom assistants, and participation in professional conferences or in-service training sessions. Students are guided by their cooperating teacher and are observed weekly by a College supervisor. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Gibbon, offered each semester)
604 Analysis of Teaching in Elementary and Special Education, Graduate Level This course is open only to graduate students engaged as full-time student teachers in the childhood or childhood and students with disabilities teacher certification programs. It provides student teachers with an opportunity to critique education as it is offered in school settings for all children. Participants focus on becoming reflective practitioners and on developing and implementing curriculum to meet the needs of diverse student populations. Emphasis is placed on application of the above to the teaching of reading. Recent research pertaining to education is discussed. Students must pass this course with a grade of B- or better in order to be recommended for certification. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Sherman, offered each semester)
605‑606 Graduate Practicum in Elementary School Teaching These courses are open only to graduate students engaged as full-time student teachers in the childhood or childhood and students with disabilities teacher certification programs. This is full-time student teaching. Students plan and direct instructional and ancillary activities in an elementary school classroom setting for a full semester. It is expected that the student take on all responsibility normally accepted by elementary school teachers. These include supervision of children, curriculum planning and evaluation, reporting to parents, direction of paraprofessionals and classroom assistants, and participation in professional conferences or in-service training sessions. Students are guided by their cooperating teacher and are observed weekly by a College supervisor. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Sherman, offered each semester)
607 Graduate Practicum in Teaching Children with Special Needs This course is open only to graduate students engaged as full-time student teachers in the childhood and students with disabilities teacher certification program. This is full-time student teaching, taken in tandem with Education 605 during the second seven weeks of the semester. Students complete student teaching (as described in Educ 605 above) in elementary special education settings. This course must be taken credit/no credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all other teacher certification requirements. (Kelly, McCabe, offered each semester)
800 Master's Thesis (Fall)
801 Master's Project (Fall)
802 Master's Thesis (Spring)
803 Master's Project (Spring)
820 Graduate Seminar in Education Research In this seminar, which is limited to the students enrolled in the MAT program, students continue their study of research paradigms and procedures that can be used in preparing, organizing and presenting a master's thesis. Topics for reading and discussion also include salient educational issues, as well as topics drawn from the research interests of students as identified in their master's theses. Readings are typically drawn from educational journals, research textbooks, and topical education books and other resources. Prerequisite: EDUC 420 (Kelly, Spring, offered annually)
