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Graduation Participation Requirements

Students must complete all program requirements in order to be eligible for graduation and participation in the commencement ceremonies. Only students who have received or will be receiving an actual degree are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies. Individuals who have completed the required curriculum for a certification program or professional diploma will be listed in the commencement program, but are not eligible to participate in commencement. Official documentation of completion of a certificate program or a professional diploma is recorded on the student’s official transcript only. No other documents are provided.

Diplomas will be withheld from any student who has a financial obligation to the college.

Fast Start Scholarship

This scholarship offers a 20% reduction in graduate tuition to all Manhattanville alums who start a graduate education program at Manhattanville in the summer or fall immediately following completion of their bachelor’s degree, as long as they have a 3.2 cum GPA and remain full-time in the program. Interested students should contact Graduate Admissions (ext. 5142) for further information. Bachelors/Masters Dual Degree students are not eligible for this scholarship.

Super Start Preparation for Masters program in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy

Students who wish to prepare for the Manhattanville Masters program leading to certification in Physical Education may take one or more of the prerequisites for that program during their undergraduate years in addition to the courses required for their major and minor areas. Depending on their grades, students may in addition be eligible for the Fast Start Scholarship described above. Please see further details on the SuperStart program in SuperStart Program grid. Note that prerequisite courses are not part of the 39 credit MAT program.

New York State Liberal Arts Requirements

According to Regents Rule 3.47(c), undergraduate degrees are distinguished by the minimum number of liberal arts credits required for each degree. The BFA and BMus require 30 credits of liberal arts coursework. The BA degree requires 90 credits of liberal arts coursework. Education courses are among the courses offered at Manhattanville that do not count toward the 90 liberal arts credits requirement.

New York State considers Liberal Arts courses to be those that are either of a general and/or theoretical nature that are designed to develop judgment and understanding about one’s relationship to the social, cultural, and natural facets of the total environment. Working corollaries for counting liberal arts courses are:

1. Independent of specific application

2. Theoretical understandings as opposed to practical application

3. Breadth and scope in principle covered

4. Not definitely directed toward particular career or specific professional objectives

5. Not chiefly “how to” in manipulative skills or techniques

6. Not “applied” aspects of a field.

Courses offered in the areas of English, some Communication courses, some Dance and Theater courses, Languages, Music History and Theory, Art History and Theory, Philosophy, Religion, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, among others, are considered Liberal Arts.

Physical Education, Management, Education, Library Science, Studio Art, Theatre Production, Music practice or performance, among others, are not considered Liberal Arts.

Consult with the Academic Advising Office if you are unsure about what constitutes a Liberal Arts course.

New York State Content Core Requirements

According to New York State Regulations, every candidate for an initial teaching certificate must complete at least 30 credits in a single Liberal Arts subject or interdisciplinary field. A major in any Liberal Arts area will meet this requirement. To ensure that the New York State requirements will be met, student contemplating a self-designed major must plan the major carefully with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising in the School of Education as well as the Academic Advising Office.

In addition to the Liberal Arts major, specific coursework required by New York State for teacher certification is described in each program plan. This coursework must be completed (with a letter grade of C or above, NO PASS/FAIL).

New York State General Education Requirements

Coursework is required in each of the following areas. Only courses with a grade of "C" or better will be accepted. No courses graded Pass/Fail will be accepted.

One course may be used to meet the requirement in more than one area. A given course may be used to meet both state and Liberal Arts distribution requirements.

NY STATE AREA

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLES

Literature

(3 cr.)

A course in the literature of any culture or time period. (Need not be in the English language)

ENG literature (English)

FRN literature (French)

SPN literature (Spanish)

ITL literature (Italian)

CSS literature (Classics)

GER literature (German)

Other literature

History

(3 cr.)

A course in history or a history-based course in one of the social sciences

American history is required for Childhood (Gr 1-6) and Early Childhood (Birth – Gr 2) candidates

HIS Any history course

POS 2038, etc.

ECO 2025, etc.

SOC 2025, etc.

Any other history-based course in POS, ECO, SOC

For Music students, MUH3011and for Art students, ARH (modern)

Math

(3 or 4 cr.)

A math course

MATH Any college level math course (not a computer science, statistics or finance course)

Science

(3 or 4 cr.)

A science course

BIO ----; CHEM ----;

PHY----; or other science course

Foreign Language

(6 cr.)

Two semesters or the equivalent of a language other than English. An intermediate course or the second semester of a two-semester course is considered to be the equivalent of two semesters.

SPN---, FRN---, ITL---CSS---, GER---, etc.

EDU 3003/3004 Sign Language

Satisfies NY State requirement for language.

For students admitted after Fall 2009 also satisfies college foreign language requirement.

Art

Any course in the visual or performing arts

ARH, ARS, MUH, MUT, MUA, DTH, etc.

Communication

Any liberal arts course in oral communication

COMM----

ENC 4010

Written Expression

Coursework in written expression

Pre Fall 2009 - ENC 2000 or one course designated WR

For students admitted after Fall 2009 – 6 cr. in coursework designated as meeting the written communication competency

Transfer Credits

Education Course transfer credits must be approved by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising. Students must provide the School of Education with official transcripts for all courses transferred before student teaching begins.

NYSTCE Exams

Individuals seeking a New York State certificate for teaching must achieve qualifying scores on a set of assessments called the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). The purpose of these examinations is to help ensure that certified teachers have the knowledge and skills that are important for the job of a teacher in New York State public schools.

For students graduating and meeting all state certification requirements before January 2013, the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations program consists of the following:

Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)

Elementary and Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills–Written (ATS–W)

Content Specialty Tests (CSTs)

Language Proficiency Assessments (LPAs), and

For students graduating and meeting all state certification requirements in or after May 2013, new state tests will be required. Those tests are:

New York State Writing Skills Test

New York State Content Specialty Tests (CSTs)

New York State Educating All Students Test

New York State e-Portfolio with video clips of student teaching in the classroom

For complete information, go to http://www. nystce.nesinc.com

Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting is required prior to doing Field Experience/Student Teaching. The School of Education Advising office as well as the Placement office can provide you with the necessary materials. Fingerprint packets, which consist of two fingerprint cards, Fingerprint Information and Instructions (OSPRA 100) and a consent form (OSPRA 101) are available in the Student Teaching office (Benziger Hall, Room 17) and should also be available at any local school district, charter school, BOCES and institutions of higher education with teacher preparation programs. You may also request a fingerprint packet directly from OSPRA.

Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability

NYS Education Department

987 Education Building Annex

Albany, NY 12234

Ph: (518) 473-2998

Fax: (518) 473-8812

OSPRA@mail.nysed.gov

Field Experience

New York requires that each candidate for certification have a total of 100 hours of field experience BEFORE the student teaching semester. Most undergraduate education courses at Manhattanville assign a specified number of hours of observation and participation in school related settings. The field experience hours are incorporated into course requirements. The professor will assign the specific requirements for each course.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is the culminating experience of a teacher education program leading to a state teaching certificate. This immersion in the real world of schools will prepare you, in the same way as an apprenticeship would, to meet the challenges of your own classroom. With Manhattanville's support, encouragement and guidance, you will prepare yourself for a profession that is as satisfying as it is demanding.

The School of Education will arrange a teaching experience in an early childhood, elementary, middle or secondary school supervised by both a college advisor and a cooperating teacher to whose class you have been assigned. Generally, students are placed in two settings, one of which must be culturally diverse.

As part of student teaching, students are required to attend a weekly seminar. Enrollment in this course, however, does not mean that a student will automatically receive state certification.

Placement of teacher candidates in classrooms for student teaching is a complex process. It necessitates finding appropriate schools and grade levels for fulfilling all certification and degree requirements. In addition to classroom placements, considerable time is required in order to build effective seminar groups. This will ensure that each candidate is placed in the most suitable group. Therefore, appointments to discuss student teaching must be made by March 15 for those planning to student teach in the fall semester, and by October 15 for those planning to student teach in the spring semester. Failure to comply with these deadlines may result in postponement of student teaching until the following semester.

For student teaching registration, students must make an appointment with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising, followed by an appointment with the Director or Assistant Director of Field Placement. Student teaching appointments may be made by calling the Field Placement Office: (914) 323-3152. After consultation with the Associate Dean of course (up to 4 credits) in addition to student teaching during the student teaching semester.

An overall grade point average of 2.75 is required to be eligible for student teaching. Undergraduates may repeat any Education course only once.

You will be encouraged to put into practice all that you have learned about being a teacher. Working alongside master teachers, under the supervision of a Manhattanville Field Advisor, you will be required to:

1. Student teach all day, Monday through Friday, for an entire semester

2. Attend a 2 ½ hour weekly integrating seminar held at the College

3. Provide your own transportation to and from the student teaching site and the seminar.

For additional information about student teaching, please refer to the Student/ Supervised Teaching Handbook in the Student Teaching Office.

Workshops and State Tests

In addition to the outlined program requirements, the New York State Education Department requires a workshop on recognizing and reporting child abuse and a workshop on school violence prevention in order to complete the New York State Certification requirements. The seminars are offered in the fall and spring semesters and should be taken at Manhattanville during the student teaching semester. Fees for the seminars are nominal. Additionally, the student must pass all required New York State certification exams.

Child Abuse Identification and School Violence Prevention Workshops

All applicants for certification are required to complete the workshop in the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and maltreatment in accordance with Sections 3003(4) and 3004 of the Education Law.

All applicants for certification are required to complete the workshop in school violence prevention and intervention in accordance with section 3004 of the Education Law.

Workshops in child abuse identification and school violence prevention and intervention are available through Manhattanville’s registered programs. For both of these workshops, the entrance will be locked when the workshop begins; late arrivals will not be permitted to enter.

Application for the Initial Certificate

Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree program and all certification course requirements, the School of Education will recommend the student for certification for up to one year after the student’s graduation from the undergraduate college. The student must complete the online certification application and submit a fingerprinting package to the New York State Education Department.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities and the HELP Program

If an individual provides the School of Education with documented evidence of a handicapping condition, reasonable accommodations will be provided. The HELP program (Heightening Each Learner’s Potential) is designed to assist students with learning disabilities to successfully meet the academic challenges of the Manhattanville College experience. This program offers a full range of services that are individualized to accommodate the needs of each HELP student, such as: One on One Tutoring, Reading and Study Strategies, Writing Support, Organizational Help, Time Management, Active Listening Strategies, Note Taking Techniques, Course Advising, Self-Advocacy Assistance. For more information, contact the Director of the HELP Program: (914) 323-7127.

Grievance Procedure for Undergraduate Students

Students are bound by the policies, procedures and the program requirements cited in the Catalog in use at the time of matriculation. Students may consult the college grievance procedures in the Undergraduate College Catalog.

Manhattanville Alumni and Graduate Scholarships

Manhattanville alumni whose undergraduate degree date is May, 1999 or thereafter and who are matriculated in a Manhattanville Masters program in education within two years of the undergraduate degree date, are eligible for scholarship aid of $1,000 per semester. Students must be registered full-time (9 or more graduate credits).

Graduate scholarships will be awarded to any incoming graduate student who possesses an overall grade point average of 3.2 or higher and registers for nine credits per semester. Students applying to the School of Education Graduate program may be entitled to one of the following academic scholarships for one semester only:

GPA SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

3.70 – 4.00 Board of Trustees $2,000

3.50 – 3.69 Presidents $1,500

3.20 – 3.49 Merit Award $1,000

Dual-degree (BA/MAT, BA/MPS) and Senior Start students are not eligible for either of these scholarships. If you are a student in a 4-year Bachelor’s program, you are eligible for both scholarships.

Kappa Delta Pi - Omega Xi Chapter

Kappa Delta Pi is the international honor society in education. Students become eligible for selection as juniors or seniors if they meet criteria established by the society after completion of 9 education credits with an overall grade point average of 3.25 and 3.4 in their education course work. Besides high academic achievement, an invitation to membership is based on a commitment to education as a career and a professional attitude which assures the member's steady growth in the field of education. Initiation ceremonies are held twice a year.