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Inclusive Early Childhood Education (Bachelor of Science)
The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program option leads toward New York State initial teacher certification in Early
Childhood, Birth to Grade 2, and in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth to Grade 2. The program option contains core liberal
arts and sciences courses, professional courses, and multiple opportunities for supervised field experiences, culminating in student
teaching in inclusive pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and primary classrooms.
Graduates of Cazenovia College’s Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program meet the following claims:
Claim #1: Graduates learn and understand subject matter knowledge they will be responsible for teaching.
Claim #2: Graduates understand and apply effective pedagogy for diverse learners in various settings.
Claim #3: Graduates reflect critically on their practice and professional responsibilities.
Goals:
• To prepare students to understand and integrate knowledge of physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development, with
understandings of disabilities and multi-culturalism, and to constructively assess and evaluate student needs, abilities, and
developmental and academic progress;
• To prepare students to teach appropriate early childhood content in accordance with the pertinent Common Core Learning
Standards for New York State, and to develop and implement a literature-based, standards-based, interdisciplinary early
childhood curriculum;
• To prepare students to effectively use a variety of teaching strategies and methodologies, and to incorporate the use of a variety
of technologies into their instructional repertoires; and
• To prepare students to work collaboratively with fellow students and other stakeholders and to act ethically and responsibly in
decision-making and in their interactions.
Special Features:
Multiple elementary schools and Pre-kindergarten programs in Cazenovia Central Schools, Syracuse City School District and in
other surrounding school districts serve as the partner schools for the program’s professional semesters.
Program Requirements:
Entry into the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program: Any student may enroll in the initial 100-level professional courses,
provided he or she meets the course prerequisites. However, each student who wishes to continue as an Inclusive Early Childhood
Education major will be required to meet specific evaluation criteria. These criteria are described below.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education students must earn and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and must earn a "C+" grade or higher
in every education course in the program. At the point at which the student has successfully met the above GPA expectation and has
earned a "C+" grade or higher in the following required entry-level education courses [ED 111 Child Development and Observation
and ED 131 Teaching and Learning in Diverse Communities], he or she becomes eligible for formal program entry.
Students are expected to meet all of the evaluation criteria specified below in the section titled "Monitoring Student Progress" in
order to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education. Students who fail to meet the criteria will be
counseled into an alternative degree program at the College. In addition, students must independently apply for and obtain
fingerprinting clearance, pass all the required New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and apply and pay for their two
certifications in order to obtain New York State teacher certification in Early Childhood Education (B-2) and in Teaching Students
with Disabilities (B-2).
Monitoring Student Progress: Each student in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education program will be evaluated annually in
conference with program faculty. Cooperating teachers in the student’s field experience and student teaching placements will
contribute to these assessments and will participate in the assessment conferences. For further program guidelines and requirements
for the Education Program, please request a copy of the Inclusive Education Compendium from the program director Erica Miller
at evmiller@cazenovia.edu.
Requirements for Graduation: Minimum overall grade point average of 2.5, a minimum C+ grade in each education course taken,
completion of all degree requirements and credits, a satisfactory review and evaluation of field work, outstanding student teaching
assessment, and satisfactory presentation of a professional electronic portfolio at the end of both student teaching placements. These
requirements are in addition to the College’s graduation requirements.
Academic Catalog | Cazenovia College | www.cazenovia.edu 84