Art Education - Initial Certification Program, B-12

The Art Education Programs at Nazareth College strive to nurture and sustain art educators as they meet the challenges of today’s schools and assume a leadership role in shaping the schools of tomorrow. At the graduate level, the goal is to enrich and expand art educators who look critically and reflectively at the role art education plays in the school curriculum. Through an artist-teacher model, the graduate programs provide students with an opportunity to engage in advanced and concentrated study in the visual arts. The program leading to initial certification also utilizes a field based model to prepare students for teaching art by critically analyzing and synthesizing artistic and educational theory and practice at all levels of learning in area schools. The programs ensure a broadening of artistic knowledge, and teaching skill for those students seeking professional certification, with an emphasis on the development of the aesthetic and critical artist-teacher.

Program Director
Samantha Nolte, Ph.D.

INITIAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS   

1. Completed Online Application
2. Completion of the professional statement as described on the application
3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
   
   • Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
     • An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
4. Submission of electronic portfolio: 10-15 art works on CD or DVD
5. Two letters of recommendation
6. Resume
7. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted by the departmental admissions committee.

Certification required for admission: None

Program leads to: Initial certification in Art Education          

New York State Teacher Certification Requirements (undergraduate liberal arts requirements)
As required by the New York State Education Department, the following are undergraduate liberal arts requirements for initial certification in Art Education. A complete transcript review of previous studies will be conducted to ascertain that each applicant meets these requirements. Official transcript(s) must be on file in the Office of Graduate Student Services.

• A total of at least 30 semester credit hours in the Liberal Arts and Sciences are required.
• A minimum of 30 credits in art, including 6 credits in art history, is required.
• All liberal arts deficiencies must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher and a total cumulative grade point average of 2.7.

Applying for Teacher Certification through New York State
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial and Professional certifications and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have a fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH, pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations <www.nystce.nesinc.com> and have the appropriate years of teaching experience. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

All students in a first time certification program requiring student teaching who will complete their program on or after May 1, 2014 must successfully complete the following requirements to obtain New York State Teacher Certification:

1. Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA);
2. Educating All Students Test (EAS); and
3. Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST); and
4. Content Specialty Test(s) (CST).

Note - the CSTs are in the process of being revised and phased in starting in Spring 2014. If you pass the current CST before the new CST test is available it will be accepted. Monitor the NYSTCE website for sample tests, guides and the availability of revised Content Specialty Tests (CST) www.nystce.nesinc.com.

Teacher candidates adding an additional certification will need to take the appropriate Content Specialty Test in their new area of certification only.

During a teacher candidate’s final semester, information on the certification application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2592 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm

Application Deadlines for Initial Certification Programs:
April 1 for Fall Term (Fall is preferred start term)
Requests for Spring admission (October 1 application deadline) will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Applications received after the stated deadline will be processed on a space-available basis.