This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.
The inclusive childhood and special education certification program is currently offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The program leads to New York State teacher certification in childhood education grades 1–6 and special education grades pre-K-12. It combines a program of study with both liberal arts and educational coursework. Students are required to obtain 24 liberal arts credits out of a total of 32 in order to be eligible for state certification as an undergraduate.
Students should begin the certification program as early as possible in their academic career at Colgate. Students are required to apply to the teacher preparation program with a suggested deadline of November 1 of their sophomore year. Students will complete student teaching during the fall term of their senior year, an extended ninth semester, or as a graduate student. This professional semester includes dedicated coursework in planning, instruction, and assessment.
For more information, visit the Educational Studies department page.
Certificate Requirements
Education as a Social Institution
Social and Cultural Diversity in Schooling, Teaching, and Learning
One course from
The Nature of Childhood Education and Development
Special Education Focused Coursework
- EDUC 207 - Inclusive and Anti-Ableist Education
- EDUC 321 - Critical Psychological Perspectives on Learner Differences
- EDUC 339 - Feminist Disability Studies (Recommended)
Professional Student Teaching Semester
All of the following:
- EDUC 453 - Seminar on Inclusive Curriculum and Instruction in Science/Mathematics
- EDUC 455 - Student Teaching
- EDUC 456 - Dignity in Schools (.25 credits), also satisfies DASA training
- EDUC 465 - Student Teaching for Inclusive Elementary and Secondary Education II
- EDUC 475 - Student Teaching for Inclusive Elementary and Secondary Education III
Professional Seminars
- EDUC 451 - Seminar on Inclusive Curriculum and Instruction in English/Social Studies
- EDUC 454 - Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Problems
Course Requirements Outside of Educational Studies
- Two science courses in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy
- Two English courses
- Two history courses/social sciences courses
- Two mathematics courses
Other Requirements
- Fieldwork — a minimum of 100 hours in a general education classroom and 50 hours in a special education setting
- Child abuse workshop (two hours of training in the identification of suspected child abuse/maltreatment)
- Violence intervention and prevention workshop
- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma, Implicit Bias, and Identification of Child Abuse
- Fingerprinting