Program information
If you’re considering a career in teaching, this program is the first step toward certification for early childhood (birth-6th grade), childhood (grades 1-6), or childhood special education. It provides the opportunity, in the first two years of your degree path, to complete your general education requirements, an array of professional courses that include classroom observation, and the required 15 to 18 credit hours in a concentration (choices are English, History/Social Studies, or General Science). Plan your curriculum around transfer requirements by contacting your transfer college early in the process. Once you complete the appropriate advanced degree and pass the New York State teacher certification, you’ll be qualified to teach in elementary schools.
Upon completion of the two-year program, students should be competent in all of the following areas:
- A core foundation of knowledge of the liberal arts
- Understand the core concepts in multicultural education and special education
- An opportunity to explore education as a career path
- Demonstrate information literacy
See semester-by-semester degree plan.
Transfer options
Graduates have successfully transferred to:
- Any SUNY four-year college
- Utica University
Career opportunities
With an MVCC degree, you will be eligible to work in or start your own preschool or daycare program. MVCC graduates would also be eligible to work as a teacher's assistant in any public school. Graduates will be able to tutor. Once you receive your degree from a four-year institution and pass state teaching certification, you will be New York State certified to teach in the elementary classroom setting.
Internship opportunities
This program includes 45 hours of observation in a classroom setting.
Contact us
Sheila Flihan, Dean
Payne Hall 345, Utica Campus
Phone: 315-792-5629
Email: sflihan@mvcc.edu
Frank Noti, Assistant Professor
AB 137, Utica Campus
Phone: 315-731-5712
Email: fnoti@mvcc.edu