Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6) Major
Your dream is to teach, especially young children or in the intermediate grades. Prepare for your career by studying with expert faculty and taking that knowledge to the real-world classroom setting. With Cortland’s stellar reputation for excellence in preparing teachers, your degree will make employers take notice.
Career Potential
- Elementary school teacher
- Educational resource coordinator
- Sales representative in training and educational programs
What Will I Learn?
You’ll be prepared to work in an early childhood setting such as a day care center or preschool and to teach in kindergarten through grade 6 classrooms as this degree provides dual certification.
Concentration Options
- Environmental studies
- Humanities
- Social sciences
- English language arts and writing
- Mathematics
- Urban Studies
Special Features
- Student teaching centers in urban and suburban settings
- Study abroad
- Student teaching at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
- Rural and urban partnership programs
- Cortland’s Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.) Scholarship
- Outdoor education in the Adirondacks
- College and community projects
Get Involved
With the notion that experience is usually the best teacher, you’ll spend 100 hours or more in the field before you begin your student teaching, giving you opportunities to explore a variety of different educational environments.
Student Clubs
Honor Societies
Next Steps
Contact Us
Office: Education Building, Room 1241
Phone: 607-753-2706
Fax: 607-753-5976
Fast Facts
As a student in the Childhood/Early Childhood Department you will be part of the:
- Largest comprehensive teacher education program in New York
- Tenth largest education program among public institutions in the United States
- 147 years of tradition in that Cortland continues to educate more teachers than any other New York college or university
Your completed degree will integrate:
- A strong foundation of liberal arts and sciences with theory
- The application of teaching with real classroom experiences
- Highly marketable CAEP accredited certification
Type of Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Credit Hours: 124
Excellence
We recognize excellence in our students with awards and scholarships.
- Kendra Nelson Memorial Award
- Senior Award for Academic Excellence
- Helen E. Smith Award for Excellence in Student Teaching
See all Scholarship Opportunities