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Childhood/Early Childhood Education

If you want to pursue a career in childhood education (grades 1-6) or early childhood education (birth-grade 2), you’ll find that SUNY Cortland has a stellar reputation for excellence in preparing teachers.

At Cortland you’ll learn from expert faculty who have years of experience in school settings. They will help you translate what you learn in class to the real-world setting of a preschool or elementary school classroom.

And because 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.

A Cortland degree makes employers take notice. We prepare more elementary and preschool teachers than any other college or university in New York. Schools are confident that when they hire a Cortland-educated graduate, they’re hiring someone destined to become a great teacher.

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 
  • 142 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


News

Women’s History Month with lectures, an alumni panel

March 21, 2023
A series of events highlighting gender equity are planned.

Proposals due March 31 for Teaching and Learning Conference

March 7, 2023
The Great Expectations: SUNY Cortland Teaching and Learning Conference is planned for Tuesday, May 23 at SUNY Cortland.

Russian student finds her place

Nov. 18, 2022
Sixteen years after arriving in the U.S., Russian-born Natalya Shatskikh is finishing college.

Caesaré German waited 16 years to finish college

Nov. 15, 2022
Her grandfather, a retired principal, inspires this non-traditional senior.

Campus celebrates National Transfer Student Week

Oct. 19, 2022
The week includes campus events, a door-decorating contest and highlights on faculty and staff members who experienced the transfer process.