Graduate Study in Education

Why Ithaca College?

Program Standards

Office of Teacher Certification

The Office of Teaching and Certification serves all teacher education students on campus with information on certification-related issues.

The office also supports area cooperating teachers by issuing tuition waivers and cooperating teacher payments.

All candidates for teaching certification are encouraged to keep abreast of policies, procedures, and deadlines for certification. Information on certification in other states can be obtained from each state’s Department of Education website.

The School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College has established the following standards for its programs in teacher education:

  1. Content Knowledge: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals demonstrate a rich, thorough understanding of the content and skill, knowledge, theories, and issues that comprise the disciplines.
  2. Planning and Instruction/Implementation: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals are able to plan and implement effective, developmentally appropriate lessons and curricula based upon sound principles of content knowledge and skill development.
  3. Positive Learning Environment: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals create a safe and motivational learning environment that encourages all students to become actively involved.
  4. Diversity: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals understand and celebrate the unique nature, abilities, cultures, and characteristics of all learners, including literacy and second language acquisition, and are able to modify instruction so that every student can be successful.
  5. Technology: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals are able to effectively utilize technology to enhance student learning and professional growth and development.
  6. Assessment: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals demonstrate the ability to develop and utilize a variety of assessment tools and techniques designed to evaluate student learning and performance, provide feedback, and shape future lesson planning, programs, and curricula.
  7. Collaboration and Outreach: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals foster positive relationships with a variety of target groups (e.g., students, families, colleagues, local community members) in order to promote and enhance the teaching and learning environment.
  8. Professional Development: The School of Humanities and Sciences teaching professionals continually seek to improve their knowledge base and effectiveness as teachers and make positive contributions to the culture of the field.

Our program standards are based on New York State Education Department learning standards and regulations for the pedagogical core of a teacher education program, as well as the standards established by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC).

From the INTASC website: INTASC is a consortium of state education agencies and national educational organizations dedicated to the reform of the preparation, licensing, and on-going professional development of teachers. Created in 1987, INTASC's primary constituency is state education agencies responsible for teacher licensing, program approval, and professional development. Its work is guided by one basic premise: An effective teacher must be able to integrate content knowledge with the specific strengths and needs of students to assure that all students learn and perform at high levels.