Teach in Five Pathway

Imagine graduating with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and New York State teaching certification, in just five years, all while preparing for a career that changes lives.
Faculty Advising
Faculty Advising Every Step of the Way

You'll work closely with faculty advisors to learn how to earn your bachelor's degree, master's degree, and New York State Initial Teaching Certification, all at Ithaca College, and you'll do this by pairing a major in the field that you love with an education studies minor. See more details below.

Teach in Five
Flexible with Multiple Points of Entry

Whether you know from day one that you want to teach or discover that calling later in college, Teach in Five offers a flexible pathway designed to meet you where you are. Our Teach in Five program helps students turn their passion for learning, mentoring, and leadership into a career in education. 

 

Community in Education
Connect With Future Educators and Alumni

As a member of the program, you'll become part of a supportive community of future educators. Connect with fellow students, attend engaging events, learn from successful alumni, and receive personalized guidance from experienced advisors who will help you navigate every step of the journey.

Read What Our Alumni Have to Say
Selecting Your Undergraduate Major

If you are interested in teaching elementary school, you will find that you can major in almost any undergraduate degree that you want! You will need to make sure you take 6-9 credits (generally, two classes) in each of the following areas, as well as college coursework or demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English:  

  •  English language arts (for instance, English, Writing, Communications) 
  •  Mathematics (for instance, Mathematics, Statistics) 
  •  Science (for instance, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics) 
  •  Social Studies (for instance, History, Government/Political Science, Geography) 

If you are interested in teaching middle school or high school, New York State does not require a major in the discipline you’d like to teach, but it does require substantial coursework in the discipline. So, you should plan to major in the discipline you would like to teach. For example, if you’d like to teach English, you would be an English major. This pathway would ensure that you would meet the disciplinary prerequisites. However, you may also be able to meet the disciplinary prerequisites by being very thoughtful in your course selection. The Teach in Five program will help in providing more guidance based on your specific interests.  

You will have several teaching degree options to choose from when you remain for graduate school at Ithaca College, depending upon your area of interest. Your graduate degree is completed within thirteen months of your undergraduate graduation. You'll finish your graduate degree fully prepared for your own elementary, middle, or high school classroom.  

Preparing for Graduate School

The Teach in Five program will help you with making sure you meet prerequisite requirements for graduate school in education. Ithaca College does offer graduate education teaching degree programs. Our programs are open to all students who meet prerequisite requirements, including those who completed an undergraduate degree at IC and those who are coming from other undergraduate institutions. As a member of the Teach in Five program though, you will be fast-tracked to enter our graduate education teaching program and are exempt from writing a personal statement, submitting letters of recommendation, or paying an application fee!

In general, some things to know about being ready for graduate school include: 

  • You must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Each teaching certification area (ex: Social Studies grades 7-12, Childhood Education grades 1-6, Agriculture Education grades 1-12) has specific coursework prerequisites as well; you should work with your major advisor and Education Studies advisor to make sure you complete these course requirements. 
  • For the Ithaca College graduate program, you must take EDUC 21010: Educational Psychology, EDUC 34000: Social & Cultural Foundations of Education, and EDUC 22900: Early Field Experience: Theory & Practice, all of which are included in the Education Studies minor.  

At Ithaca College, most of our education graduate students are eligible for sizeable tuition discounts as well as paid graduate assistantships. Further, if you are either a STEM field major OR pursuing your graduate degree in a STEM teaching field, you would be eligible to apply for a NOYCE scholarship. 

Completing graduate school will increase your base pay in New York and many other states. Research also shows that teachers who enter the field with masters degree level preparation are more likely to stay in the teaching profession, which will ensure a steady income in the years to come.  

IC Education Teaching Graduate Degrees
college graduate facing away toward fountain
Student Voices

Read the authentic stories of students who have entered or completed the Teach in Five Program, and how they used the supportive guidance to shape their future career pathway in education.

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More Information About Teach in Five

Nia Nunn, Undergraduate Chair, Department of Education