Teaching Requirements

Early Childhood Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature.

Early Childhood Special Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature.

Early Childhood and Childhood Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature.

Early Childhood Special Education (M.S.E.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature. Candidates must provide evidence of their initial/provisional or permanent/professional certification as an early childhood or elementary teacher.

Early Childhood Special Education (Adv)

Applicants must have a masters degree and an initial or professional certification in early childhood or childhood education, or the equivalent.

Childhood Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards.

Childhood Special Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards.

Bilingual Childhood Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards. Candidates for the bilingual extension must provide evidence of their competence in a language other than English by earning a passing score on the NYSED Target Language Examination.

Early Childhood and Childhood Education (M.S.T.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; a college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature.

Childhood Special Education (M.S.E.)

Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards. Candidates must provide evidence of their initial/provisional or permanent/professional certification as a childhood or elementary teacher.

Childhood Special Education (Adv)

Applicants must have a masters degree and an initial or professional certification in elementary or childhood education, or the equivalent.

Adolescence Biology (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 30 college credits in biology courses, including anatomy/physiology, behavior, cell biology, biological diversity, ecology, evolution, genetics, growth, human biology, and microbiology, plus 16 credits in the other sciences.

Adolescence Chemistry (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 30 college credits in chemistry courses, including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry, as well as 16 credits in other sciences.

Adolescence English (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 36 college credits in English courses including British literature (including study of Shakespeare), American literature, women writers, and multiple genre study.

Adolescence Mathematics (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 30 college credits in mathematics courses, including theme areas of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, and mathematical connections.

Adolescence Physics (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 30 college credits in physics courses including mechanics, electricity, waves, optics, atomic and nuclear, radioactivity, relativity, and quantum mechanics, as well as 16 credits in other sciences.

Adolescence Social Studies (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have 36 credits in the social sciences including 21 credits in history and geography (at least one course in U.S. History), plus coursework in economics, sociology and anthropology, government or political science, and global or cultural studies.

These requirements are for the 45-credit dual-certification programs in Adolescence Special Education (Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents).

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Biology (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have earned a degree in biology (or a related field, for example, biological sciences) with a minimum of 30 credits in biology coursework. The content must include study in the following areas: anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavioral, evolution, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, diversity, growth and human biology.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Chemistry (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have earned a degree in chemistry (or a related field, for example, applied chemical science) with a minimum of 30 credits in chemistry coursework.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Earth Science (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have an earned degree in earth science (or a related field) with a minimum of 30 credits in earth science coursework and at least 46 credits total in science.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents English (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have an earned degree in English or its equivalent with a minimum of 36 credits in English language arts coursework. This content must include study in the following areas: American literature, British literature, multicultural literature, written composition, literary criticism, women writers and media studies.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Mathematics (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have an undergraduate major in mathematics or its equivalent with a minimum of 27 credits in specific mathematics content areas.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Physics (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have an earned degree in physics or a related area (for example, physical science) with a minimum of 30 credits in physics coursework and 16 credits distributed among biology, earth science, and chemistry. Included in the 36 credits must be coursework in the following areas: mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, waves, optics, atomic and nuclear physics, radioactivity, relativity, and quantum mechanics.

Teaching General and Exceptional Adolescents Social Studies (M.S.T.)

Applicants must have an earned degree in history or its equivalent with a minimum of 36 credits in social studies coursework. This content must include study in the following areas: U.S. history, U.S. government and political science, geography, sociology, economics, non-U.S. history, history, science/technology/society, psychology, cultural studies/anthropology and global connections. In all, at least 21 credits must be in the study of history and geography.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Biology (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in a biology major or concentration including coursework in anatomy and physiology, ecology, evolution, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, behavior, diversity, growth and human biology.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Chemistry (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in a chemistry major or concentration including coursework in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Earth Science (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in an earth science major or concentration including coursework in scientific methods, space systems, atmospheric systems, geological systems, and water systems.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: English (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in an English major or concentration including coursework in British literature, American literature, multicultural writers, women writers, literary criticism, and written composition.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Mathematics (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in a mathematics major or concentration. In addition, applicants must take a minimum of 9 credits with middle childhood focus.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Social Studies (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in social studies (history or related subject) major or concentration including coursework in U.S. history, western civilizations, U.S. government/political science, economics, geography and cultures, sociology/anthropology/psychology. A candidate should complete 18 semester hours through a combination of study in the United States history, world history and geography.

Teaching Exceptional Adolescents with Subject Area Extension: Physics (MST)

Applicants must complete or have completed 18 credits or more in a physics major or concentration including coursework in these areas: mathematics, electricity, waves, optics, atomic and nuclear physics, radioactivity and quantum mechanics.

Applicants must hold an initial or professional certificate in either adolescence: biology, chemistry, Earth science, English, mathematics, physics, or social studies.

• Copy of NYS initial/Provisional/Professional or Permanent Certification as a classroom teacher (early childhood, childhood, or adolescence) or proof of matriculation in a teacher education program (early childhood, childhood, adolescence) at Fordham University.
• Successfully interview with bilingual program faculty.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English through course work and the admissions essay.
• Candidates for whom English is a second language are required to take and achieve a passing score in one of two tests: the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELT (International English Language Test). 
• Competence in a language other than English, as demonstrated by fulfilling one of the following three options:
  • taking and obtaining a passing score in the ACTFL Language Test (oral and written) in the target language; (oral and written) in the target language;
  • having completed undergraduate studies in the target language; or
  • agreeing to complete successfully 2 courses in the target language.
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA in graduate work
• Two professional/academic recommendations

The following scores are the recommended minimum for English Language Proficiency for admission to the Graduate School of Education: Graduate School of Education:

• IELTS*: 7 for General Test Score, No subtest can be lower than 6.
• TOEFL*: 577 for paper test, 90 for Internet based (IBT) test.

*Note: Scores can be no more than 2 years old.

TESOL Tracks 1 (MST) and TESOL Track 2 (MS)

• Twelve (12) credits in a language other than English
• Demonstrate proficiency in English through undergraduate coursework and the Admissions essay
• 30-credit major or concentration in English language arts, social studies, science, technology, or mathematics
• Candidates for whom English is an additional language are required to take and achieve a passing score in one of two tests: the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELT (International English Language Test).

TESOL and TESOL Special Education (Advanced Certificate)

• Copy of NYS initial/Provisional/Professional or Permanent Certification as a classroom teacher (early childhood, childhood, or adolescence) or proof of matriculation in a teacher education program (early childhood, childhood, adolescence) at Fordham University.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English through coursework and the admissions essay.
• Candidates for whom English is a second language are required to take and achieve a passing score in one of two tests: the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELT (International English Language Test).
• 12 credits in a language other than English
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA in graduate work
• Two professional/academic recommendations

IELTS and TOEFL Scores

The following scores are the recommended minimum for English Language Proficiency for admission to the Graduate School of Education: Graduate School of Education:

• IELTS: 7 for General Test Score, No subtest can be lower than 6.
• TOEFL: 577 for paper test, 90 for Internet based (IBT) test.

IELTS and TOEFL scores can be no more than 2 years old.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature. Candidates must provide evidence of their initial provisional or permanent professional certification as an early childhood or elementary teacher.

Childhood Literacy (MSE)

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts of sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; at least one college-level in general education core areas; and at least one college-level course in English or American literature. Candidates must provide evidence of their initial/provisional or permanent/professional certification as an early childhood of P-12 teacher.

Adolescent Literacy (MSE)

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in one of the liberal arts or sciences related to the areas of the New York State student learning standards; college-level study in general education core areas; and at least one college-level study in English or American literature. Candidates must provide evidence of their initial/provisional or permanent/professional certification as a middle childhood or specialist teacher, grades 7-12.

Applicants must possess New York state certification as a Literacy Specialist Birth-Grade 6 or Grades 5-12.

Applicants must show evidence of teacher certification in childhood or elementary education, or concurrent pursuit of one of Fordham’s childhood education degree programs. Program-specific requirements are outlined below.

Biology

Complete or have completed 30 credits or more in a biology major or concentration, including coursework in these areas: anatomy and physiology, ecology, evolution, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, behavior, diversity, growth, and human biology.

Chemistry

Complete or have completed 30 credits or more in a chemistry major or concentration, including coursework in these areas: inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry.

English

Complete or have completed 30 credits or more in an English major or concentration, including coursework in these areas: British literature prior to 1650, American literature, multicultural (non-Anglo) writers, women writers, study of multiple genres, and written composition.

Mathematics

Complete or have completed 30 credits or more in a mathematics major or concentration.

Physics

Complete or have completed 30 credits or more in a physics major or concentration, including coursework in these areas: mathematics, electricity, waves, optics, atomic and nuclear physics, radioactivity, and quantum mechanics.

Social Studies

Complete or have completed 21 credits or more in a history and/or geography, and coursework in the following areas: U.S. history, non-U.S. history, civics/government/political science, economics, geography, anthropology/culture, sociology, and psychology.