School of Education

Academic Offerings
Faculty
Courses
About the School
Accreditation
Graduate Education

Student Services
Career Services and Certifcation Office
Study Abroad
Facilities
Research Centers & Institutes

Image of Dr. Joanna Masingila

Dr. Joanna Masingila, Dean
230 Huntington Hall
soe.syr.edu

About the School

There are no careers more critical to the human condition and sustainability than teaching, educational policy and the foundations of education, research in health and exercise science, counseling, and instructional technology. Our undergraduate and graduate students as well as our faculty come from throughout the U.S. and from around the world.

The School of Education aspires to increased distinction for its innovative pedagogies, inclusive practices, and synergistic partnerships. The SOE seeks to deepen the significance of its work in learning and human development, research and scholarship, equity, and professional leadership for education and human performance contexts.

The mission of the Syracuse University School of Education is to prepare thoughtful and socially just leaders who bridge scholarship and practice. Through collaborative partnerships and multifaceted inclusive approaches, we enhance student learning and success, physical activity and health, and mental health and wellbeing across communities. We enact our mission through the following nine core commitments.

• To graduate highly skilled and knowledgeable practitioners, teachers, administrators, counselors, scholars, and other professionals who are leaders in their respective fields and are committed to inclusion in policy and practice

• To operate from a social justice philosophy that includes advocating for the rights of historically marginalized populations and for educational, health, and broader forms of equity

• To pursue rigorous scholarship, including evolving forms of intellectual and creative work that has an impact in local and global contexts

• To promote wellness across communities including multiple dimensions of physical health and activity, and socio-emotional wellbeing

• To prepare leaders in multiple fields including through intensive field experiences informed by theory, scholarly evidence, exemplary practices, and reciprocal university-community relations

• To stimulate student success through transformative pedagogy, student-centered learning, and effective integration of technology-based and other resources

• To recognize that diversity and academic excellence are inseparable. Diversity is embraced in its varied dimensions including but not limited to a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff; multiculturalism; and work in diverse schools and social environments.

• To foster interdisciplinary scholarship and collaborative partnerships, and to promote a climate in the School of Education and the broader university community characterized by mutual respect and democratic and sustainable practices

• To nurture a vibrant, close-knit community of scholars and students who enrich as well as draw from the breadth of resources and opportunities of a research university.

Accreditation

The Syracuse University Unit for Preparing School Professionals (Unit) is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is now part of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The Syracuse University Unit spans five colleges (College of Arts & Sciences, College of Visual and Performing Arts, School of Education, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, and the School of Information Studies) and includes twenty four (24) program areas. The Unit will host its next accreditation visit in spring 2018.

Professional accreditation of preparatory education programs is the bedrock upon which all professions (e.g., architecture, engineering, medicine, and law) have built their reputations. It assures that those entering the respective field have been suitably prepared to practice through assimilation of a body of knowledge and pre-service practice in the profession. Accreditation of schools of education indicates that the school underwent rigorous external review by professionals, that performance of a teacher candidate in the program has been thoroughly assessed before he or she is recommended for licensure, and that programs meet standards set by the teaching profession at large.

Regional accreditation organizations are now following this same rigorous approach to assessments and are asking faculty from education to be leaders at their institutions. This paradigm shift is creating a culture on college campuses towards innovation and quality improvements.

Please refer to the CAEP website for additional information on accreditation: http://caepnet.org/

Graduate Education

Degree Requirements

Each graduate degree offered by the school represents a different level of achievement.

The Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Art (M.A.), or Master of Music(M.Mus.) is the first degree beyond the bachelor’s degree. Each master’s program is designed to develop in-depth knowledge of a particular field of professional education.

The Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) offers greater scope, depth, and thoroughness of preparation beyond the master’s degree, or an opportunity for specialized study that is less than a master’s degree.

A doctoral degree is considered the highest level of academic achievement. The Ph.D. is an academic degree. The Ed.D. is a professional degree. Students with an interest in research or in university teaching usually pursue the Ph.D. Their programs emphasize intensive study in a major area of specialization and often a minor area as well, leading to the development or extension of theory and research in the major field. Many Ed.D. candidates seek positions as administrators, supervisors, consultants, college professors, and as non-teaching education specialists.

General information about degree requirements is listed below. For details on degree requirements, see information provided by the Office of Academic and Student Services, 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230, 315-443-9319. Information on specific requirements is available from the office of the chair or coordinator of each program of study.

Master’s Degree

The School of Education offers the M.S. in a variety of areas, the M.Mus. in music education and the M.A. in media and education. Selected areas of study lead to public school teacher certification; others prepare students for roles in various educational and non-educational settings. Many master’s degree programs are available to applicants with no previous study in that field.

Preparation programs meet the academic requirements for those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education who pursue their first certificate for public school service in a specific area. Preparation programs also serve those who are certified in one area but seek certification in a new area.

Master’s professional certification programs are designed for those who are already certified in a subject area but want a master’s degree in that same area to meet academic requirements for the next level of certification.

A select number of master’s programs prepare students for roles not requiring certification, while others lead to doctoral candidacy. For a complete listing, see “Programs Offered and Degrees Conferred.”

All master’s degree programs require a minimum of 30 credits; some require more. Some programs allow students to elect one or more courses offered by other academic units of Syracuse University, such as the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Administration or the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. No more than 9 credits (6 credit limit for Higher Education) taken outside of Syracuse University may be transferred into a 30-credit master’s degree program.

All master’s programs require one of the following: a thesis, a portfolio review, or an intensive examination. Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 to graduate.

Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.)

The C.A.S. program is a step beyond the master’s level, but is distinct from doctoral study. The certificate is not an intermediate step to a doctoral degree but is considered a terminal degree providing the specialization necessary for a variety of positions. The C.A.S. programs in School Counseling, Educational Leadership and School District Business Leadership may also meet the academic requirements for New York State certification in those areas.

C.A.S. Requirements

Generally, the C.A.S. includes 60 credits with at least half at Syracuse University, an overall B average, a qualifying examination, an appropriate field project/activity, an extended internship, and at least 30 credits in the field and 9-21 credits outside the field of study.

In addition to the traditional C.A.S. offered by the School of Education, the School’s Departments of Cultural Foundations of Education (CFE), Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation Department (IDD&E) and Teaching and Leadership (T&L) offer non-traditional Certificates of Advanced Study:

CFE offers a Certificate of Advanced Study in Disability Studies. This is a 15 credit program, with the additional requirement of an oral or written examination at the completion of the coursework. The C.A.S. in Disability Studies is available to students enrolled in any Syracuse University graduate program as well as to applicants who wish to pursue the C.A.S. as a single course of study.

IDD&E offers three Certificate of Advanced Study programs in Designing Digital Instruction (15 credits), Educational Technology (15 credits), and Instructional Design Foundations (12 credits). These programs are designed for students who require additional knowledge and expertise in order to advance in their professional careers.

T&L offers a 15 credit C.A.S. in Media & Education as a joint venture with the Newhouse School. This C.A.S. is designed to be completed in one year of part-time study. The program is capped on each end with a full-time, on-campus residency (first weeks of July, then last weeks of the following June). Fall and Spring courses are completed online.

ir professional careers.

Doctoral Degree

Candidates must first decide whether to pursue the Ed.D. or the Ph.D. Before applying for the doctoral degree, the candidate should correspond with the program coordinator of the specific program of interest and, if possible, arrange for a personal interview.

Programs for both the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. degrees require a minimum of 90 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, usually distributed among core requirements, major area requirements, supporting minor areas, research tools, and dissertation credits. One-half of pre-dissertation course credits must be taken at Syracuse University. Successful candidates for either doctoral degree must pass a preliminary examination early in the program, and qualifying examinations in the field of specialization and any supporting minor areas later in the program; demonstrate competence in research; write a dissertation based upon an independent investigation that adds to existing knowledge in the field; and pass an oral defense of the dissertation. An overall B average, completion of a residency or time-to-completion requirement, and completion of all requirements within 5 years of the qualifying examination are also required. All candidates for the Ph.D. degree are required to complete a research apprenticeship, including a supervised research activity over a period of not less than one year, under the direction of a University faculty member. Ed.D. students must complete a practicum requirement.

Non-matriculated Students

Students with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may take a limit of 6-9 credits of courses in the School of Education without enrolling in a degree program (non-matriculated student). Some courses require approval of the instructors. Enrolling in coursework as a non-matriculated student does not allow the non-matriculated student the same academic advisement as matriculated students. No more than 9 credits taken before matriculation may be transferred to a degree program. No more than 6 credits may be taken prior to matriculating into the Higher Education M.S. degree program. All such courses must be approved by the student’s advisor. A registration hold will be put on students’ accounts who have reached this limit.

Internal Admission Process

Students who are currently enrolled in a Syracuse University graduate program, or who have completed a Syracuse University graduate program within the last 12 months may apply for a new graduate program by using the Graduate Enrollment Internal Admission Application. The internal admission application and instructions are available in the Office of Academic and Student Services, located at 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230. Students enrolled in concurrent master’s programs must complete the requirements for both programs prior to graduation. There is no fee for the internal admission process.

Student Services

The Office of Academic and Student Services

The Office of Academic and Student Services was created to ensure that students get the most out of their college experience. The staff in the office provides a thorough and effective system of support for both undergraduate and graduate students from the admissions process through graduation and beyond.

From academic support to career advice to information about opportunities to study abroad, the professionals in Academic and Student Services have the experience and knowledge to answer questions, provide advisement, and make referrals as necessary.

Graduate Advising

The Office of Academic and Student Services provides advice and guidance on School of Education and Syracuse University policies, advocates for student concerns, and offers a range of services to assist students as they work toward their academic and career goals.

The mission of Academic and Student Services is to help students succeed by providing information, fostering personal development and responsibility, and offering supportive services. Students have an open invitation to stop by with questions or concerns regarding academic programs, advising, career issues, and certification. If an answer is not provided here, our staff is dedicated to helping students find what they need.

Services available to graduate students through the Office of Academic and Student Services include the following:

Advising (faculty and staff)
Admissions
Academic and Personal Support
Career Services
Teacher Certification

Students will be assigned faculty advisors in addition to professional advisors in the Office of Academic and Student Services.

Career Services

Teacher Certification

Students will be assigned faculty advisors in addition to professional advisors in the Office of Academic and Student Services.

Forms

Official forms most commonly requested by students can be found in the Office of Academic and Student Services, and also on the website at: http://soe.syr.edu/current/student_services/forms.aspx
If a form that is relevant to a specific academic situation cannot be found on the website, students can stop by the Office of Academic and Student Services for assistance.

Academic and Student Services
111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230
Syracuse, NY 13244
Phone (315) 443-9319
Fax (315) 443-5732

Career Services and Certification Office

The School of Education Career Services center offers a variety of services to help students with their job search in the education field. These services include opening a credential file, resume and cover letter assistance, on-campus employer info sessions and fairs, and New York State Teacher Certification recommendation. All of our teacher-prep programs are integrated with New York State Teacher Certification requirements. For more information, visit: http://soe.syr.edu/current/student_services/career_services.aspx

Explore career opportunity websites.

Study Abroad

The School of Education supports and encourages study abroad for graduate students enrolled in any of our programs. The faculty and program advisors work very closely with students on appropriate course sequencing to facilitate this.

School of Education students have the opportunity to study abroad for a summer or semester through the nine SU Abroad centers, as well as multiple short-term programs with School of Education faculty. For more information, visit: http://soe.syr.edu/current/study_abroad/default.aspx

Community, Collaboration and Facilities

The quality of a student-centered research institution is measured in part by its success in integrating its students’ learning experiences and its faculty members’ scholarship. In a professional school, the key to that integration lies in sustained, critical, always-respectful engagement with the profession and those it serves. It relies upon creating a community of learners devoted to service. The efforts of our students and faculty members to create such a community are supported by an organizational infrastructure of coordinating councils, teacher centers, subject matter academies, specially-funded research and development projects, and skilled staff members. All are devoted to nurturing collaborative partnerships between preservice educators, University faculty, and practicing professionals in public education, higher education, and other educational and work environments.

The following facilities are part of our campus in Syracuse, New York:

Huntington Hall houses the Dean’s office and the majority of School of Education departments and offices.
Comstock Art Facility, 1055 Comstock Ave is the main building for Art Education.
Crouse College houses an auditorium, and faculty, classrooms and practice space for Music Education.
Carnegie is home to Math Education.
Sims houses the Counseling and Human Services Department, and the Psycho-educational evaluation teaching laboratory.
111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230 is home to the Office of Academic and Student Services.
The Women’s Building houses the Exercise Science Department’s faculty and administrative offices, two research laboratories, two gymnasiums, an indoor pool, a dance studio, outdoor playing fields, and tennis courts.
Exercise Science research facilities include:
- Human Performance Laboratory
- Hypoxia Laboratory
- Muscle Biology Laboratory
Ernie Davis is home to a teaching laboratory and classroom in addition to the Health and Exercise Science Learning Community.

Research Centers & Institutes

The Syracuse University mission is strengthened by the centers and institutes housed at the School of Education.

The School of Education’s centers and research institutes are growing to accommodate the needs of the communities they serve and to offer students robust interdisciplinary experiences.

The Inclusion Institutes

School Reform for Urban Youth

Collaborative Partnerships

Higher Education Supports and Initiatives

Academic Opportunity Programs
- Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
- Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)
- Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
- Student Support Services (SSS)
Intergroup dialogue
Regional Holocaust and Genocide Initiative
McNair Scholars Program
Extended Campus

Office of Professional Research and Development

Programs

Master’s

Doctorate

Combined Degree

Cultural Foundations of Education, JD/MS

Certificate of Advanced Study