Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families: Additional NYS Certification (Advanced Certificate)

 

The Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families: Additional NYS Certification (Advanced Certificate) program prepares candidates for professional roles in classrooms, homes, and communities across the birth through grade 2 age range. Clinical experiences are a critical component of the program and designed to provide reflective experiences in order to develop competencies in working with young children of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, and languages and their families. These experiences are purposely sequenced so candidates learn new competencies that build upon those acquired in earlier experiences.

Students participate in clinical experiences which include:

  • developmental field experiences (fieldwork)
  • supervised teaching (pre-student teaching)
  • supervised teaching (student teaching/practicum)

Clinical experiences take place in two of three age group requirements, birth through 4 years; kindergarten; and first or second grade.

Supervised Teaching (pre-student teaching and student teaching/practicum) experiences are administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE). Students must apply for supervised teaching (pre-student teaching and student teaching/practicum) to gain registration permission and placement. For registration and placement processes and procedures see below. Students must obtain fingerprint clearance.

Clinical Experiences Requirements

For a full list of clinical experience requirements consult the course catalog in conjunction with the course sequence and program trackers. The course catalog provides descriptions detailing fieldwork requirements per course, important progress standards, and exit requirements based on matriculation date. Students must meet with the faculty advisor to determine their particular course of study before registering for classes.

Clinical Experiences Requirements During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

We know that there are many unanswered questions. As the public health emergency around us is evolving daily we are committed to providing you with information and guidance as it becomes available. For up-to-date information visit the School of Education COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Updates page.

Security Clearance Requirements

Fingerprinting is required for certification and select clinical experiences (fieldwork and student teaching/practicum). Visit Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students for complete requirements, processes and procedures.

Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork)

Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork) are applied experiences in classrooms, homes, or community settings in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements. Developmental Field Experiences (Fieldwork) are not administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences. For support, please contact the course instructor. Registration, placement, and application processes for fieldwork requirements vary by course.

Supervised Teaching: Pre-Student Teaching

Students participate in supervised teaching (pre-student teaching). Pre-student teaching combines coursework and a sustained clinical experience in preparation for student teaching and/or practicum. Pre-Student teaching requires one full day per week over 10 weeks (to be assigned) for one semester if completed during the academic year or 2-3 days per week for 5 weeks if completed during the summer. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors during the semester. Students may not complete pre-student teaching in their current job.

Supervised Teaching: Student Teaching/Practicum

Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires three full days per week for one semester if completed during the academic year or five full days per week if completed during the summer. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study and meets specific Early Childhood Development and Learning (ECDL) practicum requirements.

Support

The Office of Clinical Experiences administers and provides support for students regarding supervised teaching (pre-student teaching and student teaching/practicum). The Office is led by Marshall George, Olshan Professor of Clinical Practice, and the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences, Ileana Infante.

Each program has a Clinical Placement Specialist to work with students regarding supervised teaching (pre-student teaching and student teaching/practicum).

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