Adolescent Earth Science (MA)
Welcome to the Adolescent Earth Science (MA) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the program from acceptance to graduation.
The master’s program is designed for applicants without prior New York State teacher certification in Earth Science 7-12.
Academic Plan
ESCAE-MA
Total Credits
Earn at least 42 credits
Program Code for Certification
25581 – EARTH SCIENCE 7-12
Advisors
- Jeanne Weiler, Faculty Advisor
- Ines Miyares, School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Advisor
- Bonnie M. Veronico, Administrative Advisor
- Rebecca Cushman, Clinical Placement Specialist
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Students complete a sequence of courses in both Education and Biology. The program sequence provides a suggested order of education courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Fall Start
Spring Start
Hunter College Catalog
To review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements please use the course catalog for the year you were admitted to the program.
Course Catalog Summer 2022 onward
Course Catalog prior to Summer 2022
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Adolescent Earth Science (MA) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork), and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Registration
Students register for all Adolescent courses with fieldwork components through CUNYfirst. Registration permission is not required.
Placement
For all courses requiring more than 36 hours of fieldwork, all students must apply and will be placed by the Office of Clinical Experiences at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City to fulfill their fieldwork requirements.
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete their fieldwork requirements in their current job if it is aligned to their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for eligibility:
- teaching position must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students must submit documentation from worksite/school program director
Application
Students must apply for the following courses with fieldwork components through the Office of Clinical Experiences before registering.
Registration and Placement Process
- Students register for Adolescent courses with fieldwork components through CUNYfirst. Registration permission not required.
- Prior to the first day of class, registered students are notified via their myhunter.cuny.edu email when the placement application is open.
- Registered students complete the placement application before the first day of Hunter classes. Please note that the grade level of the setting chosen for Methods II on the application should be different from student teaching placement.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences will place students at a partner school and notify them via their myhunter.cuny.edu email address.
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Supervised: 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 five full days per week for one semester. 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.
Registration and Placement
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.
Required Exams
Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for Supervised Teaching:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Earth Science
Student Teaching Placement
Student Teachers are placed by the Office of Clinical Experience with a mentor/cooperating teacher at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City. Students teach alongside the mentor/cooperating teacher throughout the semester.
Practicum
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete Practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for Practicum eligibility:
- The classroom must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students submit a letter from worksite/school program director
Practicum Site Approval Form
Application
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
- Summer Semester: N/A
Registration and Placement Process
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission.
- One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences informs students of next steps through their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
- If students require placement, the Office of Clinical Experiences will place them at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City and notify their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
Internship Certificate
Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires NYS certification may apply for an internship certificate. Students must apply for practicum first and will only receive instructions thereafter.
Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
Supervised Teaching Time Record Form
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.
Certification and Licensure
The Adolescent Earth Science (MA) program leads to New York State certification to teach Earth Science in grades 7-12.
Students who are completing or have completed the program will apply for their certification through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services. Students apply for either initial or professional certification.
Please note, the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) will no longer be a certification requirement as of April 27, 2022. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for more information regarding this change.
Types of Certification
The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior.
Initial Certification
The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate and is valid for five years. Students who graduate from a Hunter master’s degree certification program without prior certification will be recommended for initial certification.
Students apply and pay for their certification in their final semester.
Professional Certification
The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification.
Certification and Exam Requirements
To apply for the initial and professional certification you must graduate and fulfill the following certificate and exam requirements over the course of the program.
Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students who have completed Educating All Students (EAS) for a prior certification, do not need to take the exam again.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Earth Science
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website.
Need help preparing? The Hunter College School of Education Center for Career, Professional and Partnership Development (CPPD) conducts test preparation workshops regularly. Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.
Complete New York State Certification required workshops
All applications for New York State certification require that students take and complete the workshops listed below. Students who have completed these workshops for a prior certification, do not need to take them again.
School Violence Intervention and Prevention
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
Students may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.
Submit Exam Scores and Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Students must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated via the Workshop or Exam Completion Form.
Clear fingerprints with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
All students in programs leading to New York State certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Applying for Certification through TEACH Account and Program Code
How to Apply for Certification
The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for Initial and Professional certification through the New York State Department of Education’s TEACH Account.
1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account
Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application”. This will start a new application.
2. Verify/Update Profile
The Verify/Update Profile section will ask for education and employment history. For educational history, provide information from bachelor’s degree to present. For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public and private schools.
Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:
- Award Title: Master of Arts
- Program Code: 25581 – EARTH SCIENCE 7-12
- Major: Education
- Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).
3. Select Certificate(s)
Enter the following information for the certificates section.
Initial Certification
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Earth Science
- Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
- Select the Title: Earth Science 7-12
- Select your Certificate Type: Initial
Professional Certification
After three years of full-time paid teaching when you apply for your Professional Certification complete this section as follows:
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Earth Science
- Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
- Select the Title: Earth Science 7-12
- Select your Certificate Type: Professional
Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.
Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is in line with their Adolescent Earth Science (MA) certification at Hunter College will be recommended for professional certification in that area. On the next page, enter the Program Code 25581.
Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is not in line with their Adolescent Earth Science (MA) certification at Hunter College will apply for their professional certification through Certificate Progression Pathway within TEACH. Hunter College cannot recommend these Teachers for professional certification. Do not use the Hunter College program code when applying for professional certification in another area. Select “No, I have not completed, nor am I enrolled in, An Approved Teacher Preparation Program at a New York State College or University.” You will answer several questions before TEACH selects the Certificate Progression pathway for you.
4. Complete application
Checking Certificate Status in TEACH Account
If you have applied for a certificate but have not yet graduated, the status of your certificate application will be “Not Ready for Review”. Once your graduation is posted, have met all the requirements and have institutional recommendation, your status will change to “Ready for Review” and NYSED will then review your application.
Expiring Certifications
If you will not graduate from the Advanced Certificate program prior to the expiration of your initial certificate, you may be eligible for an extension through NYSED’s TEACH Online Services. Create/Log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”
Out of State Certification or Licensure
Students applying for certification or licensure in states other than New York must complete the Out of State Certification and Licensure Form.
Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure
Registering for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE)
During the registration process enter all 9s when prompted for your Social Security Number (SSN). Once you do receive a Social Security Number, you will need to fax a copy of your Social Security Number card and Passport to the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) with a cover letter including your assigned New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) ID number to request they change your temporary Social Security Number replacement with your assigned Social Security Number.
The fax number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-7088. Follow up a few days later to ensure they have received your fax. The phone number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-2882.
Applying for NYSED TEACH Account without a Social Security Number
You do not need to wait for a Social Security Number (SSN) to create an account on the NYSED TEACH system. If you do not have a valid Social Security Number, you will need to email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number first. The access number is only for use with TEACH and meeting requirements for New York State teacher certification. If you do get a social security number, you must notify NYSED.
If you apply for OPT the process will generate a Social Security Number which you will use to create your TEACH account and apply for New York State Department of Education teaching certification. You should apply for OPT as soon as you can, but you cannot apply earlier than 90 days before your program completion date.
For general instructions on setting up your NYSED TEACH account, please refer to the Certification and Licensure section on this program page.
New York City Department of Education Employment with OPT once your NYS Certificate has issued
International students cannot apply for employment with New York City Public Schools until they have a Social Security Number (SSN). International students may qualify for employment in New York City public schools once they hold New York State certification and hold an OPT visa. You will be ineligible to apply to work for the New York City Department of Education unless you hold OPT authorization, have a Social Security Number and your New York State certification has issued. Candidates fitting the above criteria may apply online to the New York City Department of Education. Once the application is received and reviewed, further instructions will follow. This policy is subject to change at any time.