Student with a laptop at a picnic bench

All undergraduate special education and childhood education majors must complete a 30-hour concentration in an academic area.

Students must indicate their choice of concentration when applying for the major. Once a concentration is chosen and recorded, it will appear on the student's DegreeWorks.

Gen Ed Requirements

In order to provide the in-depth experience required by the state, 18 credits of each concentration must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Since many concentration courses may also be used in completing the university's general education requirements, a concentration should be selected as early as possible.

A teacher candidate should be aware of the possibility for double- or triple-dipping some of their concentration courses with either distribution or general education requirements.

Roadmap

See the attached academic roadmap for a suggestion of how to complete your SCE program in an efficient and strategic manner.  Always be sure to consult with your advisor for individual guidance.

SCE Sample Academic Roadmap (PDF)

Advisement

It is important for candidates to seek advisement each semester and to review the department handbook for a list of courses that are needed to fulfill each of the concentrations.

Early and careful planning with an adviser will be necessary in order to meet all requirements within the 120 credit hour minimum requirement for graduation. However, it must be noted that students might exceed the 120 credit hour minimum in order to complete the degree.

Advisement Undergraduate Handbook (PDF) Graduate Handbook (PDF)

Approved Concentrations

American Studies Concentration

History (choose two courses; one upper level): 6
HIS 106 American Life 1
HIS 107 American Life 2
HIS 308 History of Early Canada
HIS 319 Colonial History of the American People
HIS 322 African-American History
HIS 324 American Presidents
HIS 326 History of Great Lakes Region
HIS 331 American Westward Expansion
HIS 340 Geography & Planning Historical Urban
HIS 345 US Since 1941
HIS 370 American Diplomatic History to 1898
HIS 371 American Diplomatic History since 1898
HIS 404 Civil War, HIS 408 American Intellectual History, HIS 430 United States—The New Nation

Geography (choose one): 3
GEG 206 Geography of New York State 
OR 
GEG 309 Introduction to Urban Geography

Political Science (choose 1): 3
PSC 102 Introduction to American Government
PSC 210 The American Presidency
PSC 215 Urban Government in the US
PSC220 Development of American Constitution
SPC 225 Women in American Politics
PSC 310 American Political Parties
SPC 316 Urban Ethnic Politics
PSC 318 Democracy and Peace—the Urban Experience
PSC 320 US Constitution and Civil Liberties
PSC 326 Politics and Media
PSC 330 American Foreign Policies
PSC 355 American Political Thought OR PSC 364 American Public Policy

English (choose 2 courses; at least one upper level): 6
ENG 220 American Literature 1
ENG 221 American Literature II
ENG 240 African-American Literature to 1940 
ENG 241 African American Lit since 1940
ENG 353 Native American Literature
ENG 354 Ethnic-American Minority Literature 
ENG 441 Romantic Movement American Lit
ENG 442 American Novel to 1900, OR ENG 444 American Novel after 1900

American Culture Electives (Choose FOUR courses; at least TWO must be upper level): 12
HIS 302 History of Women in America
HIS 332 Technology and U.S. History 
HIS 468 Readings in African-American History
SWK 319 Dynamics of Poverty
SWK 320 Social Services Organizations
ANT 244W Folklore and Folklife
ANT 300 Indigenous Peoples of Western North America
ANT 301 Indigenous peoples of Eastern North America
ANT 307 Urban Anthropology
CRJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
DAN 230 Survey of African American Dance
ECO 103 Economic History of the US
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
PAR 350 The American Musical
SSE 350 Longhouse People
HIS 330 United States Environmental History
HIS 341 African-Americans and Civil Rights
HIS 365 American Labor History
HIS 372 American Foreign Policy in the Far East
HIS 469 Black Protest and Leadership in US
PSC 225 Women in American Politics
PSC 318 Democracy and Peace – the Urban Experience
PSC 420 Contemporary Constitutional Issues
SWK 345 Child Welfare Services
ANT 312 Archeology of North America
SPF 200 Introduction to Urban Education
SPF 221 History of Black Education in America
FAR 365 American Art I
GES 405 Geology of North America
HUM 327 Great Writing and Reporting of American Journalism
MUS 306 Urban Blues and Rock, OR SOC 321 African-American Family

The English Concentration consists of 10 courses or a total of 30 credit hours chosen as described below. At least 18 credit hours must be at the upper division (300 or 400) level. It is strongly suggested that the student work closely with an advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (18 crs.)

A. ENG 190 (pre-requisite CWP 102)

B. ENG 260 Children's Literature (OR option for Extension students: ENG 461 Young Adult Literature)

C. SPC/COM 205  Intro to Oral Communication

D. Advanced Writing Course  
Choose one:
ENG 300W  Writing for the Professions
ENG 301W  Advanced Composition
ENG 305W  Creating Writing:  Narrative
ENG 306W  Creating Writing:  Poetry

E. ENG 370 Foundations of Language OR ENG 311 Methods in Teaching Language

F. Ethnic American Literature 
Choose one:
ENG 240  African American Literature to 1940
ENG 241  African American Literature since 1940
ENG 353  Native American Literature
ENG 354  Ethnic-American Minority Literature

ELECTIVES (12 crs.)
Four courses may be selected from any of the following with at least 18 upper division credit hours in your concentration:

ENG 130  Biblical and Classical Literature
ENG 151  Introduction to Poetry
ENG 205  History of Cinema I
ENG 206  History of Cinema II
ENG 210  English Literature I
ENG 211  English Literature II
ENG 220  American Literature I
ENG 221  American Literature II
ENG 230  Comparative Literature
ENG 231  Women in Literature
ENG 240  African American Literature to 1940
ENG 241  African American Literature since 1940
ENG 252  Twentieth Century Literature I
ENG 253  Twentieth Century Literature II
ENG 303  Literature in Film
ENG 304  Forms of Film
ENG 309 Teaching and Evaluating Writing - course suggestion for extensions
ENG 310  Modern European Literature
*ENG 311W  Teaching Language - course suggestion for extensions
*ENG 315  Shakespeare I - course suggestion for extensions
*ENG 316  Shakespeare II - course suggestion for extensions
*ENG 317  Shakespeare for future teachers - course suggestion for extension (see dept.)
ENG 330  Literature of the Bible
ENG 345  World Literature After 1945
ENG 350  Twentieth Century Drama I
ENG 351  Twentieth Century Drama II
ENG 353  Native American Literature
ENG 354  Ethnic American Literature
ENG 355  The Short Story
ENG 356  Futuristic Fiction
ENG 361  Contemporary Literature  
ENG 415  Seventeenth Century English Literature  
ENG 416  Eighteenth Century English Literature
ENG 417  English Novel to 1800
ENG 418  English Novel 1800-1900
ENG 419  Romantic Movement in English Literature
ENG 441  Romantic Movement in American Literature
ENG 442  American Novel to 1900
ENG 443  American Poetry since 1900
ENG 444  American Novel since 1900
ENG 445  American Realism
ENG 450  Studies in Poetry
ENG 451  Studies in Fiction
ENG 452  Studies in Drama

Required: 3 English Courses (9)
ENG 362 Children’s Literature
Choose two additional upper-level English courses

Required: 4 STEM Courses (12-14)
MAT 223 Elementary and Middle School Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint
PHY 104 Physics for K-8 school teachers
One ENT, MAT, or science course at the 200 level or higher
One ENT, MAT, or science course at the 300 level or higher

Required: 3 Social Studies Courses (9)
HIS 106 American Life I
or
HIS 107 American Life II

Choose two additional upper-level ECO, GEG, HIS, or PSC courses

The Mathematics concentration consists of a total of 30-32 credits chosen as described below. It is strongly suggested that the student work closely with their advisor. Students are encouraged to discuss their programs with members of the Mathematics Department in all concentration planning.

The math department will not accept any substitutions for students in the math extension.

REQUIRED COURSES  (24-26 crs.)
MAT 121  Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint I 
MAT 122  Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint II
MAT 161 & 163 Calculus and 1 hour lab course (or MAT 126 Calculus)
MAT 162 & 164  Calculus and 1 hour lab course (or MAT 127 Calculus)  
*MAT 270  Discrete Mathematics
*MAT 311  Probability and Statistics
*MAT 322W  Modern Geometry
*MED 383W  Learning and Teaching Problem Solving

ELECTIVES (6 crs.) 
Choose two courses:      
*MAT 304   Games and Linear Programming
*MAT 306   Problem Solving in Basic
*MAT 325   Probability and Statistics
#*MAT 351  Number Theory
@*MAT 495  Project
@*MAT 499  Independent Study
*MED 307  Use of Teaching Aids in the Teaching of Mathematics
       
* Upper level courses
# Strongly recommended that all required courses be completed before taking this course
@ Permission of Department Chair required

The Science Concentration consists of 30-33 credit hours chosen as described below.  At least 18 credit hours must be at the upper division (300 or 400) level.  It is strongly suggested that the student work closely with an advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (9-10 crs.)
Complete three of the following courses:

BIO 212  Intro to Organismal Biology and Diversity
OR
BIO 213  Intro to Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

CHE 101  General Chemistry I
OR
CHE 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I

PHY 107  General Physics I  
OR
PHY 111 University Physics I
OR
PHY 104

GES 101 & 103 Introductory Geology with Lab

ONE YEAR SCIENCE SEQUENCE (3-4 crs.)
Complete one of the following courses to complete your one year sequence of science:

BIO 211  Intro to Cell Biology and Genetics
OR
BIO 212  Intro to Organismal Biology and Diversity
OR
BIO 213  Intro to Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

CHE 102 General Chemistry II (CHE 101)
OR
CHE 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
 
PHY 108 General Physics II (PHY 107)
OR
PHY 112 University Physics
OR
PHY 104
  
GES 131 Intro Astronomy (GES 101 & 103) 
OR
GES 111 General Oceanography
OR
GES 223 Environmental Earth Science
OR
GES 224  Geologic Hazards
OR
GES 241 Meteorology

ELECTIVES (18-19 crs.)
Complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in upper division science courses.  (Prefix of BIO, CHE, PHY, GES, or SCI).  Please note any pre-requisite courses.

Note: The following four courses are especially designed for elementary teachers:
SCI 311  Processes in Physical Science   
SCI 312  Processes in Life Science   
SCI 313  Processes in Earth Science
SCI 323  Science as Inquiry

Possible Geosciences Elective Selections:
GES 300  Sedimentology (GES 101 and 103)
GES 301  Stratigraphy (GES 101, 103, 300 and co-requisite of 102)  
GES 307  Geomorphology (GES 101 or GEG 101)  
GES 310  Great Lakes Environmental Issues (J/S status)
GES 314  Geological Oceanography (GES 111)  
GES 409  Fluvial Geomorphology (GES 307)     
GES 452  Hydrogeology (GES 101 & one 300 level GES)

Possible Biology Elective Selections:
BIO 308 & 309  Human Anatomy & Physiology & Lab (BIO 100 and 212)  
BIO 414  Mammology (BIO 212 and 213 and J/S status)
BIO 421  Invertebrate Structure & Function (BIO 212 and 213)  
BIO 428  Vertebrate Structure and Function  (BIO 212 and 213)

Possible Chemistry Selections:
CHE 300  Medications:  Chemicals for your Health (CHE 100, 101, or 111)
CHE 301  Analytical Chemistry (CHE 112)
CHE 312  Chemistry and Criminalistics (CHE 102 or 100, instructor permission)
CHE 315  Environmental Chemistry (CHE 112 or 102, instructor permission)
CHE 321  Principles of Organic Chemistry (CHE 102 or 112)
CHE 322  Biological Chemistry (CHE 321)

Possible Physics Selections:
PHY 323  Statics (PHY 11 and PHY 112)

The Social Studies Concentration consists of 10 courses or a total of 30 credit hours chosen as described below.  At least 18 credit hours must be at the upper division (300 or 400) level. It is strongly suggested that the student work closely with an advisor in all concentration planning.

1) REQUIRED COURSES (12 crs.)
ECO 101  The Economic System         
GEG 101  Worlds Natural Environment 
PSC 102   Introduction to American Government
HIS 106   History of American Life  
OR
HIS 107   History of American Life II

(It is highly recommended that extension students take both HIS 106 and HIS 107)

SOCIAL SCIENCE DIVERSITY FOCUS  (6 crs.)  
Take two courses from the following Social Studies diversity offerings:

ECO 302  Women in the Economy  (pre-requisite: ECO 201 or ECO 202)
GEG 309  Introduction to Urban Geography 
GEG 359  Arctic Geography from an Inuit Perspective
HIS 302  History of Women in America
HIS 311  History of American Immigration and Emigration
HIS 314  Modern Latin America
HIS 341  African Americans and Civil Rights
HIS 468  Readings in African American History
PSC 316  Urban Ethnic Politics
PSC 335  International Relations of the Middle East
PSC 337  Politics of Globalization
PSC 340  Politics of Developing Countries
SSE 350  Longhouse People
SSE 363  American Identity in Transition

2) ELECTIVES (12 crs.)        
Take 12 credits across 3 categories: at least one course in each category must be taken

GEOGRAPHY
GEG 206  Geography of New York State 
GEG 300  World Regional Geography
GEG 359  Arctic Geography from an Inuit Perspective
GEG 360  Geography of Asia
GEG 362  Geography of the United States and Canada
GEG 364  Geography of Europe
GEG 425  Computer Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (CIS 101)
GEG 426  Arc New Applications (pre-requisite: CIS 101 or GEG 199)

HISTORY
HIS 302  History of Women in America
HIS 304  Europe from Napoleon to the First World War
HIS 306  History of Africa to 1919
HIS 308  History of Canada
HIS 310  History of the Far East: The Traditional Era
HIS 313  Politics and History in the Middle East 
HIS 314  Modern Latin America
HIS 318  History of the Soviet Union
HIS 319  Colonial History of the American People
HIS 321  History of Medieval Europe (HIS 115)
HIS 322  Afro-American History
HIS 324  American Presidents (pre-requisite: HIS 106 or 107)
HIS 330  US Environmental History
HIS 331  American Westward Expansion
HIS 332  American Labor History
HIS 340  History of the Buffalo/Niagara Region
HIS 415W  New York State History

POLITICAL SCIENCE
PSC 315  State and Local Government Politics
PSC 316  Urban Ethnic Politics
PSC 318  Democracy and Peace - the Urban Experience
PSC 320  U.S. Constitution and Civil Liberties
PSC 326  Politics and Media
PSC 330  American Foreign Policy
PSC 335  International Relations of the Middle East
PSC 337  Politics of Globalization
PSC 350  Introduction to Legal Thought
PSC 355  American Political Thought

Total 30 credits

The Spanish language concentration consists of 30 credit hours; at least 18 of the credit hours must be at the upper division (300 or 400) level. It is strongly suggested that teacher candidates work closely with an advisor in all concentration planning.

Language courses must be taken in sequence and 300 level language is a pre-requisite for all other courses. Therefore, careful scheduling of courses for this concentration will be necessary. All teacher candidates pursuing this concentration should initially take the CLEP exam to receive credit for prior work and knowledge in Spanish, as well as to determine initial level of coursework. A fee is required for this exam. Information about the exam is available in the Admissions Office and through the Modern and Classical Language Department.  

Study abroad is encouraged, especially in summer. More information can be found through the International Education Office. The office also provides alternative placement testing for heritage speakers.

REQUIRED COURSES (18 credits)

SPA 101 Beginning Spanish 1 (may CLEP) - 3 credits
SPA 102 Beginning Spanish II (may CLEP) - 3 credits

SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I - 3 credits
or
SPA 106/200 SPA 200 Spanish for Education Professionals I - 3 credits

SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II - 3credits
or
SPA 206 Spanish for Education Professionals II - 3 credits

SPA 301  Introduction to Hispanic Cultures - 3 credits
SPA 302  Introduction to Spanish Media - 3 credits

ELECTIVES (12 credits)

Choose any 300/400 level Spanish courses, by advisement to complete 30 credit hours in the concentration.   

Total of 30 hours required

The Urban Education Concentration consists of 10 courses or a total of 31 credit hours chosen as described below.  At least 18 credit hours must be at the upper division (300 or 400) level.  It is strongly suggested that the student work closely with an advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (22 crs)

ANT 101  Understanding Cultures (3 crs)                        
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 crs)
SPF 203  School and Society (3 crs)         
SOC 351 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (3 crs)       .
PSC 316 Urban Ethnic Politics (3 crs)    
SPC 311 Intercultural Communication (3 crs)
SPF/SOC 366   Cultural Proficiency and Public Achievement (4 crs)                 

ELECTIVES:  (9 crs)

Choose one or two courses from the following:

AAS/ENG 240 African American Literature to 1940 (3 crs)
AAS 321 The African American Family (3 crs)              
AAS 341 African American and Civil Rights (3 crs)
AAS 469 Black Protest and Leadership in the U.S. in the 21st Century (3 crs)
ANT 307 Urban Anthropology (3 crs)
ANT 315 Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology (3 crs)
ENG 241 African American Literature Since 1940 (3 crs)
ENG 243 Introduction to Latino/a Literature (3 crs)
ENG 354 Ethnic American Minority Literature (3 crs)
GEG 309 Urban Geography (3crs)

Choose one or two courses from the following:

PSC 103 Great Political Issues (3 crs)
PSC 215 Urban Government (3 crs)
PSC 218 African American Political Culture (3 crs)
PSC 316 Urban Ethnic Politics (3 crs)
PSC 318 Democracy and Peace; Principles and Practices in the Urban Experience (3 crs)
MUS 224 Music and Political Action (3 crs.)
SOC  333 Social Movements (3 crs)
SOC  350 Power, Class and Inequality (3 crs)
SWK 319 Dynamics of Poverty (3 crs)