Concentrations

The English Concentration consists of 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 to work closely with the academic advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (18 credits)

ENG 190 - Intro to Literature       
ENG 362 - Children’s Literature 
SPC 205 - Intro to Oral Communication (or COM 100 or SPC 103 or HUM 200) 

Advanced Writing Course

Choose one:

ENG 300W - Writing for the Professions (recommended)
ENG 305W - Creative Writing: Narrative (check with instructor before taking) (Fall only)
or
ENG 306W - Creative Writing: Poetry (check with instructor before taking) (Spring only)

ENG 370 - Found. of Lang. or ENG 311 - Methods in Teach. Lang. (Fall only)

Ethnic American Literature

Choose one:       

ENG 240 - African American Literature to 1940 (Fall only)

ENG 241 - African American Literature since 1940 (Spring only)

ENG 353 - Native American Literature (Spring only)

ENG 354 - Ethnic-American Minority Literature (take section for education majors)

ELECTIVES (12 credits)

Four additional ENG courses

The Liberal Arts Concentration consists of 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 to work closely with the academic advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (18 credits)

English Courses & Social Studies Courses 

ENG 362 Children’s Literature

Choose any 300 or 400 level English course

Choose any 300 or 400 level ECO, GEG, HIS, or PSC course

STEM Courses

Choose one:

MAT 223 - Elementary and Middle School Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint
PHY 104 - Physics for K-8 Teachers
SED 311 - Processes in Physical Science
SED 312 - Processes in Life Science
SED 313 - Processes in Earth Science

One ENT, MAT, or science course at the 200 level or higher

One ENT, MAT, or science course at the 300 level or higher

ELECTIVES (12 credits)

4 additional courses from the categories above or in languages other than English (LOTE)*

*Notes:

• As part of this concentration, you can choose up to 4 language other than English (LOTE) courses (e.g., ASL, Spanish).
• LOTE courses provide opportunities to develop valuable multilingual communication skills, work toward an ASL micro-credential, and/or build a foundation for pursuing TESOL certification at the graduate level.
• To learn more about the ASL micro-credential or TESOL certification at the graduate level, please talk to your advisor who can connect you with appropriate faculty/staff.

The Mathematics Concentration consists of a total of 30-32 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 to work closely with the academic advisor in all concentration planning.

Pre-requisite courses below the 120-level required for any concentration course will not count towards fulfilling concentration requirements.  Teacher candidates who completed three or more years of high school math may be eligible to waive some lower-level math prerequisites.  Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis through consultation with their advisor and the Mathematics Department.

REQUIRED COURSES (23 credits)                                                                                                                              

MAT 121 - Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint I (4 cr.)
MAT 122 - Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint II (4 cr.)
MAT 126 - Calculus (or MAT 161 & 163 Calculus) (4 cr.)
MAT 127 - (or MAT 162 & 164 Calculus) (Prerequisite MAT 126) (4 cr.)
MAT 223 - Elementary and Middle School Mathematics from an Adv. Standpoint (4 cr.)
MAT 311 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics 

ELECTIVES (9 credits)
Choose 3 courses: 

MAT 270 - Discrete Mathematics (take early as it is a pre-req for many other courses)
MAT 322 - Modern Geometry (prereq. MAT 270) (offered every three semesters; planned offerings: Fall 2026, Spring 2028, Fall 2029, Spring 2031)
MAT 325 - Probability and Statistics (prereq. MAT 270) (Fall only)
MED 383 - Learning and Teaching Problem Solving (prereq. MAT 270) (offered every three semesters; planned offerings: Spring 2027, Fall 2028, Spring 2030, Fall 2031)
MAT 351 - Number Theory
MED 307 - Use of Teaching Aids in the Teaching of Mathematics (offered every three semesters; planned offerings: Spring 2026, Fall 2027, Spring 2029, Fall 2030, Spring 2032)

The Science Concentration consists of 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 to work closely with the academic advisor in all concentration planning.

ELECTIVES (30 credits)

BIO 333 - Intro. Organismal Biology & Diversity (Fall only)
BIO 111 - Intro. to Biology
BIO 211 - Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics 
BIO 213 - Into. Ecology, Evolution, & Behavior
BIO 308 & 309 - Human Anatomy & Phys & Lab (BIO 100 & 212) (Fall only)
CHE 111 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I
CHE 112 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II
CHE 301 - Analytical Chemistry (Fall only)
FOR 312 - Chemistry & Criminalistics
PHY 104 - Physics for K-8 Teachers 
PHY 107 - General Physics I 
PHY 108 - General Physics II
PHY 111 - University Physics (Fall only)
PHY 112 - University Physics II (Spring only)
GES 101 - Intro. Geology with Lab
GES 131 - Intro. Astronomy (Spring only)
GES 111 - General Oceanography (Fall only)
GES 123 - Environmental Earth Science 
GES 124 - Geologic Hazards
GES 241 – Meteorology (every other Spring)
GES 306 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (every other Spring)
GES 307 - Geomorphology (every other year)
GES 452 - Hydrogeology (every other year)

Note: The following four courses are specially designed for elementary teachers:

SED 311 - Processes in Physical Science 
SED 312 - Processes in Life Science 
SED 313 - Processes in Earth Science 
SED 323 - Science as Inquiry 

The Social Studies Concentration consists of 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 to work closely with the academic advisor in all concentration planning.

REQUIRED COURSES (12 credits)
ECO 101 - The Economic System 
GEG 101 - World Natural Environment 
PSC 102 - Introduction to American Government 
HIS 106 - History of American Life or HIS 107 - History of American Life II 

ELECTIVES (18 credits)
GEG 300 - World Regional Geography (offered occasionally)
GEG 309 - Introduction to Urban Geography (offered occasionally)
GEG 359 - Arctic Geography from an Inuit Perspective (Fall only)
GEG 360 - Geography of Asia
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 Early Canada
HIS 311 - History of American Immigration and Emigration 
HIS 313 - Politics and History in the Middle East 
HIS 314 - Modern Latin America
HIS 318 - History of the Soviet Union
HIS 321 - History of Medieval Europe (pre-requisite: HIS 115) 
HIS 340 - History of the Buffalo/Niagara Region 
HIS 389 - Topics vary
HIS 415W - New York State History
PSC 315 - State and Local Government Politics
PSC 335 - International Relations of the Middle East 
PSC 337 - Politics of Globalization

The Spanish Concentration consists of 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 to work closely with the academic 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.

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 I                                                                                                     
SPA 102 - Beginning Spanish II                                                                                                    
SPA 201 - Intermediate Spanish I                                                                                                               
SPA 202 - Intermediate Spanish II (Fall only)                                                                         
SPA 301 - Intro to Hispanic Cultures (Spring only)                                                               
SPA 302 - Spanish Conversation and Composition (Spring only)                                    

ELECTIVES (12 credits)
Four additional upper-level (300-400 level) Spanish courses by advisement