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This program prepares you for initial or professional certification in science and environmental education for children grades seven through 12. In addition to learning pedagogy around science and the environment, candidates will learn to critically reflect on their own assumptions about their practices, the students with whom they work, the communities in which they work, and their own development as professionals. The program places a special emphasis on place-based instruction using the cultural and natural resources of New York City and State.
Our mission is to prepare both practicing teachers and career-changers for effective classroom practice of diverse students in urban settings. This program is administered by the Department of Secondary Education in conjunction with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Graduates obtain a Master of Arts in teaching earth science, leading to a New York State Teaching Certificate in Adolescent Science Education with a specialization in earth science in grades 7–12. We have an option designed for in-service teachers of any subject who wish to obtain certification in earth science and an option designed for teacher candidates with a background in earth science who are seeking initial certification.
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in conjunction with the Department of Secondary Education, offers a Master of Arts in teaching earth science, and New York State Teaching Certificate in adolescent science education with a specialization in earth science in grades 7–12. Option A is designed for in-service teachers of any subject who wish to obtain certification in earth science. Option B is designed for teacher candidates with a background in earth science seeking initial certification.
This Master of Arts in teaching program provides students with courses linking content and pedagogy across the content areas in earth science required to teach the New York State earth science curriculum. The program places a special emphasis on place-based instruction using the cultural and natural resources of New York City and State.
Applicants should consult matriculation requirements for adolescence education and special subjects in the Department of Secondary Education section of the Bulletin, and should contact the program coordinator for advisement.
The profession of teacher education is licensed by the New York State Education Department. Therefore, program requirements are subject to change.
Each candidate will be evaluated individually. Based upon this evaluation and certification requirements of the New York State Education Department, courses in education or another department may be substituted for required courses with permission of the program head of middle school science education. Applicants to Option A must have completed a minimum of six credits in earth and environmental science or in cognate sciences including chemistry and physics. Applicants to Option B must have completed a minimum of nine credits in earth science and six credits in cognate sciences including chemistry and physics. Students deficient in science credits may be accepted on condition that they complete additional course work as recommended by the program head of middle school science education.
This program leads to a Master of Arts in teaching earth science, and a New York State Professional Teaching Certificate in adolescent science education with a specialization in earth science in grades 7–12.
Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. A minimum GPA of 3.00 in graduate courses is required to maintain matriculation.
International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 500 650 on the paper based test or 280 on the computer based test or 61 114 on the internet-based test to be considered for matriculation.
General matriculation and admission requirements of Graduate Studies are in the “Admission” section.
Thirty to thirty-seven credits are required for the degree depending on the applicants’ previous coursework, teaching experience and the certificates the applicant holds.
Students will:
Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
Interview with department.
This program accepts nondegree applicants.
All students accepted to the School of Education are required to submit fingerprint verification before signing up for most education classes. Fingerprint verification is required for work in New York City Department of Education schools if you already have fingerprint records or not. Follow these instructions.
Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.
E: seedinfo@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Or contact:
222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.4536
Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:
BC Admissions Appointment Tool
This program leads to a New York State Professional Teaching Certificate in Adolescent Earth Science and General Science Education for inservice science teachers. Applicants must hold a New York State Initial Certification in classroom teaching and a minimum of six credits in earth and environmental science or in cognate sciences including chemistry and physics.
The following required courses:
Earth Science and Environmental Science7013T, 7040T, 7044T, and either 7006T or 7042T. Twelve additional credits in Earth Science and Environmental Science numbered7000T or higher, or 7100 or higher with permission of the chair, or GSCI 7014T,7041T, or other GSCI courses with permission of the program coordinator.
Other GSCI courses may include any GSCI 7040-49s, and/or Water (GSCI 7053T), and/or The Ocean System (GSCI 7054T), and/or Climate Change (GSCI 7059T), or other GSCI courses with permission of the Program Coordinator. Secondary Education7320T and 7321T.
2617 James Hall E: alexakosk@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3869
This option leads to both New York State Initial and Professional Teaching Certificates for pre-service science teachers. Applicants must have completed a minimum of nine credits in earth science and six credits in cognate sciences including chemistry and physics.
Fifteen credits in Earth and Environmental Sciences numbered 7000T or higher, or 7100 or higher with permission of the chair, or GSCI 7014T, 7041T.
Other GSCI courses may include any GSCI 7040-49s, and/or Water (GSCI 7053T), and/or The Ocean System (GSCI 7054T), and/or Climate Change (GSCI 7059T), or other GSCI courses with permission of the Program Coordinator.
All of the following courses in education: Secondary Education 7314X or 7324X, 7315X,7320T, 7380T, and 7671X.
Other requirements that must be met include 100 hours of field experience, 40 days or 300 hours of student teaching at appropriate grade levels (Secondary Education 7381T, 7383T, 7542T, and 7543T), or one year of full-time teaching at the appropriate subject area at appropriate grade level, and any additional New York State requirements.
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in the Department of Secondary Education offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
Students complete internships in public and private schools throughout the New York City region as well as across the United States. The internship is a supervised experience designed to hone the requisite skills and knowledge to work as a science and environmental education teacher.
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