Master of Science in Education in the Art of Teaching

• Art of Teaching is a child-centered (birth through 6^th grade), culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary teacher education program centered on observation of children.
• The program is committed to public education, including urban schools. Graduates find teaching positions in a range of public and private schools.
• Seminar-style courses provide an intimate intellectual setting in a collaborative community of individuals.
• Graduate students reflect a range of ages and backgrounds. Students discover a great deal about how they themselves learn in every class by recollecting, reflecting on, and sharing their own learning experiences in childhood and as adults. This sharing significantly informs the inquiry into teaching and learning.
• Students learn not only how to observe, but also how to articulate and describe what they see. The “Prospect Descriptive Processes” provide important strategies for observing and documenting children and teaching practices. Patricia Carini, under whose leadership these processes were developed, has been a major influence on the program.
• Students work with children at every point in the program—outside the classroom; in their jobs; at the Early Childhood Center; and in fieldwork and student teaching placements at public and independent schools.  
• Each student’s work culminates in an oral presentation of a focused master’s project, accompanied by documentation of coursework and work with children in classrooms.
• The program prepares students to integrate the New York State Common Core Curriculum Standards into their practice, and leads to New York State Early Childhood (birth to 2^nd grade) and Childhood (1^st to 6^th grade) Teacher Certification.
• The program provides ongoing support for alumni and their colleagues through a Saturday Seminar Series.

The Art of Teaching is designed as one program that offers dual certification in early childhood (birth to grade 2) and childhood (1-6).

The dual certification program may be completed in two years and a summer on a full-time basis, or in three years and two summers on a part-time basis.

Given the recent legislation signed by Governor Hochul, the Art of Teaching program is no longer requiring prospective applicants submit GRE or other graduate-level examination scores. We will continue to conduct a holistic assessment of an applicant’s potential based on their personal statement, writing sample, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.

TYPICAL FULL-TIME PROGRAM

Summer One

• Theories of Development (3 credits)
• Children’s Literature (3 credits)

Year One

• Emergent Curriculum I & II (10 credits)
• Mathematics and Technology I & II (10 credits)
• Observation and Documentation (3 credits)
• Advisement seminar
• Children, Families and Identity (3 credits)
• Field placements (180 hours, two age/grade levels)

Summer Two

• Foundations of Education (3 credits)

Year Two

• Language and Literacy I & II (10 credits)
• Children with Special Needs (3 credits)
• Practicum seminar
• Student teaching (90 days, two age/grade levels)
• Master’s project

The foundation for the master’s project is the teaching/learning inquiry, which Art of Teaching students undertake throughout their time in the program. Students collect documentation in portfolio format, which includes:

• Longitudinal records and reflective journals of work with children and teachers
• Descriptions of children and their work
• Descriptions of curriculum and activities developed and used with children
• Reflections on teaching practice
• Bibliographies of children’s literature and professional literature
• Critique and integration of theory

Upon completion of course work, fieldwork, and student-teaching requirements, master’s candidates prepare a final project in their last semester in the program.

• Students present projects orally to a review panel made up of their peers, Art of Teaching faculty, invited undergraduate liberal arts faculty, and supervising teachers.
• Students share their projects with their peers in preparation for presenting to the final review panel.
• The criteria for evaluating the master’s project are jointly established by students and faculty.

The Art of Teaching Program at Sarah Lawrence College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. In 2022, Art of Teaching was awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through December 31, 2028. Full accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

After reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review, the AAQEP Accreditation Commission issued the decision at its January 28 meeting along with the following rationale:

The Commission evaluated the program’s evidence for each AAQEP standard and determined that all four standards are met. Completers of the program are prepared to work effectively as professional educators who are able to adapt to different contexts and to grow professionally. Guided by a clear and coherent theoretical and philosophical foundation, the provider has the capacity to analyze evidence of its own effectiveness and to make program revisions that benefit candidates. It engages with stakeholders and partners to support candidates’ development and to strengthen the P-20 education system in the region.

“Congratulations to Sarah Lawrence College and to all of the faculty, staff, and stakeholders who have achieved their goal of national accreditation by AAQEP,” said AAQEP President and CEO Mark LaCelle-Peterson. “The program’s clear commitment to developing candidates holistically as people and professionals is shown in its reflective practice and in its persistent efforts to ensure access and support to a diverse group of new teachers.”