Admission and Progression
The undergraduate program in Teaching and Learning is divided into a pre-professional and a professional stage. All students are accepted into the pre-professional stage, consisting of the first 6 credits:

            TAL 201 Teaching:  Imagine the Possibilities
            TAL 301 Observing and Describing Children, or
            TAL 302 Observing and Describing Adolescents
             
Students may take TAL 201 starting in the second semester of their freshman year.  They typically take TAL 301 or 302 as lower juniors. Students who wish to take TAL 301 before their junior year must obtain permission of the program coordinator.

To move from the pre-professional to the professional stage, students must have:

1. Completed a minimum of 66 general credits with an overall minimum grade point average of 2.5;
2. Successfully completed any required mathematics and English courses;
3. Achieved a minimum 3.0 average in the pre-professional TAL courses.

Students in the professional stage are reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure that they are maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA in their TAL courses.  In addition, students are expected to gradually raise their overall GPA to at least 2.67, which is required for admission to student teaching. 

Fieldwork is required in almost all TAL courses.  Students maintain a collection of work from their TAL courses, which is periodically reviewed throughout the program.

Test Preparation
During the professional stage, students must also take and pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Exam (NYSTCE), a prerequisite for student teaching. Students are encouraged to take the LAST early in their program. The TAL Department offers workshops as well as a non-credit course, TAL 399, to help students prepare for the LAST.
 

Student Teaching
Student teaching is usually completed in the last semester of the senior year.  It is a full-time, 12-credit experience that consists of all-day student teaching in selected partnership schools, the student teaching seminar, and selected courses in Teaching and Learning.

Admission to student teaching is restricted to students who meet the following requirements:

1. Completed at least 100 credits with an overall grade point average of 2.67
2. Completed all prerequisite TAL courses with at least a 3.0 average
3. Passed the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Exam (NYSTCE)
4. Presented evidence of a negative TB test
5. Attended an Orientation session with the Director of Field Experiences and School Relations.
6. Completed an interview with a faculty member and received a positive reference from a professor.

Students must apply for admission to student teaching during the preceding semester.

Graduation and Certification
To graduate with a major in Teaching and Learning or Physical Education, students must have:

1. Completed a minimum of 128 credits with an overall GPA of at least 2.67 and a TAL GPA of at least 3.0
2. Completed all TAL program requirements including student teaching and a passing score on the LAST

All undergraduate programs are approved by and registered with the New York State Education Department and meet the state requirements for initial certification. To obtain initial certification, students must:

1. Complete all TAL degree requirements including student teaching
2. Complete state-mandated training in child abuse identification and reporting, school violence prevention, fire-safety, substance abuse prevention, and abduction prevention.
3. Complete all required portions of the NYSTCE.

The following portions of the NYSTCE are required for initial certification:

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
2. Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
3. Content Specititley Test (CST) in the certification area
4. For students seeking a Bilingual Extension: The Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in the target language of instruction.

After granting initial certification, the NYSED allows five more years for candidates to complete requirements for professional   certification, which include the following:

1. Masters degree in Education or in a related liberal arts and sciences subject
2. One year of full-time mentored teaching experience and two additional years of teaching experience

State Mandated Training
Students in Physical Education receive state-mandated training in child abuse identification and reporting, school violence prevention, fire-safety, substance abuse prevention,, and abduction prevention as part of their course-work.  All others seeking certification must complete the following workshops offered through the School of Continuing Education:

1. ALCX702 Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
2. ALCX 703 Violence Prevention
3. ALCX 704 Fire Safety, Substance Abuse, and Abduction Prevention
   
   

The Teaching and Learning Certification Officer helps students apply for certification once all requirements are met.

Contacts
For information about admission, progression, and graduation requirements:
Ms Gabriela Arechiga, Academic Advisor
718-488-1381  gabriela.arechiga@liu.edu

Ms. Marizaldy Mercedes, Academic Advisor & Certification Officer
718-488-1382  marizaldy.Mercedes@liu.edu

For information about student teaching:
Dr. Jessica Trubek, Director of School Relations and Field Experiences
  718-488-1374  jessica.trubek@liu.edu

For information about NYSTCE Test Preparation:
Ms. Martha Rosas, Test Preparation Coordinator
718-488-3452 martha.rosas@liu.edu

For information about obtaining teaching certification:
Ms. Marizaldy Mercedes, Certification Officer
 718-488-1382 marizaldy.Mercedes@liu.edu

Brooklyn Campus