This program will comprehensively prepare you to transfer to SUNY New Paltz, through a mixture of general required courses, education courses, and advanced History and Political Science courses.  After earning your associate’s degree at SUNY Orange, you will be positioned to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree and New York State Initial Teaching Certification at SUNY New Paltz.  You will be prepared to enter the world of teaching middle and high school students in a public school setting, where you will build relationships with students while planning lessons and experiences that foster an understanding of social studies.

1. Experienced faculty members, with public school teaching experience, who provide extensive support in achieving learning goals.
2. Meaningful, appropriate, and high-quality instruction, paired with observation hours in school settings.
3. An excellent, affordable start, which prepares students for successful transfer to SUNY New Paltz, with many of the courses transferring smoothly to other colleges.

Students will:

• demonstrate an awareness of and a beginning understanding of the teaching profession and articulate a beginning philosophy of education that incorporates an understanding of developmentally appropriate practices, relevant theories and models of education
• dtudents will demonstrate an understanding of diversity and its role in education
• demonstrate foundational knowledge and skills in one's chosen area of academic concentration
• demonstrate foundational knowledge of and an appreciation for the cultural, social, and natural worlds
• demonstrate college level proficiency in written and oral communication, critical thinking, and analytical, mathematical, and scientific reasoning

Students must have a 3.0 CQPA and receive a grade of B or better in both ENG 101 and ENG 102 in order to be accepted into SUNY New Paltz’s Teacher Education program.

Students will complete an associate’s degree at SUNY Orange, and then apply for transfer to SUNY New Paltz to attain a bachelor’s degree and initial teaching certification.

Students will be required to engage in classroom observations in local area school settings in this program.

Admission to this program requires that students be high school graduates or have high school equivalency diplomas (HSEs). If students are home schooled, they may be eligible for admission.

Before beginning their coursework, JRTEP students must choose an age level:  birth to sixth grade (B-6), or seventh to twelfth grade (7-12).

Then, students must choose one of the following educational concentrations:

• Biology (available in B-6 or 7-12)
• English (available in B-6 or 7-12)
• History (available in B-6)
• Mathematics (available in B-6 or 7-12)
• Social Studies (available in 7-12)
• Spanish (available in B-6 or 7-12)

JRTEP is specifically designed to transfer seamlessly to SUNY New Paltz. Other SUNY and non-SUNY schools with teaching preparatory programs may accept all or a large percentage of credits (see transfer criteria below left).

When JRTEP students successfully complete the A.A. or A.S. at SUNY Orange, they may apply for transfer to SUNY New Paltz to complete the bachelor’s degree. JRTEP applicants are given priority review and the highly academically prepared student will be accepted first.

To be eligible for admission to SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Orange JRTEP students must: Complete all SUNY Orange degree program requirements:

• Complete SUNY-mandated General Education Requirements
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Earn a grade of “B” or better in ENG 101 and ENG 10
• Earn a grade of “B-” or better in EDU 103, EDU 109, and EDU 201
• Math concentrations must earn a “B-” or better in either MAT 134 or MAT 205 and MAT 111
• Must earn a grade of C or better in EDU 207, PSY 221, GEO 101, and MAT 111
• Earn a grade of “C-” or better in all other courses
• Complete a separate application and/or procedures for SUNY New Paltz or other transfer institution
• Submit a writing sample to be completed at SUNY New Paltz prior to acceptance
• Show evidence of clearance of fingerprinting on NYS Education Department TEACH account

Career opportunities exist in the following areas:

• public school classroom teacher (pre-K through grade 6)
• positions in related educational fields, such as special education teacher, and guidance counselor

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All education courses are only offered on the Middletown campus, with the exception of EDU 107, which is also offered on the Newburgh campus. General Education courses may be taken on both campuses, depending on availability. More than half of the 7-12 Social Studies degree can be completed online.