New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development offers a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education. This program includes a certification component, allowing students to become licensed teachers. At the graduate level, NYC students can tackle early childhood content at the master's level through coursework at the Bank Street College of Education. Bank Street's Master of Science in early childhood general education also qualifies graduates to attain teacher certification for children ages birth through grade two. Likewise, Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Teaching with an early childhood -- birth through second grade -- emphasis.
An undergraduate degree that leads to state certification in elementary education will supply you with courses in topics such as human learning, development, instruction, curriculum planning and assessment, as well as hands-on student teaching practice. For example, NYU Steinhardt's Bachelor of Science in childhood education and childhood special education prepares undergrads to work with grade schoolers in elementary schools as well as in special education environments. At the graduate level, several schools in NYC -- such as the Bank Street Graduate School, Fordham University and Columbia University -- all offer a Master of Arts or Science in teaching elementary students.
New York City colleges and universities offer an array of options for a specialized degree in education to teach specific populations or subjects. NYU offers education degrees in the visual and performing arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, literacy and social studies. Those who have an interest in working with exceptional students can opt for Columbia University's graduate program in gifted education. Lehman College also offers several different specialization options at the graduate level, where student teachers can study mathematics, social studies or English education for middle and secondary students.
To work with bilingual kids or teach English as a second language, the City College of New York has both undergraduate and master's level programs in bilingual childhood education. Hunter College's School of Education also features a bilingual education program. This includes a graduate-level childhood education degree along with a bilingual extension concentration or an advanced certificate in bilingual education for licensed teachers. Likewise, NYU offers a teaching English as a Second Language program, which includes several different degree options such as a post-baccalaureate certificate, a Master of Arts, a post-master's, a Ph.D. and a dual certification in teaching foreign languages in grades 7 through 12.