Located in a rural community approximately 70 miles south of Rochester, Alfred University is a private, nonsectarian college with nearly 2,000 undergraduate students. For undergraduates, the university offers a Bachelor of Science in early childhood and childhood education, preparing students to teach children from preschool through sixth grade.
Before applying to the early education program, students spend their first two years at Alfred taking general education and program prerequisite courses in subjects like psychology, sociology and mathematics and science for elementary school teachers. Those admitted to the major then complete a semester of student teaching and classes in literacy, teaching methods and assessing student performance. A Master of Science in early childhood education and literacy also is offered.
Alfred University
1 Saxon Drive
Alfred, NY 14802
800-541-9229
alfred.edu
With more than 42,000 undergraduate and graduate students in an urban setting, New York University is the largest private college in the United States. In 2010, the school received the 32nd-place ranking among all universities in the United States from "U.S. News & World Report."
The university's Steinhardt School grants a Bachelor of Science degree in early education and early special education. Students begin the major during their freshmen year and complete a one-semester observation of an early childhood classroom followed by three semesters of student teaching before graduation. The university also grants a Master of Science in the field.
New York University
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
212-998-4500
nyu.edu
Situated in the Long Island community of Hempstead, Hofstra University is home to more than 8,300 undergraduate students. The school's early childhood education degree is a dual program in which students also earn either a Bachelor of Arts in any liberal arts field or in speech communication.
Students apply for the education program during their sophomore year and then take classes in arithmetic teaching methods, educational computing, young children's music, elementary school art, philosophy of education and special needs inclusion. Two semesters of student teaching are included in the curriculum.
Hofstra University
100 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
516-463-6700
hofstra.edu
A public institution, the State University of New York at Potsdam is situated 140 miles northeast of Syracuse. The Bachelor of Art in early childhood education is one of the most popular majors with the school's more than 3,600 undergraduate students, according to the 2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
All students in the program select a concentration or minor, such as English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, geology, physics or social sciences. Two semesters of student teaching are required. The university also offers a Master of Teaching in early childhood education.
State University of New York at Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Avenue
Potsdam, NY 13676
315-267-2180
potsdam.edu