2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Aug 04, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

School of Education


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Kelly Chandler-Olcott
Dean 
230 Huntington Hall
soe.syr.edu

About the School

Welcome to the School of Education, a community of educators committed to inclusive, equitable, and antiracist research and practice.

As Dean, I have a front-row seat on our stakeholders’ myriad impactful contributions to learning-focused contexts that range from schools and universities to community organizations and workplaces.

Driven by our 2023 Academic Strategic Plan, School of Education faculty and staff are working collaboratively to extend and amplify our expertise in three distinct but often overlapping Signature Areas of Distinction: 1) inclusive and antiracist pedagogy and practice; 2) digital pedagogy and practice; and 3) experiential pedagogy and practice.

Together, we are committed to integrating the School’s historical strengths with the new knowledge, skills, and habits of mind we need to remain at the forefront of fields such as counseling and human services; cultural foundations of education; higher education; instructional design, development, and evaluation; language and literacy; social work; and teaching and leadership preparation.

Dean Kelly Chandler-Olcott

Accreditation

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

Professional accreditation is the bedrock upon which all professions build their reputations, assuring that those entering the respective field have been suitably prepared to practice through acquisition of an approved body of knowledge and pre-service practice in the profession.

Accreditation of schools of education indicates that the school underwent rigorous external review by professionals, that performance of a teacher candidate in the program has been thoroughly assessed before they are recommended for licensure, and that programs meet standards set by the teaching profession at large.

Syracuse University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). School of Education undergraduate and graduate academic programs have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through Dec. 31, 2027. 

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. Teacher preparation and other professional school personnel programs offered by Syracuse University are recognized by the New York State Education Department as fully accredited.

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

The School of Education’s Counseling and Human Services graduate programs are fully accredited by the highest accrediting bodies in the counseling profession, including the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The CACREP accreditation process involves identification of appropriate preparation curricula by the profession, followed by extensive self-study and evaluation by the aspiring counselor education program. Only then does a visiting team of experts come to the university to verify that the program meets national standards. Finally, the visiting team’s report is given to the accrediting board for review and action. Programs may be accredited for eight years, at which time the institution must submit for re-accreditation, following the same process described above.

The Board of Directors of CACREP have granted the School of Education re-accreditation through October 2025. The board based its decisions on an extensive review of the self-study documents, the visiting team’s report, and the institution’s response to the visiting team’s report.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation

At the core of social work education is the responsibility to create and sustain healthy communities and contribute positively to the public good. Thus, the goal of CSWE accreditation at the most fundamental level is to ensure quality education and preparation of social workers to carry out that responsibility. Social work is a public service field founded on core values of justice, dignity and worth of a person, human relations, integrity, and competence. CSWE accreditation standards are grounded in these core values and engages competent and qualified educators and community partners to ensure student competency in research, policy, theory, and practice of social work.

Syracuse University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals, and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all accreditation standards. Accreditation applies to all program options, which include locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA recognition assures the public that CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is competent to engage in quality reviews of social work programs based on the CHEA recognition standards.

Educational Mission

The Syracuse University School of Education advances the future of teaching and learning by leveraging its historic legacy as a global leader in inclusive and equitable education.

Led by internationally recognized faculty who are dedicated to student-centered instruction and cutting-edge research, the School advances knowledge and expertise to promote dynamic, effective, and engaging learning experiences for all.

The School of Education aspires to be the pre-eminent institution for scholarship and instruction across its three Signature Areas of Dictinction: inclusive and antiracist pedagogy and practice, digital learning technologies, and experiential learning that harnesses relationships across campus, community, and beyond.

By supporting a welcoming learning community that fosters collaboration and promotes human thriving, the School mentors and nurtures the next generation of educators, scholars, and leaders who will have meaningful and sustained impact in their communities.

The impact of this work will enhance the School’s global reputation for producing impactful research and for attracting and preparing equity-minded and transformative teachers, counselors, and other professionals who support student success across diverse learning contexts.

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

All undergraduate programs offered by the School of Education typically require the completion of 120 to 138 credits. Specific program requirements vary, as do the total number of credits.

The School of Education offers five majors and six minors. Some of our School of Education programs are single enrollment programs, which means that students complete their major entirely in the School of Education.  Other programs are dual enrollment programs, meaning that students complete one major through requirements in the School of Education and College of Visual and Performing Arts. Students in dual programs will have advisors in both schools/colleges.

Field experiences, usually off campus, are required throughout most programs, with placement sites assigned by course instructors or through the field placement office. The School of Education provides free transportation for field experiences, but students are encouraged to provide their own transportation for student-teaching assignments during their senior year.

At several points during teacher preparation programs, reviews of students’ progress are made to determine continued eligibility for each program. These review points vary, but in all cases include the time just prior to student teaching. See individual program descriptions for further information.

Bachelor Degree Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in the School of Education will require all students to complete two university-wide required courses: First-year Seminar (FYS 101 ) and a 3-credit IDEA course before graduating.  The IDEA course can be selected from an approved list . The IDEA course can be fulfilled either as a liberal arts, departmental course, or elective depending on the course chosen.

The Office of Academic and Student Services

The Office of Academic and Student Services provides a thorough and effective support system for all School of Education students from the admissions process through graduation and beyond.

From academic support to career advice to information about opportunities to study abroad, the professionals in Academic and Student Services have the experience and knowledge to answer questions, provide advisement, and make referrals as necessary.

For more information about the office and services shared below, please visit: Academic and Student Services | Syracuse University School of Education.

Academic Advising

Students are assigned to an advisor in the Office of Academic and Student Services at the onset of their studies. The office has the resources to help students better understand academic requirements, negotiate academic policies and processes (for example, course registration, program changes, graduation requirements, etc.), and get the most out of their college experience. For more information about advising, contact acsadvis@syr.edu

Career Services and Certification

Career Services offers numerous services for students with the teacher certification process and their job search in the field of education. These services include New York State Teacher Certification recommendation, out-of-state certification support, opening a credential file, resume and cover letter assistance, employer information sessions, and fairs. All of our undergraduate and graduate teacher-preparation programs are integrated with New York State Teacher Certification requirements. For more information about Career Services and teacher certification, contact soecareer@syr.edu

Study Abroad

The School of Education supports and encourages study abroad for undergraduate students enrolled in any of our programs. The faculty and program advisors work very closely with students on appropriate course sequencing to facilitate this. School of Education students can apply for study abroad funding through the School of Education and through the Syracuse abroad office. 

School of Education students have the opportunity to study abroad for a summer or semester through the nine Syracuse Abroad centers, as well as multiple short-term programs with School of Education faculty.  For more information, visit: https://soe.syr.edu/students/experiential-learning/study-abroad/

Undergraduate Admissions

(Students applying to Syracuse University from high school or another college or university.)
 
The School of Education appreciates your interest and hopes you will continue to learn more about the School by exploring the website (http://www.soe.syr.edu), visiting campus, and meeting with a representative or faculty member.

To learn more about the programs available in the School of Education, contact Heather Macknik, Undergraduate Admissions Recruiter at (315) 443-4269 or soeadmissions@syr.edu​.

For information about the application, the application process, or enrollment dates and deadlines, contact the Office of Admissions at (315) 443-3611 or orange@syr.edu. To apply, please visit https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions/ 

Internal Admissions (Intra-University Transfer)

(Students who are already attending Syracuse University and want to transfer to the School of Education.)

Syracuse University students interested in an intra-university transfer (IUT) to the School of Education must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher for all School of Education single and dual enrollment programs, except Selected Studies in Education and Social Work, which require a 2.8 cumulative GPA.

*Students who fall below the minimum GPA requirement are still encouraged to apply as an IUT into the School of Education. Applications will be reviewed and considered on an individual basis. 

Students considering transfer into one of our programs in education should contact a School of Education advisor to discuss transferring into the School of Education by calling (315) 443-9319, or emailing soeacademicservices@syr.edu. Students may want to take one of the following courses, which may be taken by non-education students with advisement while they make the decision to transfer or while the intra-university transfer (IUT) application is being processed.

Inclusive Childhood Education or Inclusive Adolescent Education

  • EDU 103   - Introduction to Inclusive Schooling (first year)
  • EDU 105   - Principles of Teaching in ENL Inclusive Classrooms (first year)

Selected Studies in Education

  • EDU 221   - Education for Transformation 
  • EDU 321   - International Education for Transformation 
  • EDU 310   - The American School

For dual programs with the School of Education and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, consider the following:

  • EDU 105  - Principles of Teaching in ENL Inclusive Classrooms (first year)
  • EDU 106  - Clinical Simulations in K-12 Teacher Preparation (first year)
  • EDU 310  - The American School

Social Work

Students can take any 200-300 level social work course except SWK 202 and SWK 301. Students outside of the school of social work cannot take 400 level coursework.

Undergraduate Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is available to address your questions, offer options for payment, assist in filing student loan and grant applications, and suggest financial planning options. For additional information, visit their web site at https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/, call (315) 443-1513 or fill out the email submission form https://financialaid.syr.edu/emailus/.

For more information for School of Education-specific opportunities for undergraduate students, please visit the website at http://soe.syr.edu/future/financial_aid/

Programs

Single Enrollment in the School of Education

Teacher Preparation Programs:

Non-Teacher Preparation Programs (no teacher certification)

Social Work Program:

Dual Enrollment in the School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences

Our dual program with the College of Arts and Sciences lead to recommendation for New York State initial certification within a specific content area for teaching grades 7-12. 

  • Spanish Education (Dual), BA (Not Admitting Students)  

Dual Enrollment in the School of Education and College of Visual and Performing Arts

Our dual program with the College of Visual and Performing Arts leads to recommendation for New York State initial certification within a specific content area for teaching all grades.

Programs

    MajorMinor

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