Social Studies Teacher, Grades 7-12 Alternative Transitional B Certification

• Must be eligible for the NYS Transitional B Certificate.

• Possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree can be in history, any social science, or include an undergraduate record of 30 social studies credits with a minimum of 21 of the credits in history, and the remainder from the social sciences.

• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the undergraduate work.

• If conditionally accepted, must earn minimum 3.0 in courses designated by the Program Coordinator.

• If conditionally accepted, meet conditions, starting in the first semester and finishing in no more than three consecutive semesters.

• Evidence of having completed a course in Special Education (ESC 463 or the equivalent). Students who have not taken this course as an undergraduate must take ESC 506 as part of their graduate program.

• Candidates must schedule an interview with the Social Studies Program Coordinator that includes a transcript review.

• Two letters of recommendation.

• 500-word application essay on interest in the program as it relates to long-term career goals.

Candidates with an undergraduate degree in history or a social science, who lack core education requirements and seek Trans B, Initial, and Professional Certifications in Social Studies 7-12. The Trans B license allows candidates to begin teaching full-time while completing the remaining degree requirements. 

Candidates with an undergraduate degree in history or a social science, who lack core education requirements and seek Trans B, Initial, and Professional Certifications in Social Studies 7-12 and Students with Disabilities (SWD), Generalist, Grades 7-12. The Trans B license allows candidates to begin teaching full-time while completing the remaining degree requirements.

After fulfilling the Track 1 and 2 requirements including New York State distribution requirements in social studies, candidates are recommended for initial certification in Social Studies Education 7-12. To be eligible for certification in New York State, the candidate’s TEACH account must include (a) an application for the Initial Social Studies (Grades 7-12) certificate through the Approved Teacher Preparation Program pathway (b) the Lehman College recommendation; (c) passing scores on the following New York State examinations: Educating All Students (EAS), and Social Studies CST; and (d) the completed fingerprinting clearance. Please see adviser for more information.

In order to qualify for Professional Certification in Social Studies Education 7-12, in addition to the Master's degree, teachers must complete one year of mentored, full-time teaching and two years of full-time teaching in a public or private school, which serves grades 7- 12, and must meet any additional New York State requirements.

Qualified Social Studies Education 7-12 candidates may also apply to one of the following Advanced Certificates:

(1) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL P-12), and become ESOL-certified upon successful completion of that program of study or the Advanced Certificate;

(2) Advanced Certificate: Middle Childhood Extension, Grades 5-6, and extend their certification to the lower grades; or

(3) Advanced Certificate: Bilingual Extension, and become certified to teach social studies in the native language as well as English.

In addition to the requirements above, Track 2 candidates will also need to complete (a) an application for the Initial Students with Disabilities Generalist 7-12 certificate through the Approved Teacher Preparation Program pathway (b) the Lehman College recommendation; and (c) passing scores on the Special Education Content Specialty Test.

Tracks 1 and 2 candidates will also complete the Trans B application and all relevant requirements including certification exams and workshops.