The year-by-year overview will vary based on which undergraduate program you choose. Overall, your first two years will focus on the core curriculum. Your junior and senior years will focus on education coursework. You will get to complete your student teaching experience in your senior year.

In your freshman and sophomore years, you will participate in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities while working on your core curriculum. All education coursework includes clinical experiences, beginning with your junior-level courses.

In some programs, these courses are held in public schools across the Rochester area, where you attend your college class and participate in classrooms with experienced teachers. Depending on the program, you may have over 200 hours of clinical experience before student teaching.

The School of Education at Nazareth University affirms that all people have a right to education and that it is the ethical responsibility of teachers and teacher educators to critically examine teaching practices through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

All coursework has diversity, equity and inclusion embedded within the content and application of practice. Undergraduate programs include a diverse learners course and the faculty and students regularly engage with Nazareth University’s Frontier Center for Urban Education events and professional development activities. The early childhood, childhood and adolescent education programs are all inclusive and all candidates are required to get a special education certification along with general education certification.

Advisors

All students have advisors, and some programs have two. Your advisors help you navigate your academic programs and teacher education program. You can also access the director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships to support you during your clinical experiences. 

Certification Officer

The Certification Officer guides you through the New York State teacher certification process, including teacher certification exams and questions regarding getting certified.

Mentor Teacher

During your clinical experiences, you will partner with a classroom teacher who mentors and supports you throughout your program. 

Career Coach

The School of Education has a career coach from Nazareth’s Center for Life's Work who will work with you on interview skills and resume building. The career coach brings in school districts and supports candidates getting connected to various employment opportunities. 

The university also has a robust FlyerConnect program that connects you with alums teaching across New York State.

Nazareth University's commitment to improvement and excellence includes:

• Strong relationships with alums across the state who mentor future teachers.
• Accreditation through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.
• A student Education Club that is very active across campus and partners with other organizations like Best Buddies.
• The Golisano Training Center, which houses the Special Olympics, offers collaboration opportunities and campus events.