Teaching Assistant Certificate

SUNY Adirondack offers a professional certificate for Teaching Assistant students pursuing employment in either public or private education. At least half the required courses can be taken online.

Teaching Assistants support classroom teachers in daily lesson plans, provide additional attention and instruction, and help the teacher better know the students. The role of a teaching assistant is a very rewarding one; offering a positive impact on the lives of students and their educational future.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Students in the Teaching Assistant certificate program will learn that you could be “the one” that made a difference in the life of a child/student. Students will take a series of elective courses and then move into specialized courses in psychology, health and educational foundations.

The program has been designed to meet the training levels for teaching assistants in New York State as proposed by the State Education Department.

UNIQUE FEATURES

SUNY Adirondack offers small class sizes and access to dedicated faculty who have expertise in the areas of childhood education and child development. Proximity and access to the college’s on-campus child-care center allows real-life experience and professional growth for students.

Apply today

Degree requirements

Career Coach

 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching assistant positions will grow by 9% through 2022. Graduates of the program have the opportunity to take their teaching assistant skills to the following for employment:

  • Private or public elementary, middle and high schools
  • Preschools
  • Childcare centers
  • Community centers
  • Religious organizations

This program is designed for immediate employment but also allows for transfer into SUNY Adirondack's AA or AS programs. After completing one of the two-year programs, students may choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in education at a four-year college or university.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Employ written and verbal communication skills, including the appropriate use of technology.
  2. Identify psychological theories and their applications to working with children in an educational environment.
  3. Describe the historical development of the American school system and explain how schools are organized, funded, and governed.
  4. Evaluate the impact of how the sociological and philosophical foundations of education influence the American education system. 
  5. Demonstrate a broad base of liberal arts knowledge that would be needed to provide instructional services in a school setting.