This program will be available in the Spring 2026 term.

A teaching assistant (TA) provides direct instructional support to students under the general supervision of a certified teacher. The teaching assistant works as a member of a team in the classroom where the teacher has ultimate responsibility for developing and planning the educational program. Teaching assistants (sometimes referred to as paraprofessionals) work with individuals or groups of students.

This certificate program is designed to meet the college coursework requirement for the New York State Level III Teaching Assistant certificate. By completing this certificate, certificate holders will have an enhanced scope of practice, and 18 completed credits which can be applied to the B.S. in Early Childhood Education program upon acceptance. The certificate requirements include 18 credits in pedagogy (in the competencies required for Initial teacher certification).

Program Details

The Teaching Assistant Certificate includes the following required courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ECET 1010	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
EDSP 2025	Introduction to Special Education	4
HUDV 1005	Child Development: Introductory	4
SOSC 2005	Schooling in America	4
or EDST 2005	Schooling in America
EDST 3037	Culturally Responsive Engagement in Home, School, and Community	2
Total Credits		18

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes upon completion of this certificate:

• Foundation # 1: Professional standards: Define the professional standards including ethics in early childhood education.
• Foundation # 2: Foundational knowledge: Analyze the foundational knowledge of the field from either a historical, philosophical, or sociological perspective.
• Foundation # 3: Human development: Interpret stages of, and the diversity within, human development from birth through age 8 and the impact of development on learning.
• Foundation # 8: Diversity: Analyze the impact and importance of human diversity and the implications for educational settings including building relationships between home, school, and community.