Elementary Education/Children with Disabilities (Special Education)

Become an Extraordinary Teacher … A Very Special Educator! 

The undergraduate major in elementary education is designed to help students develop knowledge and skills necessary for effective teaching in today's elementary schools. Students are prepared for the teaching profession in a way that is reflective of Franciscan service to others - an ideal that is central to the mission of St. Bonaventure University.

Students choosing to major in Elementary and Children with Disabilities (Special Education) prepare for New York teacher certification in Childhood Education (grades 1–6) with dual certification in Children with Disabilities (grades 1-6). Graduates from our programs can be found in school districts all over the country, and should you want to teach outside of New York, our Certification Office will give you advice about obtaining certificates in other states.

We believe that teachers are best prepared when they learn how to teach in real classrooms. Thus, our program involves students in extensive field experiences beginning in freshman year. While you develop knowledge about teaching, you will spend a significant amount of time interning and teaching in actual classrooms. You will work in a wide variety of classroom settings and at many different grades levels.

Every child has unique gifts and needs, and classroom teachers are best prepared when they are ready to meet the learning and developmental needs of all children. By the end of your 4-year program, you will be ready for your own classroom where you will be able to construct learning opportunities supportive of the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of a diverse student population. SBU students with dual Elementary & Children with Disabilities (Special Education) certification are uniquely prepared for the challenges of today’s classrooms.

Within a curriculum focusing on developmental learning theories, pedagogy, principles of classroom management, and sound educational research, SBU education majors are encouraged to be active participants as they create their own knowledge and develop as teachers.  

For the two semesters before student teaching, you will be involved in a Professional Development School program where you and about 15 other SBU students (along with two faculty members) spend two days a week at a local elementary school. During those two semesters, you will develop the skills needed to create supportive learning environments for children. You will become a caring, professional educator.