Undergraduate Minor in Education
Education impacts virtually every member of modern society. Our undergraduate minor in education is for you if you are interested in a career in teaching, interested in how people learn, or want to know how to effectively share information with your supervisors and peers.
Why Minor in Education?
The education minor is appropriate for undergraduate students who may be interested in careers in all levels of education.
It is expected that upon completing this minor, you will:
- Understand the role and responsibility of educators in society
- Have the ability to navigate the complex relationships that influence teaching and learning
- Possess the initial skills needed to plan lessons and teach
- Gain a disposition of inquiry in relation to teaching and learning
If you are an undergraduate student interested in teaching in New York State public schools (pre-K through 12), you should consider the education minor to explore teaching as a career. While this minor itself cannot lead directly to initial teacher certification, you can earn up to 12 credit hours toward a master’s degree and teaching certificate.
Program Overview
| Academic minor granted | Education |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 18 |
| Time to completion | 3 to 4 semesters |
| Course delivery | On campus, online or hybrid |
| Careers |
|
Course descriptions can be found in the UB Undergraduate Catalog.
Required Courses (7 credits)
- LAI 350 Introduction to Education (4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- CEP 400 Educational Psychology (3 credits)
- ELP 405 Sociology of Education (3 credits)
Electives (11 or more credits, at least 6 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level)
- CEP 400 Educational Psychology (3 credits, if not taken as a required course)
- CEP 401 Introduction to Counseling (3 credits)
- ELP 405 Sociology of Education (3 credits, if not taken as a required course)
- ELP 407 Language, Culture, and Education in a Global Society (3 credits)
- LAI 205 Introduction to Child Development & Learning (3 credits)
- LAI 254 Woodwind Techniques (with advisor approval) (2 credits)
- LAI 256 Brass Techniques (with advisor approval) (2 credits)
- LAI 414 Writing across the Curriculum (3 credits)
- LAI 416 Early Childhood Education Theory & Practice (3 credits)
- LAI 419 Introduction to Teaching (3 credits)
- LAI 433 Technology and Curriculum Integration (3 credits)
- LAI 434 Assessment of Student Performance & Understanding (3 credits)
- LAI 435 Intercultural Interactions in the Multicultural Classroom (3 credits)
- LAI 474 Teaching the Exceptional Learner (3 credits)
- LAI 490 Seminar and Practicum in Early Childhood (3 credits)
- LIN 496 Linguistics Teaching Internship (3 credits)
Course Substitution
- Generally, course substitutions are not permitted.
- For transfer students who may have already successfully completed equivalent courses at other institutions, course substitutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In order for the Department of Learning and Instruction (LAI) to review requests for course substitutions, you must have been admitted to the education minor and must submit relevant course information to LAI, such as the course syllabus and official transcript from the other institution.
- Course substitutions will not be permitted for current University at Buffalo students who wish to concurrently complete courses at other institutions.
- Students should expect that decisions regarding course substitutions will be rendered in no less than 30 days from the date that LAI receives the request and all relevant course information.
If you intend to apply to a graduate-level program leading to initial teacher certification, be sure to plan your undergraduate coursework to meet admissions requirements as related to the undergraduate major and content-area distribution, as well as the general education core in liberal arts and sciences. Visit our Teacher Education Institute website for more information on these requirements.
Because the education minor functions as an introduction to the education profession, students enrolled in this program must begin to consider the meaning of, as well as demonstrate adherence to, professionalism, especially as related to fieldwork in schools and educational organizations and in university-based coursework.
Professionalism comprises a variety of matters and although it is often difficult to comprehensively define, teach, and assess, the following offers some concrete descriptions that set a minimum standard of expected professional conduct.
When going to schools/organizations, students are expected to demonstrate basic professional competencies as would be expected of practicing teachers, including the following: arrive in a timely manner; present themselves in a professional manner as related to their dress, personal appearance, and hygiene; and maintain a courteous and respectful relationship with school/organization personnel, students, parents/guardians, etc. Failure to consistently demonstrate these competencies constitutes a lack of appropriate professional conduct.
Throughout their experiences in schools/organizations, students are reminded that the Graduate School of Education is committed to preparing teachers to teach all students in the public school system throughout the state of New York. As such, students must approach their fieldwork and coursework with a commitment toward this goal and must act in a manner that is consistent with this goal.
Throughout their undergraduate career, students are expected to interact with and represent UB faculty, staff, and students in a professional manner consistent with UB policies and in line with the above expectations of professional conduct within schools/organizations.
- As a UB student, you must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5. As a transfer student, your GPA must include at least one semester of UB courses as a full-time, matriculated student.
- All prerequisite courses should be completed or in-progress when you apply for this minor.
Application Process:
- Complete the online application and submit it electronically.
- The department reviews your application and makes a determination regarding admission.
- The department notifies you of the admission decision by email.
Enrollment and Conferral: Enrollment in this minor will be verified via email from the department. In order to include this minor as part of your undergraduate degree, you:
- Must have been admitted to this minor prior to your application for degree.
- Must include this minor in your application for degree (for questions regarding the application for degree, you should consult your undergraduate advisor).
- Must successfully meet the requirements of this minor, which includes successful completion (grade of C or better) of the required and elective courses, as well as maintenance of an overall UB GPA of 2.5 or better.
Questions about the program?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office.
Questions About the Admission Process?
Office of Graduate Admission
Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall, North Campus
716-645-2110
gseinfo@buffalo.edu