5-Year BA / MSEd
Bachelor of Arts in Content Area
Certification in Adolescence Education
Master of Science in Education
You want to be a teacher. So why not save time and money and get you to that goal faster? In NY state, teachers are required to have a master’s degree completed within five years of their initial certification. Don’t put off for five years what you can get done in one!
Why pick the 5-year Education track?
The question really is, why not? Through this program, you can:
- Get both degrees completed faster
- Save money
- Continue learning from the same professors you already know and love
Having a major in a content area not only allows you to better teach the subject, but it also provides greater opportunities for employment within those fields as well. You’ll benefit from the same amazing faculty, community, and opportunities of your major while also taking classes to prepare you to become an educator. Students who complete this program graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in their content area, certification in Adolescence Education with or without a dual certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, and a Master of Science in Education, all in five years.
Through this program, you can pick from the following content areas in which to major: Biology, English, History, and Mathematics. You’ll also take all of the classes necessary for Education certification as well as our Master of Science in Education (MSEd) program.
The Mount’s Education programs earned accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). and by the following professional agencies: Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), International Reading Association (IRA), National Council of Social Studies (NCSS), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). Learn more about our accreditation here.
Christopher McGorty '18 MSEd '19 Humanities Teacher at the San Miguel Academy"The 5-year program at MSMC is designed to allow you to grow both in your content area and then bring that content knowledge and apply it to the classroom environment. The professors are very flexible and are willing to help you in every aspect of your time at MSMC. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am as a first year teacher."
Christopher McGorty '18 MSEd '19
Humanities Teacher at the San Miguel Academy
What to expect from the 5-year Education program
Year 1: Begin content area and Adolescence Education courses and apply for entry into the 5-year program
Year 2: Continue content area and Adolescence Education courses
Year 3: Continue content area and Adolescence Education courses and begin Graduate Education Courses
Year 4: Complete content area and Adolescence Education courses, continue Graduate Education courses, and receive bachelor’s degree
Year 5: Complete Graduate Education courses and receive master’s degree
Learn about 5-year Education program academic requirements and courses here.
Students are admitted into the 5-year Education program during the spring semester of their freshman year at the Mount. However, to be considered, you must meet two of the three criteria below during high school:
- 85 GPA average,
- Top 30% of graduating class, OR
- SAT scores of 1000+ (critical reading and mathematics)
Students may transfer into the program (either from within the Mount or from another institution) if they have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you are a current student looking to transfer into this program, you must receive approval from the chairs of the Division of Education and Arts and Letters in order to enter (though later entry may impact the program's completion time). Students who transfer ED 2051 from another college must also pass the writing assessment section of the course at the Mount.
Students enrolled in this program are evaluated at the end of each semester and are expected to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA throughout the five years of the program, in addition to passing Orientation to Teaching (the first course of the program). You may be allotted one probationary period if your GPA does not meet the minimum 3.0; students who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement for more than one semester will be removed from the program and placed into a BA program in their content area.
Students in the five-year master’s degree program may choose to drop the program and enter a bachelor’s program at Mount Saint Mary College at any time. However, no more than 6 credits of graduate education courses may be counted toward an individual bachelor’s degree if a student leaves the five-year master’s program for any reason. These graduate credits may not then be used toward a master’s degree.
We know this sounds like a lot, but don't worry: each student will be assigned two advisors, one from your content area’s division and one from the Division of Education to help guide you through the program! All of your hard work will be worth it when you're finally at the head of your own classroom, ready to make a difference and teach the subject you love to the next generation!
Be prepared for your future:
Being an 5-year Education student puts you on the fast track to your future. When you leave the Mount five years from now, you'll be ready to take on a role as a middle or high school teacher, sharing your passion for your subject with others. Since you'll benefit from years of fieldwork and student teaching experience beginning in your freshman year, you'll already have relationships with a number of area school districts who will be eager to hire you.
Sonya Abbye Taylor
Rebecca Norman
Meet the Division of Education Faculty
Get to know the rest of our incredible Education professors!