The Cornell Teacher Education (CTE) program prepares teachers to work successfully in a variety of educational settings and with the wide range of students in our excitingly and increasingly diverse society. In addition to a solid background in subject matter, students develop a broadly based knowledge of the art and science of teaching in secondary schools. Coursework and fieldwork in different educational settings enable future teachers to integrate the practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of education. Good teachers are essential to the development of secondary students who will become citizens able to address the complex issues facing the world.

The Cornell Teacher Education program supports the unique needs of those studying to become teachers of agricultural science or a biological or physical science (biology, chemistry, earth science, physics).

Students gain knowledge of ethical practice, teaching and learning processes, and the moral, social and political contexts of education, and integrate this with their specific content area in the sciences and/or agricultural science. Students develop the knowledge and expert practice skills to assume leadership positions in formal educational settings (public, private, and charter schools, and other formal instructional situations).

All students preparing to teach science complete the CTE program with the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree and are eligible for secondary (grades 7-12) certification in a science. Although certification in agriculture can be earned at the bachelor's level, students who aspire to teach agriculture are highly encouraged to complete the M.A.T. Applicants to the M.A.T. must have completed most of an undergraduate major or its equivalent in the area(s) in which they seek certification.

It is possible to begin completing requirements for certification during undergraduate study at Cornell. Cornell undergraduates majoring in a science or agricultural science apply to the certification program track (the CTE education minor) during their sophomore or junior years. Students admitted to the CTE education minor complete their undergraduate subject matter majors and the minor in education during their junior and senior years.

Cornell undergraduates admitted to the CTE program who complete the minor as undergraduates can generally complete the M.A.T. in two semesters. Cornell students majoring in one of the agricultural, biological, or physical sciences add a minor in education--and apply the education courses toward their baccalaureate and their certification. Ideally, students apply to CTE as sophomores and take education courses as juniors and seniors--including fieldwork to prepare for one semester of full-time student teaching in the M.A.T. year. The other semester of M.A.T. is designed to allow additional coursework in the academic specialties for greater breadth and depth, or further professional development.

Students in the following majors are currently eligible:

• Agriculture (agricultural engineering, animal science, food science, horticulture, plant science, soil science)
• Biology
• Biology and Society
• Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
  
• Geological Sciences
• Human Biology, Health, and Society (Human Ecology)
• Natural Resources
• Physics

Admission criteria for the CTE program at both the undergraduate and the M.A.T. level include a solid undergraduate background in the subject matter, including acceptance into or completion of a major (or its equivalent) in a science, or agriculture with a B (3.0) average, and evidence of successful teaching experience, such as work as a camp counselor, tutoring students in high school, teaching religious school lessons, working with 4-H, or experiences with FFA.

Review of applicants for the fall semester begins January 15 and continues until the cohort is full. Students may also apply for spring admission. Review of those applicants begins October 15. Admission is provisional for the first year with continued participation and student teaching placement contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory performance in required fieldwork.