A lot has been happening in the School of Liberal Arts! Clarkson University and Siena College have announced an agreement to transfer Clarkson’s master of arts in teaching degree and other graduate-level teacher education offerings to Siena. Both institutions expect this to take effect in June.
As part of the agreement between the two private higher education institutions, Clarkson and Siena will provide a seamless transition for approximately 100 students currently enrolled in the fully-accredited master’s and certificate programs over the coming months. Eight full-time Clarkson faculty and administrators will also transfer to Siena.
The adoption of the teacher education programs fits with Siena’s strategic plan to develop mission-aligned graduate degree opportunities with high market and workforce demand.
“This represents an excellent opportunity for Siena to respond to the tremendous need for teacher education in the Capital Region by integrating a nationally-recognized, fully-accredited suite of programs into its current teacher education offerings,” said Siena President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. “These programs are vital to secondary schools throughout the area and beyond.”
The distinguishing feature of the master of arts in teaching program is the full-year teacher residency, where candidates work side-by-side with individually selected mentor teachers who receive specialized training from the program.
In addition to the master of arts in teaching, Siena will also add a master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), and a master of arts in curriculum and instruction. Courses will be offered with in-person, hybrid and online modalities, depending on the program.
“Demand for K-12 teachers is at an all-time high,” said Siena Provost Margaret Madden, Ph.D. “Siena’s newly-enhanced programming will have a large and positive impact on education in the region by graduating thoroughly-prepared new teachers ready to face the challenges of today’s classrooms.”
The administrators noted that the master of arts in teaching program currently has a 100 percent job placement rate, with an exceptionally high industry five-year retention rate of 93 percent, compared to 50-80 percent nationally.