School of Education & Leadership Studies

Nancy Wallace, PhD., Dean;  Mark Harrington, EdD, Associate Dean, Julie Marzolf, Executive Associate

Bagen Hall 202 | 2001 Main Street | Buffalo NY 14208 | 716 888-3294 | Fax: 716 888-3164

Mission Statement

The faculty of the School of Education and Leadership Studies (SELS), in concert with our candidates, school/community partners, alumni, and the community, seek to prepare highly effective, socially committed professionals who value the Jesuit traditions demonstrated through their own cura personalis, work towards social justice, and leadership through service. The mission of the unit is to prepare professionals who possess content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge; use their gifts in the service of others; and demonstrate professionalism and leadership in their field.

Academic Programs

The School of Education and Leadership Studies offers curricula leading to undergraduate degrees in a number of areas within the various programs in Teacher Education and Leadership. 

Teacher Education and Leadership

The Teacher Education and Leadership Department offers undergraduate certification programs at the early childhood level, childhood level for grades 1-6, the adolescence level in a content area for grades 7-12, and dual physical education/health education for all grades pre-k-12. Dual certification for childhood includes either students with disabilities or teaching English to speakers of other languages for all grade levels. Childhood candidates may elect to take two additional courses in early childhood to extend their certification to birth to grade 2, or take two additional courses in middle childhood to extend to grades 7 and 8. Adolescence candidates may elect to take two additional courses in middle childhood to extend their certification to grades 5 and 6.

For those who want to become high school teachers, programs lead to certification in one of six academic disciplines: biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, social studies, and Spanish. A 4+1 option is available for those students who have an undergraduate major in a content area (biology, chemistry, English, history or math) and complete the requirements for an MSED in students with disabilities to earn initial certification in both areas by the end of the fifth year of study. 

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS & DEPARTMENTS

UNDERGRADUATE MINORS & DEPARTMENTS

4+1 PROGRAMS

• BA/BS programs in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and History combined with a MSEd in Teaching Students with Disabilities Adolescent Generalist 7-12 to provide both general and special education certifications in a 4+1 bachelor's and master's degree program.

SELS Learning Goals

SELS students will embody the characteristics of a Canisius University graduate. Our candidates will meet the university, state, and national standards and demonstrate proficiencies articulated by their discipline.

• Learning Goal 1: Candidates will demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical, and professional knowledge necessary for successful performance in their field.
• Learning Goal 2: Candidates will demonstrate professional skills and dispositions necessary for successful performance in their field.
• Learning Goal 3: Candidates will demonstrate willingness to use their skills to benefit and serve society. Within the contexts of their work, candidates promote authentic learning, social and emotional development, and a commitment to social justice in environments that foster respect for diversity and the dignity of all.
• Learning Goal 4: Candidates will demonstrate self-reflection as a habit of mind, continuously assessing and refining their professional practice as they construct a rich repertoire of research-based knowledge, skills, and attitudes for effective performance ensuring that all students and/or clients have optimal opportunities to learn and grow.
• Learning Goal 5: Candidates will become adept at applying their acquired knowledge in the process of evaluating their own professional performance and decision-making with respect to its impact on students and/or clients, organizations, and the wider community.

4+1 PROGRAMS

BA/BS programs in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and History combined with a MSEd in Teaching Students with Disabilities Adolescent Generalist 7-12 to provide both general and special education certifications in a 4+1 bachelor's and master's degree program.

The 4+1 programs offer a BA/BS in the content area as well as a MSEd in Special Education. This 4+1 program also leads to Initial Adolescence certification in the content area as well as Initial certification in Students with Disabilities (All Grades: PreK-Grade 12).  Since the program leads to two teaching certificates, candidates must meet the content requirements for both certificates over the course of the five years.  In some instances, New York State has additional requirements for certification; for example, all candidates certified to teach Students with Disabilities need two math courses, two English courses, two social studies courses, and two science courses.  These are identified as appropriate.

UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

CONTENT AREAS

• BIOLOGY
• CHEMISTRY
• ENGLISH
• MATHEMATICS
• SOCIAL STUDIES (HISTORY)

Accreditation

Canisius University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The educator preparation programs at Canisius University have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through December 31, 2031. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

AAQEP Accredited Programs at Canisius University 

All programs are registered and approved by the New York State Education Department.