Admissions Criteria

Admissions Guide Chart

In addition to the main admissions criteria, there may be additional requirements needed, depending on the program you are choosing to apply for. The following chart outlines our programmatic offerings as well as any additional materials or eligibility requirements needed to apply. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for any of our programs, contact us at 212-875-4404 or gradadmissions@bankstreet.edu.

As you go through the admissions requirements, please note the following:

Certification Eligibility: All teacher and leader certifications are issued by New York State. More information about professional certification eligibility and requirements can be found here.
Entry Term: Our academic calendar outlines the dates for our Fall, Spring, Summer 1, and Summer 2 terms.
Additional Admissions Requirements: Take note of any additional liberal arts and science prerequisites, letters of reference, certifications, and other requirements needed beyond the general admissions criteria.

Contact the Admissions Team

Program	Certification Eligibility	Entry Term	Additional Admissions Requirements
Adolescent Mathematics Education	Adolescent Education: Mathematics, Grades 7–12	SUMMER 2	In addition to breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences, applicants must have at least 18 semester hours or the equivalent of study in math content courses.
Advanced Certificate: Childhood Special Education (non-degree)	Initial certification in: Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have a master’s degree in education with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Advanced Certificate: Early Childhood Leadership (non-degree) – on campus and online	School Building Leader (SBL) Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have three years of head teaching/pupil personnel experience. Applicants must already hold a master’s degree in education.
Advanced Certificate: Early Childhood Leadership (non-degree) – on campus and online	Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) only	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree and 18 credits in child development or related courses
Advanced Certificate: Early Childhood Special Education (non-degree)	Initial certification in: Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have a master’s degree in education with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Advanced Certification: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages	Initial certification in: English to Speakers of Other Languages (pre-K–12)	FALL	Applicants must have a master’s degree in education with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must hold a valid New York State initial/professional teaching certification in early childhood, elementary or childhood, middle childhood, secondary or adolescent education, literacy or special education. Applicants must also have at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent of study of a language other than English.
Advanced Literacy Specialization	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification: Literacy Specialist (birth–grade 6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level. Applicants must already hold a master’s degree in Education
Child Life Online	Certified Child Life Specialist	FALL	100 hours of volunteer work in a Child Life setting. A letter from a CCLS. 3.0 GPA or higher.
Child Life Online – Advanced Track	N/A	FALL	Candidates must be employed as a Child Life Specialist in a hospital or health care setting and hold certification as a CCLS. At least one letter of recommendation must be from a Child Life Specialist (most likely your current supervisor).
Childhood General Education (Grades 1-6)	Initial certification in: Childhood (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Childhood Special & General Education / Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work	Initial certifications in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences. Applicants must also apply separately to Columbia’s program and be admitted into both.
Childhood Special and General Education (on campus and online)	Initial certifications in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING (On-Campus Only) SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Childhood Special Education (on campus and online)*	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL (On-Campus Only) SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Childhood Special Education / Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must also apply separately to Columbia’s program and be admitted into both. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Cross-Age: Early Childhood and Childhood General Education	Initial Certification in: Early Childhood (birth–grade2) Childhood (Grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Dual Language/Bilingual Childhood General Education	Initial certifications in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal art and sciences. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate-level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin.
Dual Language/Bilingual Childhood Special and General Education	Initial certifications in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal art and sciences. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate-level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin.
Dual Language/Bilingual Childhood Special Education	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certifications in: Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate-level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Dual Language/Bilingual Early Childhood General and Special Education	Initial Certifications in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate-level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin.
Dual Language/Bilingual Early Childhood General Education	Initial Certifications in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin.
Dual Language/Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certifications in: Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2) Bilingual Extension	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or Mandarin and have the aptitude to complete graduate-level coursework in Spanish or Mandarin. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Early Childhood General Education (Birth- Grade 2)	Initial certification in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Early Childhood Special & General Education / Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work	Initial certifications in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences. Applicants must also apply separately to Columbia’s program and be admitted into both.
Early Childhood Special and General Education (on campus and online)	Initial certifications in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING (On-Campus Only) SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Early Childhood Special Education (on campus and online)*	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL(On-Campus Only) SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Early Childhood Special Education / Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must also apply separately to Columbia’s program and be admitted into both. Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Future School Leaders Academy	School Building Leader School District Leader	FALL	Applicants must have three years of head teaching/pupil personnel experience. Letters of recommendation must come from the superintendent of your district and from the principal or director of your school. Applicants must already have a master’s degree in education.
Infant & Family Development & Early Intervention / Early Childhood Special and General Education	Initial certifications in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences.
Infant & Family Development & Early Intervention /Dual Degree with Hunter School of Social Work	N/A	FALL	Applicants must also apply separately to Hunter’s program and be admitted into both.
Infant & Family Development & Early Intervention: Non-Certification Track	N/A	FALL SPRING SUMMER
Infant & Family Development & Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Students with Disabilities (birth–grade 2)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Leadership in Mathematics Education	School Building Leader (SBL) NYS School District Leader (SDL) certification for those who opt for this additional certification, meet the course and fieldwork requirements, and pass the state assessments.	SUMMER 2	Applicants must have three years of head teaching/pupil personnel experience. One letter of recommendation must come from a supervisor (Assistant Principal, Principal, Site Director, Head of School, etc.).
Museum Studies: Learning and Engagement in Museums and Cultural Organizations	N/A	FALL	Demonstration of involvement or connections with a museum, library, community or cultural (non-profit) organization, either through full-time, part-time, or as-needed employment, or through volunteer work, undergraduate coursework related to education in the arts/museums, classroom teaching or internship experiences that includes a history of interactions with museums or cultural organizations, or a combination of the above.
Progressive Leadership Program (on campus and online)	School Building Leader (SBL) NYS School District Leader (SDL) certification for those who opt for this additional certification, meet the course and fieldwork requirements, and pass the state assessments.	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have three years of head teaching/pupil personnel experience. One letter of recommendation must come from a supervisor (Assistant Principal, Principal, Site Director, Head of School, etc.).
Reading & Literacy: Clinical Practice (non-certification)	N/A	FALL SPRING SUMMER
School District Leadership (non-degree on campus and online)	School District Leader	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must have a master’s degree in education from an accredited institution of higher education Applicants must already hold a School Building Leader certification.
Studies in Education	N/A	FALL SPRING SUMMER
Teacher Leader in Mathematics Education	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification	SUMMER 2	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages	Initial certification in: English to Speakers of Other Languages (pre-K–12)	FALL	In addition to breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences, applicants must have at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent of study of a language other than English.
Teaching Literacy & Childhood General Education	Initial certification in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Literacy Specialist (birth–grade 6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Breadth and depth in the liberal art and sciences.
Teaching Literacy: Focus on Classroom or Clinical Teaching	Professional certification in the area of an applicant’s initial certification Initial/professional certification in: Literacy Specialist (birth–grade 6)	FALL SPRING SUMMER	Applicants must already hold a valid New York State certification in General Education at the Early Childhood or Childhood level.
Teaching Students with Disabilities Generalist (Grades 7-12)	Initial certification in: Teaching Students with Disabilities 7–12 Generalist	FALL	In addition to breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences, applicants must have six semester hours each of study in science, social studies, English language arts, and mathematics.

*Online programs in our single-certification special education programs in early childhood or childhood start in the Spring or Summer terms of any given year, contingent upon the size of our dual-certification fall cohort.