How to Apply
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.
Program | Certification Eligibility | Entry Term | Additional Admissions Requirements |
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 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) |
LAST TERMS: Spring 2024 and Summer 1 2024 | 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 | To apply for a practicum and internship, you must accumulate 100 hours of work with ill children in a healthcare setting. This can be volunteer or paid. You don’t need these hours to apply to our program. A letter from a CCLS is not required, but highly recommended. 3.0 GPA or higher. |
Child Life – Advanced Track (online) | 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 |
|
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 |
Applicants must 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 |
|
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 (On-Campus Only) 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 |
|
District 13 Residency Program in Childhood General and Special Education | Initial certifications in: Childhood (grades 1–6) Students with Disabilities (grades 1–6) |
FALL 2023 | |
Dual Language/Bilingual Childhood General Education | Initial certifications in: Childhood (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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 Leadership | School Building Leader (SBL) Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) |
FALL | Applicants must have three years of head teaching/pupil personnel experience. |
Early Childhood General Education (Birth- Grade 2) | Initial certification in: Early Childhood (birth–grade 2) |
FALL SPRING SUMMER |
|
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 |
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 |
|
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 (On-Campus Only) 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 |
EVERY OTHER FALL (Next cycle will be Fall 2025) | 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 |
|
Infant & Family Development & Early Intervention /Dual Degree with Hunter School of Social Work | N/A | SUMMER 2 | 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) | 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 (online) | School Building Leader (SBL) | FALL SPRING |
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.). |
School District Leadership (online) | School District Leader | FALL SPRING SUMMER |
Applicants must have a master’s degree in education from an accredited institution of higher education. |
Studies in Education (on campus and online) | N/A | FALL SPRING SUMMER |
|
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | Initial certification in: English to Speakers of Other Languages (pre-K–12) |
SPRING FALL |
Applicants must have at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent of study of a language other than English. |
*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.