Jump Start is an accelerated masters degree and teacher certification program which prepares you to begin teaching in your own classroom within seven months. While teaching full time, students continue part-time coursework and complete a masters degree and New York State Initial Certification. Many of our students optimize their employment opportunities by earning an additional certification in Special Education. Jump Start offers teacher education programs for certification in Childhood Grades 1-6, and Middle and High School subject areas including English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Spanish and TESOL.

Taking this intensive series of courses from February through August earns you half of your graduate credits, allowing you to apply for an Internship Certificate (subject to New York State Department of Education rules and regulations), and qualifying you to teach in many New York State public schools for two years. Upon completion of your program, generally within two years, you will earn your masters degree and be eligible for Initial Certification. The Jump Start program begins only once a year, allowing each year's cohort to build the group cohesiveness that will continue throughout the program and provide support during your early years of teaching.

During the first semester, classes meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 4:20 pm to 9:30 pm.

We believe that helping you find a job is part of our job. While our graduates have excellent employment rates, it is important to note that school district personnel make all final hiring decisions. Nearly all Jump Start teachers begin their careers in New York City.

When you enter the classroom as a Jump Start teacher, a Manhattanville mentor will visit you once a week and help you develop unit and lesson plans and design classroom management protocols. In addition, once a week, you and your subject area colleagues will attend a weekly field seminar where you can share the challenges and joys of your first year of teaching.

Certification Options

New York State initial certification is available in the following areas:

Childhood                                      Childhood / Special Education

English                                          English / Special Education

Social Studies                                Social Studies / Special Education

Mathematics*                                 Mathematics / Special Education*

Biology*                                        Biology / Special Education*

Chemistry*                                    Chemistry / Special Education*

Physics*

TESOL*

Spanish

Post-Masters Certifications are available to candidates who already have a Masters Degree in their field and seek initial certification. Post-Masters Certifications are available in:

English

Mathematics*

Science*

Social Studies

TESOL

Spanish*

*Tuition discounts are available for students seeking to be certified in these high needs areas.

For more information about Jump Start, call or email the Jump Start Office or come to one of our Graduate School of Education Open Houses.

Important Links for Jump Start Students

Getting Started                                    Admission Information              
Program Information                          Tuition & Fees 
Certification Information                    Job Search
 

Getting Started

What is Jump Start?
Jump Start is an accelerated teacher training program.  The program begins once a year in February.  You work intensively on your graduate coursework three evenings a week during four five-week Spring and Summer semesters, and then you are eligible for a New York State Internship certificate.  The Internship certificate qualifies you to teach in New York State public schools for two years.  As you teach, you go on to finish your Masters Degree and earn your Initial Certification in New York State.  The program is designed so that you can finish your degree and become initially certified within 18 months. 

How do I figure out if I really want to be a teacher?
If you wanted to be a doctor, we'd suggest that you spend some time visiting doctors and talking to them. If you think you might want to teach, visit some schools, especially in culturally diverse districts.  Talk to teachers who are working in the subject areas that you may be interested in and try to get a sense of what they do apart from their actual time in the classroom.  If the last time you were in a classroom was when you were a student, you are probably not ready to make the decision!

When can I start?
A Jump Start Cohort begins each year in February. Cohort grouping builds strong bonds with faculty and colleagues, and offers support through classes and your early teaching.

Admissions Information

How do I apply?
You can send in either a paper or an online application.  Accompanying that application must be official transcripts from all institutions attended, two letters of recommendation (either academic or professional), a 2- 3 page personal statement addressing why you would like to become a teacher and the application fee.  Once we have received all of your documents, your application will be processed and you will be invited in for an interview with the Director/Assistant Director of Jump Start.

Will I get accepted into Jump Start?
There are many criteria that will determine whether you are a good candidate for our Jump Start program. As part of the admissions process, we will evaluate your undergraduate transcripts to review for missing certification requirements, as well as, your overall undergraduate GPA. The GPA requirement for admission into our program is a 3.0, but if your GPA was lower than that, don't be discouraged. We understand that you may have had life experiences in the years since you left college. We can talk!

In addition to your GPA, we are looking for students who will become good teachers. We interview every candidate to assess your general disposition and to discuss whether you are prepared for the intensity of the program.  Together we can determine if you are a good fit for Jump Start.

How do I know if I have the right co-requisites to get certified?
As part of the application process, we will evaluate your undergraduate and graduate transcripts to determine if you are missing any New York State certification requirements. You may need to take additional undergraduate coursework before or during your masters program. 

You are welcome to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the graduate advising office who can evaluate your transcripts before you apply.  

What is the difference between the Jump Start and the traditional masters degree program?
In the Jump Start program, you could be teaching as quickly as seven months after the program begins.  You will continue to take courses while you are teaching in order to complete your masters degree and certification requirements.  The biggest difference is that there is no student teaching component in Jump Start.  

What if I've never taken an Education course before?
You do not need prior experience or education coursework to enter the program.

Program Information

What will my course load look like?
You will take four courses between February and mid-May in two intensive five week semesters (Spring "A" and Spring "B") and then continue your coursework in the summer sessions running from May through the beginning of August.  Jump Starters can begin their job search in May, and might be teaching full time in September under a NY State Internship Certificate.  

If you have a full- time teaching position in the fall, you will have the support of a Mentor who will visit you once a week and a weekly seminar on campus where you will have the opportunity to share and discuss your teaching life. The teaching seminar is generally the only class our beginning teachers take in the fall. Jump Starters complete their remaining coursework during the following spring and summer, and can graduate with a masters degree the following August. 

When are my courses scheduled?
Jump Start classes meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4:20 PM to 9:30 PM. (One class will meet from 4:20PM- 6:50PM and the second will meet from 7:00PM-9:30PM).  Classes run in five week increments, so you are taking two classes at a time from February through August.

Do we get a break between semesters?
There is always a week or more between the Spring "A" semester and the Spring "B" semester. There is a three week break between the end of Spring "B" and Summer I. There is no break between Summer I and Summer II. Although no classes meet during breaks, program workshops are often scheduled, and it is also an excellent time to complete required field observation hours.

Can I keep my day job until I start teaching full time? What if I have family obligations?
Tricky question. You have to know yourself, how you handle competing responsibilities and how many different time commitments you can handle. Jump Start classes meet from 4:20PM to 9:30PM, and you will be on campus three evenings a week. Attendance is mandatory. Your academic responsibilities will also include required readings, writing papers, and 100 hours of field observation, in addition to the hours spent in class.

How long will my program take?
You will begin coursework in February, and we will encourage you to begin your job search in the spring. If you secure a full-time teaching position, you may be teaching as early as September and could graduate with a masters degree in August. Please note that there are possible alternatives as you go along. If you add an additional certification, such as Special Education, you will need to take additional courses. You might decide to transfer into a more traditional teacher preparation program which includes student teaching or you might want to slow down and give yourself more time to do the coursework.

Are there opportunities to get into classrooms before I actually begin to teach?
There are 100 hours of required field observation. You may also have the opportunity to acquire valuable experience by volunteering in summer school programs in the area. Summer experience not only increases your skills and confidence, it also makes you a stronger candidate in a job interview.

Tuition and Fees

How much will this program cost?
In Fall 2011, our tuition is $895 per credit. Our programs range from 39 credits to 47 credits (for dual certification programs). There will be some additional fees for books, workshops, etc.

Are there scholarships and financial aid available?
Yes. There are several ways within the Jump Start program 

• 30% discount for students interested in obtaining certification in science, math and TESOL;
• NEW! Officially one of the newest Paul D. Coverdell Fellows colleges, Manhattanville will provide a 50% tuition reduction for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Please check with the financial aid office for all financial aid questions.

Certification Information

How do I get my NY State certification to teach?
Before classes begin, we will help you set up an online TEACH account with New York State and we will walk you through the steps of getting fingerprinted, filling out applications and taking the required exams. When you have secured a full- time teaching position and have a letter of hire from a school, we will recommend you for an NYS Internship Certificate. You may teach under this certificate for two years. Once you have completed your masters degree and all certification requirements, we will upload your recommendation for your NY State Initial Certification. Most private and parochial schools do not require an Internship Certificate from NY State.

What exams do I have to take to be certified in New York State?

New NY State certification exams (NYSTCE) are scheduled to be implemented in February 2012, however, they will not be required of all graduates until May 2013.

Candidates graduating in May 2013, or after, should wait for the new tests to be available before beginning testing. Once the new tests are required, it is anticipated that the policy of the state will require candidates to take only the new NYSTCE tests. Regulations have not been established to determine if candidates who have already taken components of the current NY State certification examinations can use passing results of some of those components to satisfy some of the new requirements. As information on this issue becomes available, it will be posted on http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexamsl2011.html. 

Job Search

How do I find a job?
We receive notifications about job vacancies and we will send them on to you but you will need to actively search for a position. We'll help you with resumes and interviews and make sure you are on track as we guide you through the process of certification. Actual hiring decisions, however, are made solely by the individual school districts and/or principals.

Does everyone in the program get a job?
These are difficult times. Through 2008, ALL of our Jump Starters got classroom teaching positions. The last two years, this has not been the case, although more than 2/3 of our students have found jobs. Some students elect to postpone the job search and stay in their current jobs, and some students decide to switch into more traditional teacher preparation programs.

What is a first year teacher's salary?
First years teachers earn approximately $45,000 but salaries can vary greatly depending on your job location and type of school.

Where are the jobs?
Historically, 80% of our Jump Start students find their first jobs in the Bronx. We understand that many of you are wary but here's a statistic that will knock your socks off - almost 75% of the Jump Start teachers who start in the Bronx, stay there!