School of Education
Involved in the preparation of educators since 1916, we're recognized by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education as a Top 25 Innovative program, and we're NCATE accredited.

This performance-based
accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education ensures that teacher candidates are prepared to make a difference in P-12 student learning.
The School of Education has applied for initial accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). We are in the process of completing our self-study and are scheduled for our accreditation site visit in October 2022.
We offer Professional Development School (PDS) programs in all initial teacher certification. Many of our programs are offered in a hybrid, or "blended," format, which integrates classroom instruction with online activities.
5 undergraduate degrees offering intensive preparation and innovative teaching strategies
For incoming education majors, we offer a number of bachelor's degree programs.
- ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: For students seeking New York state certification in specific secondary (7-12) subjects.
- *EDUCATIONAL STUDIES: For students seeking careers working with children and families.
- CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Four distinct Bachelor of Science degrees for students who want to be elementary school teachers.
- PHYSICAL EDUCATION: For students seeking certification in PE and coaching.
- SPORT STUDIES: A non-teaching major for students seeking careers in wellness and leisure industries, sports management and a host of related occupations.
6 MSED degrees and 3 advanced certificate programs
Master's Degree Programs
- ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION For those with a bachelor's degree in a content subject who seek 7-12 certification in New York state.
- *B-12 LITERACY: For certified teachers seeking a master's degree to teach birth to Grade 12 as a literacy coach, reading teacher, or literacy specialist.
- EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP: For teachers looking to become future leaders through critical inquiry, reflection and dynamic leadership strategies.
- INCLUSIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION: Designed to help teachers to meet the ever-changing demands of diverse classrooms and may be completed by teachers with certification in nearly any area or grade level. This program has three different certification tracks.
- Early Childhood Inclusive Special Education
- Childhood Inclusive Special Education
- Secondary Inclusive Special Education (7-12) Generalist
- CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING: Designed for individuals who wish to serve as counselors in community-based agencies — for example, mental health and social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, and college counseling centers.
- SCHOOL COUNSELING: Designed for individuals who wish to serve as counselors in K-12 settings.
Advanced Certificate Programs
- SCHOOL BUILDING LEADER: Designed for elementary and secondary teachers and school counselors seeking to become school principals.
- SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADER: Designed for candidates seeking to become administrators at the district level (superintendents).
- SCHOOL COUNSELING: For individuals possessing a master’s degree and credential in school counseling (typically a 48 hour degree) and needing additional coursework to meet the credit hour criteria for permanent certification in New York.
Experiential learning: A cornerstone of our program
We believe you become an effective educator through extensive, supervised and structured real-world experience, so our programs are built around meaningful practicum sessions in our many partner schools in New York and Pennsylvania.
This is also true of our advanced master’s degree programs for teachers as well as the preparation of school and clinical mental health counselors and school administrators.
All initial teacher preparation programs require coursework in both professional education studies and an academic area. Elementary education majors complete an academic concentration of no fewer than 30 credit hours in a liberal arts area. Physical education majors complete their academic concentration in biology.
This combination of classroom instruction and authentic off-campus experience means our graduates are not only knowledgeable in their area of academic interest, but have demonstrated their effectiveness in the field, making them very desirable candidates in the job market. Ninety-four percent (94%) of recent graduates are either working in their chosen field or continuing their education.
- Field experiences for tutoring and observing students in P-12 classrooms. Hours vary depending on the course with which the experiences are associated, but range from 10-30 hours during a semester.
- Field block experiences for Childhood Education, Physical Education, and Adolescence Education where students spend at least two days/week in P-12 classrooms assisting cooperating teachers by teaching lessons, working with individual students or small groups, observing, or tutoring. Childhood Education and Physical Education have two field block experiences, while Adolescence Education has one.
- Student teaching where students in Childhood Education, Physical Education spend two 7-week sessions in P-12 classrooms as the teacher of record, supervised by a cooperating teacher and University supervisor.
- Bona's Education Association: Internal SOE student club for undergraduate students to assist the community through service projects.
- Kappa Delta Phi Honors Society: An honors society for undergraduate and graduate students who achieve a GPA above 3.0.
- Every spring with a few exceptions, two faculty members take a group of students to St. Michael’s School outside of Albuquerque, N.M., to teach and provide support to the Native American community, which is impoverished and has very limited resources. The students engage in teaching experiences, while also learning about the plight of marginalized populations.
- Undergraduate students may be invited to join the Honors Program. Invited students take honors courses and also complete a research project, which becomes a culminating capstone project for them. This allows them to focus on an area of interest and to work with faculty as they develop their research skills.
- Practica and internships or student teaching for Counseling, Educational Leadership, Inclusive Special Education, and Literacy. Counseling requires two semester-long practicum experiences and two semester-long internships within P-12 for school counseling or mental health agencies.
- Educational Leadership has a 600-hour practicum and a 200 hour internship for the School Building Leader certification. For School District Leader, there is a 90-hour practicum and a 90-hour internship in P-12 settings within school buildings (for SBL) or central office (for SDL).
- For Inclusive Special Education, candidates need to complete a semester-long teaching experience in a special education classroom and do a poster presentation about research they have conducted.
- Literacy candidates spend several hours a week in a P-12 setting to assist individual students or groups with reading and literacy throughout their year-long program. In addition, they participate in a Reading Clinic with children and youth during their final semester (approx. 50 hours) where they provide assessment and follow-up tutoring support to students.
- Adolescent Education has a 100-hour Embedded Clinical Experience for candidates who assist cooperating teachers in the schools with tutoring, observing, individual and small group work, and some teaching. In addition, they complete two 7-week sessions in grades 7-9 and 10-12 for a semester as the teacher of record with supervision by a cooperating teacher and University supervisor.
- Chi Sigma Iota is an honors society for Counseling candidates. It provides activities, such as professional development training for candidates and may be involved in other service activities related to the profession.
About the School of Education
The School of Education at St. Bonaventure University is nationally accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. This means that all of our undergraduate and graduate programs meet local, state, and professional standards in education.
- The School of Education and all of our programs are nationally accredited.
- You will accumulate up to 1,000 hours of classroom experience, beginning your freshman year, with placements in variance schools, grade levels, and different types of classrooms.
- We help ensure your success by holding you to high expectations and standards; a 3.0 GPA is required throughout your four years of study.
- You are part of a close community created through mentoring and close interactions between faculty, staff and students.
Students are prepared for the teaching profession in a way that is reflective of Franciscan service to others, an ideal that is central to the mission of St. Bonaventure University.
We believe that every child has unique gifts
and needs, and we pride ourselves on preparing our students to meet the learning and developmental needs of all children. By the end of your four-year degree program, you will be ready for your own classroom where you will be able to construct learning
opportunities supportive of the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of a diverse student population.
Within a curriculum focusing on developmental learning theories, pedagogy, principles of classroom management, and sound
educational research, SBU education majors are encouraged to be active participants as they learn and develop as teachers.
Our graduates work in school districts all over the country, and our certification office will advise you on obtaining
certificates in other states.
Our students become great teachers because:
- They believe that all children can learn
- They are able to create positive, engaging learning environments that help students succeed
- They become active members of school communities
- They understand the need to continue to learn
- They are passionate about teaching
The St. Bonaventure University School of Education prepares highly qualified, effective educators at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The Franciscan commitment to social justice through respect for diversity and the dignity and worth of the individual provides the foundation for our work with university students and school communities.
Our state and nationally accredited programs integrate theory with practice and meet rigorous academic and professional standards. Our collaborative and highly qualified faculty members guide candidates on their journey of professional and personal discovery.
The conceptual framework for the School of Education at St. Bonaventure University is organized around three themes:
- Competence
- Experience
- Social Justice
The School of Education prepares practitioners who are knowledgeable, reflective learners and who possess a keen understanding of the inherent worth of individuality and diversity.
Learn more at CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The School of Education at St. Bonaventure University is required to publish state teacher certification examination pass rates on an annual basis.
To view pass rates for 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, download our certification exams pass rates PDF.
Meet Dr. Lisa C. Buenaventura, school dean
Dr. Lisa C. Buenaventura, who has more than 30 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, was appointed dean of St. Bonaventure University's School of Education effective June 1, 2017.
Dr. Buenaventura came to SBU from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she served as special assistant to the provost for special projects. Prior to that appointment, she served UMass-Boston as assistant vice chancellor for co-curricular learning and assessment, then as the interim vice chancellor for student affairs. She also was an adjunct faculty member in Asian American Studies and the Higher Education Doctoral Program.
Prior to joining UMass-Boston, Buenaventura worked for six years as a faculty member for the Office of the Chancellor and School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at Penn State-Harrisburg, focusing on teaching, assessment, accreditation, research and grants, and program development. She had previously served for two years as the director for Child Welfare and Education and for the Labor Education Institute with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Educational Resources Group.
Buenaventura also worked for several years in the Pacific Northwest, including seven years at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., first as director of Women’s Programs, then as director and interim associate dean of Student Support Services and interim vice president for Student Services.During this period, she also served as an adjunct faculty member at Clark College and Pacific Oaks College in Seattle.
In addition, Buenaventura has 10 years’ experience in K-12 education, seven years as a school psychologist and counselor in Belfair and Seattle, Wash., and three years as a program administrator for the Department of Transitional Bilingual Education and Compensatory Education in the Seattle Public Schools.
Buenaventura received her bachelor’s degree in psychology (1978) and her master’s degree in educational psychology (1983) from the University of Washington. She received her doctorate in educational leadership (1997) from Seattle University. At both institutions, she served as a graduate student assistant, working with the faculty on accreditation, curriculum and instruction, and research.
A deep commitment to community service and professional involvement are reflected in Buenaventura’s background. Over the years, she has been actively engaged in working with non-profit and governmental organizations, K-12 school districts, and higher education associations, as well as campus communities, to address issues of access, equity, diversity, and social justice.
Her focus has been on strengthening curricular and co-curricular learning experiences for students that effectively prepare them to live and work in diverse and rapidly changing environments.
Dec 14, 2020 | Jennifer Landow has no problem telling anybody about it. In fact, she is filled with pride when she does. She’s 46 years old, a non-traditional college student. Originally from Akron, New York, she is a mother of two children, a 12-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.
Dec 07, 2020 | Dr. Diana Lawrence-Brown, professor of inclusive special education, gave a peer-reviewed presentation of research concerning "Ah Ha!" moments leading to advocacy for inclusive education, at the 2020 virtual conference of the National Association of Multicultural Education, held Oct. 10-12.
Nov 20, 2020 | Each week, a group of St. Bonaventure University students visit Cattaraugus County’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a place many abandoned or relinquished animals call home. At the shelter, the students walk dogs, play with cats and help clean animal cages, among other things.
*Program name changes
Please note that two School of Education programs recently underwent name changes.
- The undergraduate educational studies program was formerly known as childhood studies.
- The graduate B-12 literacy program was formerly known as adolescent literacy.