Inclusive Education: Adolescence Content Area and Special Education

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Inclusive Education Adolescence Programs, grades 7-12 (Department of Adolescence Education)

See below the multiple program options available, depending on professional goals, program of undergraduate study and any NYS teacher certification currently held.

Program Philosophy

The Inclusive Education Programs are committed to the preparation of teachers for all students. Increasing numbers of students with disabilities are maintaining or regaining access to general education classrooms, curricula, and statewide assessments. Our programs are designed to provide systematic teacher preparation for the challenges and opportunities of today’s diverse classrooms.

Faculty members share an understanding that inclusion reflects, at both the state and national level as well as within the programs, a shift in philosophy from earlier models of schooling. We believe that the inclusive classroom is the best environment for all learners. Inclusion benefits children and teachers because it mirrors society and encourages learners and teachers to operate from points of strength, not deficit. In these programs the concepts of diversity and inclusivity encompass the following areas: cultural/ethnic, linguistic, social class, learning style and “intelligence/s,” gender, and exceptionalities (including both students who are gifted and talented and students who have disabilities). With this as a guiding vision, the following mission statement frames the programs:

The Inclusive Education Programs seek to prepare teachers who affirm the membership of all students within increasingly diverse classrooms and who are skilled at utilizing learning theory and strategies to address the range of needs of all learners.

Adolescence Programs of Study

The program options below reference Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist. This new certification title allows candidates to collaborate with general education teachers in all content areas in order to support the education of students with disabilities. Teachers with the Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist may work in Resource Rooms, as Consultant Teachers, and as co-teachers in all content area when partnered with an appropriately certified general educator.

Inclusive Adolescence - Initial Certification with Adolescence Content Area and Students with Disabilities (48 credit hours)  - for students with no prior teacher certification who seek to obtain their initial teacher certification. Content area options include Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German, Italian, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.

Initial Certification 48 credit hour programs leads to the following two NYS certifications:

• Adolescence education 7-12 content area; and
• Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Inclusive Adolescence - Additional Certification (36 credit hours) 

- for students who hold current NYS teacher certification and seek to obtain certification in Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist.

Current NYS certification in another area required for entrance into the program, including Art Education, Business Education, Music Education, Speech and Hearing, Home and Careers, Health, Physical Education, Special Education, or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Additional certification 36 credit hour program leads to the following NYS certification:

• Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Inclusive Adolescence - Changing Developmental Level, Adolescence Content Area and Students with Disabilities (39 credit hours)  - for students who hold current NYS general education teacher certification who seek to obtain an adolescence content area certification and Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist. Content area options include Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German, Italian, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.

Changing Level 39 credit hour program leads to the following two NYS certifications:

• Adolescence education 7-12 content area; and
• Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Inclusive Adolescence - Professional Changing Level Content Area and Students with Disabilities (36 credit hours)  - for students who hold current NYS teacher certification in general education and Students with Disabilities (early childhood, childhood or middle school levels) and seek to obtain professional certification as well as adding a 7-12 content area. Content area options include Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German, Italian, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.

Professional changing level 36 credit hour program leads to the following two NYS certifications:

• Adolescence education 7-12 content area; and
• Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Inclusive Adolescence - Professional Certification Programs (36 credit hours)  - for students who hold current NYS teacher certification in both a content area and Students with Disabilities at the Adolescence level. This program will help fulfill the requirements for professional certification in prior certifications (content area and Students with Disabilities Specialist) and add Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist. Students may also obtain a Gifted Education Extension  or a Severe and Multiple Disabilities Annotation  as part of the program.

Professional Certification 36 credit hour program leads to the following two NYS certifications:

• Adolescence education 7-12 content area; and
• Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Applying for Teacher Certification through New York State
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial and Professional certifications and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have a fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH, pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations <www.nystce.nesinc.com> and have the appropriate years of teaching experience. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

 NOTE: ALL STUDENTS COMPLETING THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM AFTER MAY 1, 2014 – ONLY CONTENT SPECIALTY TESTS (CST) WILL BE ACCEPTED. THERE WILL BE THREE OTHER ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED. AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING THIS CATALOG, THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.  

During a teacher candidate’s final semester, information on the application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting the Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2592 or 2591, or via e-mail gpotemp2@naz.edu or chill0@naz.edu, or online at www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm.

Please see Annotations and Extensions  for information and requirements for Bilingual Extension, Gifted Education Extension, Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Extension, and Severe or Multiple Disabilities Annotation.

Program Director
James Black, Ph.D.
Inclusive Education Programs, Adolescence

PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The initial certification adolescence program requires submission of the following (items 1-5) as part of the application process:

1. Completed Online Application
2. Completion of the professional statement as described on the application
3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
   
   • Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
     • An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
4. Two letters of recommendation
5. Resume

PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
All additional/professional adolescence programs require submission of the following (items 1-6) as part of the application process:

1. Completed Online Application
2. Completion of the professional statement as described on the application
3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
   
   • Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
     • An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
4. Copy of verification of teacher certification from the TEACH system
5. Two letters of recommendation
6. Resume

See chart below for additional Program-Specific Entry Requirements

Note that a complete transcript review of previous studies must be conducted to ascertain that each applicant meets the prerequisite admissions requirements. Application materials will be reviewed by the Graduate Education Admissions Committee regardless of the number of credit hours of deficiencies. All liberal arts deficiencies must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher and a total cumulative grade point average of 2.7. Official transcript(s) must be on file in the Office of Graduate Student Services. For further information, please refer to Admission Status Types on the application form.

Application Deadlines for Adolescence Inclusive Education Initial Certification Programs:
No Summer start available to students pursuing initial certification programs
April 1 for Fall Term
October 1 for Spring Term
Applications received after the stated deadline will be processed on a space-available basis.

Application Deadlines for Adolescence Inclusive Education Additional/Professional Certification Programs:
March 1 for Summer Term Note: Summer start available ONLY to students pursuing additional/professional certification programs
April 1 for Fall Term
October 1 for Spring Term
Applications received after the stated deadline will be processed on a space-available basis.
 

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