Inclusive Education: Adolescence Content Area and Special Education

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Inclusive Education Adolescence Programs, grades 7-12

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 preferences 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

Four of the program options below reference Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist. This 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 areas when partnered with an appropriately certified general educator.

Inclusive Adolescence - Initial Certification with Adolescence Content Area and Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist (48 credit hours)   - for students with no prior teacher certification who seek to obtain their initial teacher certification. Content area options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 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

Adolescence/TESOL Initial Certification with Adolescence Content Area (51 credit hours)  - for students with no prior teacher certification who seek to obtain initial teacher certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and an adolescence content area. Content area options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, French, German, Italian, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.

Initial Certification 51 credit hour programs leads to the following NYS certifications:

• Adolescence education 7-12 content area
• English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12

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 7-12 content area required for entrance into the program or certification in Art Education, Business Education, Music Education, Speech and Hearing, Home and Careers, Health, Physical 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 7-12 Generalist (39 credit hours)   - for students who hold current NYS general education teacher certification at the early childhood, childhood, or middle school level 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 - Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist Professional (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). Students may also obtain a Gifted Education Extension, or a Severe and Multiple Disabilities Annotation, or a Bilingual Extension, or an Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism (iSPAN) as part of the program.

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: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

All students in a first time certification program requiring student teaching must successfully complete the following requirements to obtain New York State Teacher Certification:

1. Educating All Students Test (EAS); and
2. Content Specialty Test(s) (CST).

Teacher candidates adding an additional certification(s) will need to take the appropriate Content Specialty Test(s) in their new area of certification(s) only.

During a teacher candidate’s final semester, information on the certification application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2051 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or go.naz.edu/cert

Please see Annotation and Extensions  for information and requirements for Bilingual Extension, Gifted Education Extension, and Severe or Multiple Disabilities Annotation. Please see iSPAN for information on the Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism.

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
4. Applicants 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. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is expected. Applicants who do not meet these requirements must address each of the following in their professional statement:
   • Explain why grades were below Nazareth’s minimum expectations
   • Explain potential to positively contribute to the teaching profession
   • Describe relevant experiences and/or activities that demonstrate ability to successfully complete graduate work at Nazareth College
   • Outline specific procedures that will be followed to successfully navigate and meet the rigorous requirements of graduate study
5. Two letters of recommendation
6. 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
4. Applicants 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. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is expected. Applicants who do not meet these requirements must address each of the following in their professional statement:
   • Explain why grades were below Nazareth’s minimum expectations
   • Explain potential to positively contribute to the teaching profession
   • Describe relevant experiences and/or activities that demonstrate ability to successfully complete graduate work at Nazareth College
   • Outline specific procedures that will be followed to successfully navigate and meet the rigorous requirements of graduate study
5. Copy of verification of teacher certification from the TEACH system
6. Two letters of recommendation
7. 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 regardless of the number of outstanding prerequisites. All liberal arts prerequisites must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher and a minimum total cumulative grade point average of 2.7. Official transcript(s) must be on file in the Records and Registration Office. For further information, please refer to Admission Status Types on the application form.

Application Deadlines for Adolescence Inclusive Education and Adolescence/TESOL 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
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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