Inclusive Adolescence Education

This program prepares students to teach at the middle and high school levels in a content area and to work with students with disabilities (grades 7-12). Students participate in a program that leads to dual certification in their content area and teaching students with disabilities at the adolescent level. The program enables students to be knowledgeable about the characteristics of preadolescent and adolescent learners, and provides the essential skills and methodologies to enable teachers to create student-focused and engaging lessons that are standards-based. Students who complete this program are recommended to the New York State Education Department for initial teacher certification in one of the following areas:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English Language Arts
• Languages: Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish
• Social studies (major: History)
• Mathematics
• Theatre (dual English Language Arts certification with Theatre option)

Students are also recommended for Students with Disabilities certification, Grades 7-12 Generalist.

Requirements for Admission

Students self-select for admittance into the inclusive adolescence education program. Please note: Students must have a liberal arts and sciences major; they may not major in inclusive adolescence education. Students can self-select at any time from their initial application to Nazareth University through their sophomore year. If a student has completed fewer than 45 credit hours, or has a GPA lower than 2.7, the student is accepted conditionally.

Students can only begin their inclusive adolescent education coursework series when they have reached junior status with a plan to graduate during the following academic year, when they will student teach. Before beginning junior level education coursework, students who have declared their intent to pursue the inclusive adolescence education program will be required to demonstrate their readiness to move forward with an overall cumulative GPA that meets or exceeds 2.7. Students need to maintain a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA, and obtain a grade of “C” or higher in all education courses to progress in the inclusive adolescence education program. Required Education Course Credits: 36.