Annotation and Extensions

Annotations and Extensions are offered for students who currently hold teacher certification and seek to extend their certification to a new area or to deepen their understanding in their current certification area.

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/

DASA/Bullying Workshop
Per NYS requirements, all candidates in teacher certification programs must show completion of this mandated workshop. Students pursuing additional/professional certification must have this in place either through a workshop that is verified on TEACH, or through a completed state-approved course linked to their initial certification program.

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

Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth University Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2051 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or naz.edu/education/teacher-certification

Academic Requirements
In keeping with Nazareth University and New York State Education Department regulations, all students completing an approved annotation, extension, or certification-only program must meet the following standards:

• Students must earn a minimum grade of B or higher in each and every course that is part of the annotation/extension or certification-only program, or the college will not recommend the student to the New York State Education Department for the program in question.
• The overall GPA within the annotation/extension or certification-only program must be a 3.0 or higher. For example, if a student is enrolled in or has completed a master’s degree program with an overall GPA of 3.2, but has earned a GPA of 2.9 in pursuit of an annotation/extension or certification-only program, the student will not be recommended to the New York State Education Department for the annotation/extension or certification in question.
• Graduate students must adhere to all graduate probation policies; within those guidelines students may have an opportunity to repeat selected coursework to achieve a grade of B or higher and/or an overall GPA of 3.0 within the annotation/extension or certification-only program of study.

---

BILINGUAL EXTENSION
Program Description: This program of study focuses on bilingual education. Teacher candidates who successfully complete this program will extend their New York State Teacher Certification to allow them to teach in bilingual settings of their original certification. For example, if a teacher is certified at the childhood level, the bilingual extension will extend their certification to include bilingual childhood level teaching.

Admission Requirements:

1. Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
2. Two personal-professional statements as described on the application form: one in English, the second in Spanish
3. One letter of recommendation that must address your commitment to working with English Language Learners in the field of education
4. Proof of teacher certification

Required Course Credits:

• 12 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Cindy McPhail
Golisano Academic Center, Room 294
(585) 389-2607
cmcphai2@naz.edu

Bilingual Extension Program Requirements (12 credits)

• BIL 640 Teaching Content Areas in Spanish Bilingual Classrooms Credits: 3  (20 hours fieldwork required, except CSD and TESOL students who need 25 fieldwork hours)
• BIL 641 Native Language Arts and Literacy Instruction for Spanish Speakers Credits: 3  (15 hours fieldwork required, except CSD and TESOL students who need 25 fieldwork hours)
• TSL 603 Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3  (20 hours fieldwork required)
• TSL 604 Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education Credits: 3  

---

ESOL Certification-Only Program
Program Description: Teacher candidates who currently hold NYS teaching certification and have completed a master’s degree, and who are seeking to earn ESOL Certification are eligible for this program.
*Note: The New York State Education Department requires 12 credit hours of a language other than English for ESOL Certification. This prerequisite must be met prior to Nazareth being able to recommend candidates for ESOL certification.

Admission Requirements:

1. Current NYS teacher certification
2. Completion of master’s degree

Approval Process

• Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/ for the ESOL Certification-Only Program and submit at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Required Attachments

• An official transcript from the college where you completed your highest degree;
• A copy of your NYS teacher certification if available, or other printed documentation indicating that you hold certification (this may include a screenshot from your TEACH website profile demonstrating your completed certifications);
• A personal professional statement (details listed on approval form);
• Once approval has been granted for the ESOL Certification-Only Program, meet with Program Director for advisement and registration.

Payment - Students must be prepared to pay for the course(s) at the time of registration. Details of payment options can be found on the Student Accounts website.

Required Course Credits:

• 18 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Rui Cheng
Golisano Academic Center, Room 297
(585) 389-2441
rcheng9@naz.edu

ESOL Certification-Only Program Requirements (18 credits)

• TSL 603 Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)
• TSL 604 Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education Credits: 3  
• TSL 605 Culture and Context in TESOL/Bilingual Curriculum and Assessment Credits: 3  
• TSL 611 Principles and Practices of TESOL Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)
• TSL 620 Language and Literacy Development for English Language Learners Credits: 3  
• TSL 635 Practica and Seminar in TESOL Credits: 3  or advisor-approved three-credit elective

---

GIFTED EDUCATION EXTENSION
Program Description: This is a distance education, nine-credit hour graduate level program designed for certified teachers who are interested in working with students who are gifted and talented, and would like to receive an extension certificate in this area. The program focuses on deepening teachers’ understandings of students with gifts and talents, of designing curriculum and differentiated learning experiences for students with gifts and talents, and of gifted education in the context of school organization and community.

Teachers who successfully complete this program will receive an extension on their New York State Teacher Certification:  Extension in Gifted Education

Admission Requirements:

1. Enrollment in a Master of Science in Education degree program at Nazareth University.

OR

1. Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
2. Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
3. Proof of teacher certification

Required Course Credits:

•   9 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Shirley Sommers
Golisano Academic Center, Room 200B
(585) 389-2958
ssommer4@naz.edu

Gifted Education Extension Program Requirements (9 credits)

• GTE 550 Introduction to Gifted and Talented Education Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)
• GTE 560 Curriculum and Instruction for Individuals with Gifts and Talents Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)
• GTE 650 Gifted Education in the School Organization and Community Credits: 3  

---

TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES ANNOTATION
Program Description: This program of study focuses on deepening students’ understandings of teaching students with severe or multiple disabilities. Students focus on “Students with Challenging Behaviors,” based on an inclusive strength-based perspective.

Students who successfully complete this program will receive an annotation on their New York State Teacher Certification: Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities

Admission Requirements:

1. Enrollment in an Inclusive Education Program at Nazareth University (no additional approval or forms required).

OR

1. Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
2. Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
3. Proof of teacher certification in Students with Disabilities

Required Course Credits: 6 credit hours

Students may take these courses as elective credit within the Inclusive Education: Additional Certification, Same Developmental Level  Programs, and Childhood and Adolescence Education Professional programs. Completion of this annotation can also fulfill degree requirements in the Professional Program in Inclusive Adolescence Education.

Program Director:
Dr. Kerry Dunn
Golisano Academic Center, Room 229
(585) 389-5138
kdunn4@naz.edu

Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities Program Requirements (6 credits)

• SMD 650 Seminar in Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors in Inclusive Settings Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)
• SMD 651 Teaching Students With Moderate and Severe Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors Credits: 3  (25 hours fieldwork required)

 

---

 

LITERACY Certification-Only Program

Program Description: Teacher candidates who currently hold NYS teaching certification and have completed a master’s degree, and who are seeking to earn Literacy Certification in Grades PK-12 are eligible for this program.

Admission Requirements:

1. Current NYS teacher certification
2. Completion of master’s degree

Approval Process

• Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/ for the Literacy Certification-Only Program (Grades PK-12) and submit at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Required Attachments

• An official transcript from the college where you completed your highest degree;
• A copy of your NYS teacher certification if available, or other printed documentation indicating that you hold certification (this may include a screenshot from your TEACH website profile demonstrating your completed certifications);
• A personal professional statement (details listed on approval form);
• Once approval has been granted for the Literacy Certification-Only Program, meet with Program Director for advisement and registration.

Payment - Students must be prepared to pay for the course(s) at the time of registration. Details of payment options can be found on the Student Accounts website.

Required Course Credits:

• 15-21 credit hours - Up to six credit hours may be transferred in with program director approval if taken within the past five years and if appropriate to the certification program.

Program Director:
Dr. Laura Jones
Golisano Academic Center, Room 289
(585) 389-2634
ljones1@naz.edu

Literacy Education Program Requirements, Grades PK-12 (21 credits)

• LTED 600 Foundations of Literacy Credits: 3  
• LTED 609 Linguistics and Language Acquisition for The Literacy Specialist Credits: 3  
• LTED 612 Literacy and the Diverse Learner Credits: 3  
• LTED 604 Literacy Methods Across the Curriculum Credits: 3  
• LTED 643 Introduction to Literacy Assessment, Evaluation, and Instruction Credits: 3  
• LTED 644 Advanced Literacy Assessment, Evaluation, and Instruction Credits: 3  
• LTED 645 Campus-Based Practicum Credits: 3