Education: Initial Teacher Certification in Adolescence Education

This program prepares students to teach at the middle and high school levels in a content area with an option of obtaining certification in special education. It enables students to be knowledgeable about the characteristics of preadolescent and adolescent learners, and it provides the essential skills and methodologies to enable teachers to create student-focused and engaging lessons that are standards-based. This teacher certification program was developed in collaboration with academic departments.

Students who complete this program will be recommended to New York State Education Department for initial teacher certification in one of the following areas:
•Biology
•Chemistry
•English (major within English Department or Theatre Department)
•Languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, or Spanish
•Social studies (major: History)
•Mathematics
•Theatre (dual English Language Arts certification with Theatre option)

Students must have a minimum of 30 credit hours in their content area of certification. They must also have two courses in the same foreign language.

Admission Requirements: Qualified sophomores and juniors preparing for a teaching career may be admitted to the School of Education when they are recommended by the department chairperson of their academic major and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 and satisfy the interview requirements of the major department and of the School of Education. Please note: Students must have an academic major; they may not major in adolescence education.
Required Education Course Credits: 31-34 credits

Required Courses for Adolescence Education

Single Certification Option

The single certification program leads to a certification in a content area: Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Theatre (English Certification), Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish 7-12.

The program is designed to provide the knowledge base to support student learning in content areas at the adolescence level, as well as to specifically meet the needs of all students by means of effective instruction.

The following course is required for the single certification option in addition to the required courses listed below for both options. This course is taken during the senior year.

INAD 501 Introduction to Diverse Learners and Learning

Dual Certification Option

The dual certification program leads to the following certifications in a content area: Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Theatre (English Certification), Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish 7-12. AND Students with Disabilities, Generalist (Gr. 7 - 12).

The program is designed to provide the knowledge base to support student learning in content areas at the adolescence level, as well as to specifically meet the needs of students who have special education needs in grades 7-12 by means of differentiated instruction and collaborative teaching.

The dual certification program requires 6 credits of each of the following: English, Mathematic, Science and Social Studies which are part of the liberal arts core requirements.

The following courses are required for the dual certification option in addition to the required courses listed below for both options.

Note: Summer tuition is required (May and June)

ADIN 440 - Foundations of Teaching Secondary Students With Disabilities
Credits: 3
ADIN 441 - Curriculum and Instruction for Diverse Secondary Learners
Credits: 3
Note: Requires 30 days of practicum experience in schools as part of ADIN 441.

Required Courses for Both Options

SPF 204 - History and Philosophy of Education Credits: 3
ADOL 030 - Orientation for Professional Semester Credits: 0
ADOL 410 - Principles of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment for Diverse Secondary Learners Credits: 3
LST 301 - Language, Literacy, and Culture Credits: 3
EDU 475 - Health Education, Child Abuse, and Violence Prevention Workshop Credits: 0
EDU 485 - Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training) Credits: 0
ADOL 476 - Designing and Maintaining Positive Learning Environments Credits: 2
ADOL 477 - Literacy Instruction for Diverse Secondary Learners Credits: 3
ADOL 478 - Reflective Seminar Credits: 2
ADOL 480 - Adolescent Development and Youth Leadership Credits: 3
Student Teaching and Curriculum Methodology: These courses hold the academic department acronym. These courses are numbered 457 (3 credits), Curriculum Methodology: Middle School and Senior High in their area of certification and 479 (6 credits), Student Teaching or professional semester in their area of certification (Ex: HIS 457 or MTH 457).