Preparation for a career in Adolescence Education (grades 7-12) combines an academic major in a particular field with a minor in education. Middle/Adolescence Specialist subjects include business and marketing (pre K - 12), and biology, chemistry, earth science, English, French, mathematics, physics, social studies, and Spanish (7-12 and 5-9). A minor in Visual Arts (pre K - 12) is also offered. All students completing the program will receive certification in Adolescence Education. It is possible to receive an additional certification to teach Middle Childhood Education by completing additional course work.

Admission to the Minor Education Coursework

Initial Certification Requirements Middle Childhood Certification

Admission to the Minor
Students may apply for admission into the Middle Childhood/Adolescence Education program upon successful completion of their sophomore year. To be admitted, students must

• Complete an academic major in the subject they wish to teach,
• Have the recommendation of their major division,
• Have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average,
• Achieve a 3.0 grade point average in the prerequisite education courses EDUC 230 and EDUC 231,
• Applicants must also take the appropriate New York State Teacher examinations. These state exams are to be completed during the semester the student is enrolled in EDUC 231.

Education Coursework

• Freshman/Sophomore Years (Prerequisites)
  • EDUC 230 Psychological Foundations of Education (3 credits)
  • EDUC 231 Social Foundations of Education (3 credits)
• Junior Year
  • EDUC 345 Education Fieldwork (3 credits)
  • EDUC 405 Literacy in the Content Areas (3 credits)
  • EDUC 413 Using Literature in the Intermediate/Adolescent Classroom (3 credits)
  • EDUC 489 Current Teaching Methods in the Teaching of Adolescent Subjects (3 credits)
• Junior/Senior Year
  • SPED 456 Human Development: Exceptionality
  • EDUC 488 Current Teaching Methods: Middle Childhood Subjects (3 credits) (optional for middle childhood extension certificate)
• Senior Year - Student Teaching Semester
  • EDUC 460 Seminar in Teaching & Professional Development (3 credits)
• EDUC 462 Student Teaching for Middle/Adolescent Certification (12 credits)

In the student teaching portion of the program students will be placed full-time in a school setting (grades 7-12 for secondary and business education students, and K-12 for art education students) for the entire semester.

The program also requires an extensive amount of field-based experience. Students must spend an equivalent of 2.5 hours per week in grades 7-12 classrooms (grades K-12 for art education minors) during the semester prior to the student teaching semester.

Initial Certification Requirements

• Complete the Basic Competencies and Areas of Knowledge required for Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Complete an academic major
• Complete 6 to 8 credit hours (or its equivalent) of college level study in a language other then English
• Complete the following three New York State Teacher Examinations:
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
  • Assessment of Teaching Skill (AST-W)
  • Content Specialty Tests (CST)
    
• Complete two workshops: School Violence Prevention (SAVE) and Child Abuse Identification
• Fingerprinting clearance

Middle Childhood (grades 5 and 6) Certification
Those students who wish to complete additional certification in Middle Childhood must successfully complete all requirements for Middle/Adolescence certification as well as EDUC 488 - Current Teaching Methods: Middle Childhood Subjects.

More Information

Education Division Overview
Education Major/Minor
Faculty Profiles
Careers in Education