Adolescence Education (MSEd)
Department Chair: Marya Grande, PhD
Degree: Master of Science in Education
Program Details
The adolescence education program provides the education necessary for teacher certification in grades 7-12. Canisius offers certification in seven disciplines at the adolescence level: English, mathematics, social studies, Spanish, biology, chemistry, and physics. Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree with approximately 36 credit hours in the academic discipline. Candidates must also complete 3 credit hours of study, or the equivalent, of a language other than English. Students who complete certification requirements may complete additional coursework to extend their certification downward to grades 5-6 (see Middle Childhood).
Grade Requirements
Graduate students enrolled in initial certification programs must achieve a C or above in all course requirements and a B- or above in all graduate program coursework. Failure to meet these requirements will require repeating the course &/or completing additional coursework.
Licensure Disclosure
Canisius University cannot determine whether completion of this program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements outside of New York State for the intended occupation. We advise you to contact your state licensing board or appropriate licensing entity to determine whether the program meets requirements for Professional Licensure in the state where you are located or the state in which you intend to pursue licensure. Please contact the associate dean of your school if you have further questions.
Curriculum
Required Courses for Initial Certification in Adolescence Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDAD 502 | Foundations of Adolescent Literacy (includes 30 hours of field experience) | 3 |
| EDU 505 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDAD 534 | Assessment of Student Learning | 3 |
| EDAD 535 | Learning and Human Development: Adolescence | 3 |
| SPE 536 | Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Adolescent Learners | 3 |
| EDAD 572 | Pedagogical Strategies and Methods | 3 |
| EDAD 573 | Applied Content Literacies and Methods | 3 |
| EDAD 593 | Student Teaching: Adolescence | 9 |
| EDAD 594 | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
| EDU 595 | Child Abuse Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 596 | Prevention of School Violence Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 597 | Dignity for All Students Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 615 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Required Certification Exams for Initial Certification
New York State Teachers Certification Exams (NYSTCE)
Certification examination requirements can be found here: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexam.html.
Note: fingerprinting is also required.
Middle Childhood
Candidates wishing to obtain an extension to teach grades 5-6 (thus enabling candidates to teach middle childhood grades 5-9 as well as adolescence grades 7-12) must add a middle childhood extension.
Prerequisites for Adolescence 7-12 Certification in the Content Area:
- English: 30 credit hours are required in English. Topics that need to be covered include linguistics/grammar, American Literature, World Literature, Young Adult Literature, British Literature, and writing/composition (plus electives needed to meet the credit hour requirement)
- Math: 30 credit hours are required in Math. Topics that need to be covered include Calculus I, II, and III, differential equations, abstract math, linear algebra, abstract algebra, geometry, and statistics. (plus electives needed to meet the credit hour requirement)
- Biology: 30 credit hours are required in Biology. Topics that need to be covered include botany, evolution, microbiology, biochemistry, organismal biology, ecology, physiology, cell biology, zoology, genetics, and anatomy. (plus electives needed to meet the credit hour requirement)
- Chemistry: 30 credit hours are required in Chemistry. Topics that need to be covered include inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. (plus electives needed to meet the credit hour requirement)
- Physics: 30 credit hours are required in Physics. Topics that need to be covered include general physics, classical mechanics, nuclear physics, optics, electricity/magnetism, quantum mechanics, electronics, and statistics & thermal dynamics. (plus electives needed to meet the credit hour requirement)
- Social Studies: 30 credit hours are required in Social Studies. Eighteen (18) credits in history are required. Three credits are also required in each of the following areas: geography, political science/government, cultural studies, and economics. The remaining credits can come from other social sciences including psychology or philosophy.
- Spanish: 30 credit hours of study in that language are required *French concentration available to graduate students with 30-credits.
Roadmap
FALL START
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| SPE 536 | EDAD 534 (30 hrs. field experience) |
| EDU 505 | EDAD 572 (30 hrs. field experience) |
| EDU 595 | EDAD 535 |
| EDU 596 | |
| EDAD 502 (20 hrs. field experience) | |
| Second Year | |
| Fall | Spring |
| EDAD 573 (50 hrs. field experience)1 | EDAD 593 |
| EDU 615 | EDAD 594 |
| EDU 597 | |
Note: If Middle Childhood extension is wanted then EMC 552 and EMC 553 can be taken in the summer or added when offered in the Spring and Fall. The classes can be taken after the Student Teaching experience.
- 1
EDAD 573 needs to have the prerequisites of EDAD 572 and EDAD 534
SPRING START
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Summer | |
| EDAD 534 (30 hrs. field experience) | SPE 536 | |
| EDAD 572 (30 hrs. field experience) | EDU 505 | |
| EDAD 535 | EDU 595 | |
| EDU 596 | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| EDAD 502 (20 hrs. field experience) | EDAD 593 | |
| EDAD 573 (50 hrs. field experience)1 | EDAD 594 | |
| EDU 615 | EDU 597 | |
Note: If Middle Childhood extension is wanted then EMC 552 and EMC 553 can be taken in the summer or added when offered in the Spring and Fall. The classes can be taken after the Student Teaching experience.
- 1
EDAD 573 needs to have the prerequisites of EDAD 572 and EDAD 534
Courses
EDAD 502 Foundations of Adolescent Literacy 3 Credits
The theoretical and practical approaches to teaching skills of literacy in a variety of disciplines will be addressed. This course focuses on three strands of literacy teaching for adolescent students: Strategies for developing reading and writing skills in all secondary content areas, methods for teaching reading and writing in inquiry projects and problem based learning and pedagogical practices for integrating critical literacy in all secondary classrooms. Includes language acquisition and literacy development by native English speakers and students who are English Language learners. Also includes skill in developing the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills of all students. 20 hours of field experience required.
Offered: every fall.
EDAD 534 Assessment of Student Learning 3 Credits
This course focuses on impacting student learning using contemporary practices of assessment and assessment-driven instructional planning. Varied assessment measures, especially authentic assessments based on real world tasks will be emphasized. A range of assessment tools to measure and document student learning and growth will be used to drive subsequent instructional planning. 30 hour field experience
Offered: every spring.
EDAD 535 Learning and Human Development: Adolescence 3 Credits
This course focuses on understanding the learning process, both as it develops in the adolescent learner and as it exists in the social setting of the classroom. Topics will include influential learning theories and developmental approaches, cognition, information processing, problem-solving, motivation and classroom management. Skills in applying this understanding to real-life situations will be stressed. Research findings are integrated with each topic. Emphasis is upon grades 7 - 12.
Offered: every spring.
EDAD 572 Pedagogical Strategies and Methods 3 Credits
This course focuses on traditional and contemporary methods of teaching dialogical, collaborative lessons. The use of multimodal and digital tools for developing content area lessons and units will be emphasized. Individual Sections focus on specific content areas. 30 hours of field experience
Offered: every spring.
EDAD 573 Applied Content Literacies and Methods 3 Credits
This course combines theory and reflective practice to integrate and apply curricular, instructional, and evaluative skills in unit planning (aligned with state/national subject-specific standards). Methods for culturally relevant teaching as well as content-specific topics will be emphasized. Fifty (50) hours of field experience will be required. Individual sections focus on specific content areas.
Prerequisites: EDAD 572.
Offered: every fall.
EDAD 593 Student Teaching: Adolescence 1-9 Credits
Requires two supervised teaching placements in schools appropriate to certification level and includes experience in high- needs schools or schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged students.
Prerequisite: successful completion of required education courses and an overall QPA of 3.0. Some school districts may require tuberculosis or other health tests.
Offered: occasionally.
EDAD 594 Student Teaching Seminar 0 Credits
Student Teaching Seminar enhances the student teaching experience through opportunities to foster professional growth and guided reflection on planning, instruction and assessment of learning. The course provides a professional learning community to assist candidates in the transition to careers in teaching.
Offered: occasionally.
EDAD 599 Independent Study 3-6 Credits
Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.
·
EDU 505 Foundations of Education 3 Credits
An examination of the social, historical and philosophical foundations of education intended to provide a framework for understanding contemporary issues in education. Topics may include the role of education in a democratic society; gender, race and class in education; home, school and community relationships; and the organizational structure of education.
Offered: Spring and summer.
EDU 595 Child Abuse Workshop 0 Credits
NYSED requirement for teacher certification.
EDU 596 Prevention of School Violence Workshop 0 Credits
NYSED requirement for teacher certification.
EDU 597 Dignity for All Students Workshop 0 Credits
NYSED requirement for teacher certification.
EDU 615 Research Methods 3 Credits
Candidates will develop an understanding of the research process from formulating a research problem through data analysis and interpretation. Candidates will learn how to critically analyze research studies, discuss ethical considerations in conducting research and discuss the importance of scientific research for educational policy and practice. Each candidate will plan a research project consistent with his/her interests and with the course goals.
SPE 536 Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Adolescent Learners 3 Credits
This course focuses on educating adolescents regardless of their social and cultural backgrounds, language proficiencies, differences in ability and special needs. Social and emotional issues pertaining to an inclusive classroom and school will be discussed in addition to addressing the knowledge, skills and strategies for planning, managing, coordinating and evaluating inclusive teaching and learning environments. Attention will be given to collaboration with parents, specialists, agencies and community organizations as well as laws and policies that serve diverse learners.
