Master of Science in Inclusive Adolescence Education with Dual Initial Certification Program Requirements Beginning 2025-2026

M.S. in Inclusive Adolescence Education with Dual Initial Certification

Dual initial certification includes:

  • Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
  • Students with Disabilities, All Grades PreK-12

Requirements

The number of credits is indicated in parentheses at the end of each course title. For courses with a clinical experience component, the number of hours required is also designated in parentheses.

Note: Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Courses in which the candidate has earned a grade lower than a “C” must be repeated, which might prolong the duration of the program. All University policies for Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal apply.

Required Courses - 33-36 credits

  • GAED 533 - Field Experience – Adolescence (0) (50 hours)
  • GAED 530- Differentiated Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in Middle School (3)*
  • GAED 54X- Differentiated Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in Content Area (3)
  • GEDU 501 - Issues in Student Health and Safety (0)
  • GEDU 502- Differentiated Curriculum , Instruction, and Assessment (3)
  • GEDU 520 - History and Philosophy of Education (3)
  • GEDU 526 - Diversity, Social Justice, and Schooling (3)
  • GEDU 536 – Growing Minds: Understanding Childhood and Adolescent Development (3)
  • GRDG 507 - Teaching Reading to Diverse Learners in Middle Childhood/Adolescence (3)
  • GRDG 534 - Literacy Instruction in the Content Areas (3)
  • GSED 501 - Inclusive Education in Today's Schools (3)
  • GSED 512 -  Management and Collaboration in the Inclusive Classroom : Adolescence (3)
  • GSED 515-  Education Technology (3)
  • GSED 555 – Field Experience – Students with Disabilities (0) (25 hours)
  • GSED 556 - Field Experience – Students with Disabilities (0) (25 hours)
  • GSED 586 - Student Teaching Seminar: Special Education and Adolescence (0)
  • GSED 591 - Student Teaching: Special Education and Adolescence (3)

*Optional course to add certification extension to grades 5-6

Residency/Apprenticeship Option

The residency program at St. John Fisher University offers graduate-level teacher candidates a yearlong, full-time immersive experience in a classroom leading to their initial NYS teaching certificate. When connected with a registered Apprenticeship, candidates are paid during their graduate program. Residents are hired in collaboration with a partner district and work with an experienced mentor co-teacher for the entire school year, enabling them to apply their graduate-level learning with guidance to their classroom teaching every day. 

Clinical Experiences and Student Teaching

Clinical experiences are required for certification and the master's degree. Candidates must complete 150 hours of clinical experience before student teaching. The semester long student teaching experience may be in any grade between 7th and 12th. It may or may not be in a high-needs school/district. To qualify for student teaching, candidates must:

  • Complete all degree requirements
  • Complete the NYS requirements for the adolescence content area - English, social studies, biology, chemistry, physics, or math, or world languages.

New York State Requirements: Inclusive Adolescence Education

  • Candidates who are seeking the Adolescence and Students with Disabilities (All Grades) Certificates must have an adequate knowledge base for teaching the New York State Learning Standards. This includes completing at least 30 credits in a chosen content area, as well as coursework in math, science, English, and social studies. These requirements must be completed with a grade of C or better for undergraduate courses or a grade of B- or better for graduate courses.
  • Transcripts are reviewed prior to admission to determine adequate preparation for the program. Candidates with inadequate preparation will be required to take additional coursework in these core content areas prior to the student teaching semester.  

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ. Visit the catalog website to access current and past catalogs.