Grades 7-12
Contact Person:
William Doody, Program Coordinator
215 Satterlee, (315) 267-2530 (doodywj@potsdam.edu)
The Adolescence Education Program for teaching science meets the current The New York State Education Department’s regulations on Teacher Education, the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, and the National Science Teachers Association standards, and was developed based on Advisory Board recommendations and alumni feedback. The program leads to Initial/Professional certification in Adolescence Education, Science (biology, chemistry, earth science or physics).
Requirements for Admission
Additional Degree Information
Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the Policies and Procedures in the Graduate Catalog, focusing on the specific information related to education programs.
All candidates are required to complete successfully a Culminating Experience (GRED 670) in the School of Education and Professional Studies designed to synthesize their academic experiences.
While not required for degree completion, candidates are required to complete all New York State teaching requirements to earn certification. This will include enrollment in HLTH 230 School Health (CA, SAVE) and passing all applicable New York State Teacher Certification Exams: Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teacher Skills–Written (ATS–W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST: Physics, Biology, Earth Science or Chemistry).
Student progress is carefully monitored throughout the program based on demonstration of appropriate knowledge, skills and dispositions. Students are provided with information on program expectations in their first semester. Students not making satisfactory progress will be counseled by their adviser and may be dropped from the program.
Course Requirements
A minimum of 47 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for the granting of the Master of Science in Teaching, Adolescence Education, Science degree. Additionally, candidates will complete HLTH 230 (2 credits) to satisfy certification requirements for a total of 49 credit hours. The 49 credit hours are divided as follows:
| Required Courses | 30 |
| GRED 502 Issues in Science–Technology–Society | 3 |
| GRED 556 Reading in the Middle and Secondary School | 3 |
| GRED 557 Writing in the Middle and Secondary School | 3 |
| GRED 571 Science Education Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| GRED 603 Seminar: Teaching in the Secondary School | 3 |
| GRED 610 Advanced Secondary Science Education | |
| OR GRED 533 Outdoor Activities for Teaching Science, substituted with prior adviser approval | 3 |
| GRED 677* Development and Learning in Adolescence | 3 |
| GRED 672 Science, Curricula, Programs and Standards | 3 |
| GRED 673 Secondary Science Field Work | 3 |
| SPED 505 Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| * GRED 677 is required if the candidate’s undergraduate work does not include a course in developmental, adolescent or educational psychology. If the candidate has previously satisfied the GRED 677 requirement, then a second elective will be selected with prior adviser approval. | |
| Education Elective | 3 |
| One of the following electives selected with prior adviser approval: | |
| GRED 530 Classroom Management and Discipline | 3 |
| GRED 544 Co-operate to Educate | 3 |
| GRED 670 Culminating Experience | 3 |
| IT XXX Technology course | 3 |
| Certification Requirement | 2 |
| HLTH 230 School Health (CA, SAVE) | 2 |
| Student Teaching | 14 |
| GRED 676 Student Teaching Seminar: Policies and Practice in American Education | 2 |
| GRED 692 Supervised Clinical Experience/Student Teaching (7–9) | 6 |
| GRED 697 Student Teaching in the Senior High School (10–12) | 6 |
| Total credit hours | 49 |
| Full-time Sample Schedule for MST Adolescence, Science | |
| Summer I GRED 556 GRED 672 GRED 677 SPED 505 | |
| Fall I Practicum GRED 502 GRED 557 SPED 571 GRED 603 SPED 673 | |
| Spring I Student Teaching GRED 676 GRED 692 GRED 697 | |
| Summer II GRED 610 Elective | |
| Candidates considering part-time study should contact their adviser. Note: Undergraduate students interested in pursuing one of the BA/MST options to secure certification in secondary science, should consult the Undergraduate Catalog for details on this combined program. | |