Barbara Burns, Chair; Ali Ait Si Mhamed, M. Fernanda Astiz, Nancy M. Bailey, Suzanne Borowicz, Betsy DelleBovi, Lorreine DiCamillo, Janet M. Ferguson, Kristin E. Finn, Roberto Gregorius, Paul Nochelski, S.J., H. Jeanette Willert, Tonja Williams
The adolescence education program provides the education necessary for teacher certification in grades 7-12. Canisius offers certification in ten disciplines at the adolescence level: English, mathematics, social studies, French, German, Spanish, biology, chemistry, physics and business. Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree with 36 credit hours in the academic discipline, except for social studies which requires 51 credit hours. 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).
| Required courses for initial certification in adolescence education | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EDAD 598 | Professional Seminar | 0 |
| EDAD 502 | Foundations of Literacy Instruction (includes 30 hours of field experience) | 3 |
| EDAD 503 | Literacy in the Secondary School* | 3 |
| EDU 505 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDAD 534 | Teaching Strategies & Assessment: Adolescence* | 3 |
| EDAD 535 | Learning & Human Development: Adolescence | 3 |
| EDAD 536 | Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDAD 561-566 | Methods of Teaching: Adolescence (EDAD 561 Business, EDAD 562 English, EDAD 563 Mathematics, EDAD 564 Modern Languages, EDAD 565 Science, EDAD 566 Social Studies) | 3 |
| EDAD 537 | Advanced Methods of Teaching: Adolescence (70 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| EDAD 593** | Student Teaching: Adolescence | 12 |
| EDAD 594** | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
| EDU 595** | Child Abuse Seminar | 0 |
| EDI 596** | Prevention of School Violence Seminar | 0 |
| ** These four courses are co-requisites during the student teaching term. | ||
| *Business & Marketing Education candidates replace EDAD 503 and EDAD 534 with: | ||
| EMC 552 | Human Growth & Development: Middle Childhood | 3 |
| EMC 553 | Cognition, Learning, Assessment: Middle Childhood | 3 |
Required Certification Exams for Initial Certification:
New York State Teachers Certification Exams (NYSTCE)
- LAST: Liberal Arts and Science Test (must be taken prior to student teaching)
- ATS-W: Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (Elementary)
- CST: Content Specialty Test (Multi-Subject)
For Professional Certification, candidates must complete the master’s degree within five years of certification and teach for three years.
| Additional courses for Masters Degree in Adolescence Education | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EDAD 538 | Contemporary Issues in the Methods of Teaching (select one): | 3 |
Social Sciences & Education OR |
||
| EDAD 616 | Research Methods (select one): | 3 |
Social Sciences & Education OR |
||
Students will complete EDAD 538 and EDAD 616 by taking courses from the same strand, i.e., Social Sciences & Education or New Literacies.
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 take the following additional courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EMC 552 | Human Growth and Development: Middle Childhood | 3 |
| EMC 553 | Cognition, Learning, Assessment: Middle Childhood | 3 |
Graduate Adolescence Course Descriptions
EDAD 502 Foundations of Literacy 3 credits
This course introduces effective instructional approaches to literacy instruction in the 21st century. Both theoretical and practical approaches to teaching skills of literacy in a variety of disciplines will be addressed. Focus will be on reading, researching and implementing these theories and practices and observing teachers and students engaged in literacy learning. Thirty hours of field experience will be required.
EDAD 503 Literacy in the Secondary School 3 credits
This course examines the special problems in reading and the effective application of literacy skills as tools for learning content encountered in the secondary school. Topics to be discussed as they relate to the secondary school will include the reading process, reading skills, and techniques for assessing and developing reading skills. Special emphasis will be placed on critical reading, study skills, and reading in the content area.
EDAD 534 Teaching Strategies and Assessment : Adolescence 3 credits
This course examines the relationships linking lesson planning, test construction and assessment techniques. Assessment techniques will be guided by New York State and Ontario learning standards. Basic descriptive statistics will be introduced, along with table of specifications, test reliability, validity and item analysis. Technology will be used to simulate evaluations and statistical analysis and illustrate various instructional strategies. Teaching strategies such as cooperative learning, small and large group instruction and questioning techniques will be addressed.
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, 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.
EDAD 536 Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners 3 credits
This course focuses on understanding the need for including all students in adolescence education, regardless of their social and cultural backgrounds, 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.
EDAD 537 Advanced Methods of Teaching: Adolescence 3 credits
This field experience seminar course focuses on the broader responsibilities required in student teaching. Emphasis will be placed on beginning to plan and teach lessons, as well as continuing to observe cooperating teachers. Seminars will provide opportunities for professional reflection with workshop experiences on topics related to teaching for diversity and social justice. Seventy hours of field experience will be required.
EDAD 538 Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences 3 credits
This course explores current topics in education within a seminar-style format. Through this exploration, issues of lasting educational relevance and value will be identified, researched, presented, evaluated, and critiqued. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical thinking skills and effective public speaking. Adaptation of material to appropriate areas of study allows for the student to concentrate upon and specialize in a particular field of interest.
EDAD 538 Contemporary Issues in New Literacies Methods 3 credits
This course addresses the unique opportunities and challenges faced by all content area teachers in today’s multimodal, global economy. Hands-on experience with new media and investigation of New Literacies theories will be addressed.
EDAD 561 Methods of Teaching Business: Adolescence 3 credits
This class emphasizes writing lesson plans and unit plans, instructional methods and strategies, evaluation practices, developing curriculum, and classroom management techniques. These educational concepts will be applied to teaching high school business classes.
EDAD 562 Methods of Teaching English: Adolescence 3 credits
This course combines theory and practice to encourage sound, researchbased pedagogical strategies for the teaching of English Language Arts for middle and high school students. Focus will be on available teaching materials and multiple approaches to teaching literature, writing, grammar and language development, as well as on technology integration. Effective lesson planning and unit planning will be emphasized.
EDAD 563 Methods of Teaching Mathematics: Adolescence 3 credits
This course combines theory and practice to encourage sound, researchbased pedagogical strategies for teaching mathematics to middle and high school students. Focus will be on available teaching materials and multiple approaches to teaching, including technology applications. Effective lesson construction and unit planning will be emphasized.
EDAD 564 Methods of Teaching Modern Languages: Adolescence 3 credits
This course addresses methods of planning effective lessons and units. Through a research-based combination of theory and practice, methods, curricula, materials and assessment for instruction of methods of teaching modern languages will be examined. Using multiple approaches to teaching, students will examine strategies of teaching their target languages with emphasis on target cultures. Authentic assessment of lessons and units as well as technology integration in the modern language classroom will be emphasized.
EDAD 565 Methods of Teaching Science: Adolescence 3 credits
This course focuses on developing a rich intellectual life through study, reflection and practice. Discussions will be on philosophy of science and pertinent education psychology theories as applied to science teaching. Current research-based science teaching techniques will be emphasized. The course is designed to align with the National Science Teachers Association science teacher standards and requires a working knowledge of at least one science discipline.
EDAD 566 Methods of Teaching Social Studies: Adolescence 3 credits
This course addresses the objectives, methods, curricula, materials, and assessment necessary for teaching social studies at the secondary level. Topics such as teaching for democratic citizenship, authentic assessment, culturally responsive teaching, and technology in the social studies classroom will be examined. Various instructional strategies will be modeled and practical assignments and experiences will be included.
EDAD 598 Professional Seminar
This noncredit course introduces students to the Adolescence Education program and provides important information to successfully complete the program. Focus will be on topics such as program description, course sequence, academic integrity, students’ expected dispositions, New York State’s code of ethics for teachers, field experience hours, electronic portfolio (TaskStream), common assignments and certification requirements.
EDAD 616 Research Methods in Social Sciences 3 credits
This course focuses on understanding the research process from formulating a research problem through data analysis and interpretation. Emphasis will be placed on learning to critically analyze research studies, discuss ethical considerations in conducting research, and the importance of scientific research for educational policy and practice.
EDAD 616 Research Methods in New Literacies 3 credits
This course focuses upon the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological ideas that are shaping the emerging field of New Literacies. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the research process by engaging in an educational inquiry project. This will include formulating an essential question related to new forms of literacy that are created online or with other digital tools; learning to use online research methodology while collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; and making use of multimodal forms of communication and representation to report research findings.
EDU 505 Foundations of Education 3 credits
This course introduces the historical, sociological, philosophical, and legal foundations of education in the United States. Topics will include a broad overview of teaching as a profession, an understanding of the role of education in a democratic society, issues of race/class/gender, the rights and responsibilities of teachers and students, home/school/community relationships, educational reform and other current issues.
EMC 552 Human Growth and Development: Middle Childhood 3 credits
This course stresses the understanding of major concepts, principles, theories and research related to the intellectual, emotional, physical, social and moral development of young adolescents. Attention will be on productive learning environments where developmental differences are respected and supported and individual potential is encouraged.
EMC 553 Cognition, Learning and Assessment: Middle Childhood 3 credits
This course presents concepts, standards and research related to middle level curriculum development, stressing the importance of a curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative and exploratory. Topics will include interdisciplinary middle level curriculum standards, models and assessment strategies.