Adolescence Education/Students with Disabilities (All Grades) Catalog
Department Chair:
The Adolescence Education Students with Disabilities All Grades Master of Science Degree program at Canisius is designed for candidates committed to meeting the needs of adolescent learners as well as students with disabilities across all grade levels. The program places a strong emphasis on theory, research and practicum experience. Through the curriculum, candidates develop an understanding of the etiology of disabilities, related psychological and social factors and evidence-based techniques for teaching students with diverse learning needs.
This program prepares candidates for Initial and Professional Certification in Special Education All Grades (PreK-12). Candidates also have the option to pursue a second Initial and Professional Certification in Adolescence Education, grades 7-12 in a specific content area.
Grade Requirements
Graduate students seeking endorsement from Canisius University for certification must achieve a B- or above in all program coursework and a 3.0 or above overall GPA. Failure to meet this requirement will require repeating the course and/or completing additional coursework.
Licensure Disclosure
Before enrolling in any academic degree or certificate program with the intent to seek a professional license or certification in your state, it is vital that you determine whether the academic program will support or fulfill requirements for that license or certification. We advise you to contact the relevant licensing board in states where programs may not automatically meet licensing criteria on their own to determine what other requirements may be needed for professional licensure or certification if you are or will be residing outside New York State. Consult our Professional Licensure Disclosure website for specific information about your intended program.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDAD 502 | Foundations of Adolescent Literacy (20 hours field experience) | 3 |
| EDAD 535 | Learning and Human Development: Adolescence | 3 |
| EDAD 572 | Pedagogical Strategies and Methods (30 hours field experience required) | 3 |
| EDCH 540 | Learning and Development Birth to Grade 6 | 3 |
| EDU 505 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDU 595 | Child Abuse Workshop | 0 |
| SPE 556 | Assessment for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDU 596 | Prevention of School Violence Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 597 | Dignity for All Students Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 615 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SPE 541 | Inclusive Strategies | 3 |
| SPE 580 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| SPE 631 | Reading and Writing Process for Students with Learning and Behavioral Disorders (25 hour Field Exp ) | 3 |
| SPE 640 | Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (LBD); Etiology and Research Based Interventions | 3 |
| SPE 649 | Transition for Adolescents with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPE 650 | Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Etiology & Educational Needs | 3 |
| SPE 652 | Functional Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities and ASD (25 hour Field Exp) | 3 |
| Student Teaching: | ||
| EDU 570 | Pre-Student Teaching (requires 50 hours of field experience) | 3 |
| SPE 692 | Student Teaching | 4.5 |
| SPE 694 | Student Teaching - Placement 2 | 4.5 |
| SPE 697 | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
Course Requirements for Students with Disabilities (SWD) for ALL candidates.
- Six credit hours in English
- Six credit hours in math
- Six credit hours in social studies
- Six credit hours in science
Candidates are required to have a minimum of C in these courses to be eligible for NYS certification.
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.
Candidates are required to have a minimum of C in these courses to be eligible for NYS certification.
Middle Childhood
Candidates wishing to obtain an extension to teach grades 5-6 in their content area must add a middle childhood extension. To acquire the middle childhood extension in a content area, candidates can take EMC 552 and 553 in addition to passing the Content Specialty Test in their content area.
Roadmap
Adolescence/Special Ed Roadmap (Traditional Path)
The roadmap is designed for candidates who plan to take two courses per semester and the courses are listed in the recommended sequence. Candidates who wish to complete the program on a full-time basis may follow the Teacher Residency roadmap below.
Candidates may be required to complete additional prerequisites based on their undergraduate coursework, as there are content requirements for the Students with Disabilities All Grades certificate. Graduate students should also keep in mind that they must be enrolled in at least 4.5 credits per semester toward their degree and certification program to qualify for financial aid.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
| SPE 541 | EDAD 572 (30 hours of required field experience) | EDCH 540 |
| EDU 505 | EDAD 535 | SPE 652 |
| SPE 650 | SPE 640 | |
| EDAD 502 | SPE 631 | |
| EDU 595 | ||
| EDU 596 | ||
| EDU 597 | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| SPE 580 | EDCH 593 | |
| EDU 570 | EDU 598 | |
| SPE 556 | EDU 615 | |
| SPE 649 | ||
Optional Extension Courses
Middle Childhood Extension- 3 credits each
- EMC 552 Human Growth and Development (Online; Offered in Spring)
- EMC 553 Cognition, Learning, Assessment and Diagnostic Teaching (Online; Offered in Fall)
*Candidates must have 30 credit hours in academic content area to qualify for the middle school extension in an area of interest. Content areas include: English, math, biology, chemistry, physics, history or LOTE (Language other than English). Six credit hours each of English, math, science and social studies are also required.