Adolescent Teaching: Social Studies 7-12 with Special Education
Medaille College’s B.S. Ed. Degree Program in Adolescent Social Studies Education with Dual Certification in Social Studies 7-12 and Special Education is committed to the academic and professional preparation of highly qualified teachers through rigorous, integrated coursework in the liberal arts and professional studies. The program emphasizes active, experiential learning both inside and outside the classroom through frequent field observation and practice over four years.
The Program is committed to fostering reflective practitioners with demonstrated proficiency in academic content, pedagogy, learning theory, and student development. Its graduates will be well prepared to function effectively in an inclusive classroom, to meet successfully the learning and developmental needs of diverse student constituencies, and to function as capable professionals in a variety of secondary school environments. The program is dedicated to producing teachers who will exhibit intellectual rigor and compassion in the learning environment and who will balance their high expectations for students with appropriate degrees of support and assistance to assure adolescents’ intellectual and personal growth.
Program graduates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, professional attitude, character, and commitment to future students and the teaching profession congruent with New York State and national standards for initial certification and long-term professional success.
Program Goals
The Program has established the following pre-service goals:
- to provide students with individual supervision and assessment during their course work and field experience to assure that each teacher candidate has the opportunity to develop appropriate professional skills;
- to offer a contemporary curriculum that provides majors with the knowledge of subject matter, teaching techniques and basic principles of classroom management;
- to prepare specialized content matter experts who are also strongly grounded in the liberal arts and professional studies;
- to prepare facilitators of learning equipped with multiple methodologies for teaching adolescents;
- to provide majors with an understanding of the foundations of educational practice and the philosophical, historical, social, psychological, and pedagogical principles that guide instructional decisions;
- to prepare teachers who are skilled in professional collaboration and team work;
- to foster graduates who participate in professional growth opportunities as life-long learners and who are potential leaders in community and educational settings;
- to produce graduates able to effectively teach in inclusive and culturally diverse classrooms and to promote learning and healthy development for all adolescents, including those with disabilities and special abilities by planning for remediation, enrichment, and adaptation of materials;
- to prepare graduates who can effectively integrate theory and practice, engage in critical reading and questioning of current theory and research, and be problem solvers;
- to prepare teaches who understand, practice, and model the highest standards of professional behavior and responsibility in their interactions with students, parents and other caregivers, school colleagues, and the community; and
- to produce teachers who will provide informed and thoughtful advocacy for adolescents.
Program Outcomes
The learning outcomes and proficiencies of the B.S. Ed. Degree Program in Adolescent Social Studies Education with Certification in Social Studies 7-12 are arranged in four broad categories: (a) curriculum, (b) pedagogy and learning environment, (c) assessment, and (d) professionalism and relationships.
Graduates of Medaille College’s adolescent teacher certification programs will be able to
Curriculum
- demonstrate proficient knowledge in their professional education and English Language Arts at the 7-12 level;
- demonstrate knowledge of methods of inquiry in English Language Arts at the 7-12 level ;
- relate and integrate English Language Arts at the 7-12 level content knowledge to other disciplinary fields of study;
- construct and deliver appropriate curricula for students;
- teach subject matter accurately;
- teach content from multiple viewpoints; and
- apply disciplinary knowledge to common life experiences.
Pedagogy and Learning Environment
- demonstrate an understanding of the components of effective instruction;
- demonstrate an understanding of how students learn and think about subject content;
- select and apply a variety of teaching methods and educational materials appropriately and effectively according to the needs of various learning groups, individual students’ learning styles, and the goals of each lesson;
- demonstrate knowledge of the developmental needs of adolescents, particularly as it relates to the teaching-learning process and as evidenced by an ability to meet the diverse learning needs of students;
- motivate students to want to learn individually, collaboratively, and cooperatively through a variety of successful teaching strategies;
- integrate media and technology to enhance learning;
- explain and adapt to the influences of society, culture, community, and family on schools;
- demonstrate a comprehension of and adaptability to student diversity: ethnic, gender, social class, race, religion, region, disability, and its implications;
- create an effective, well-managed, positive, and active learning environment with high expectations for student achievement; and
- manage student behavior in positive, safe ways.
Assessment
- keeps records to determine and report student progress;
- evaluate student learning and development through a variety of appropriate formative and summative assessment instruments, including standardized and teacher-constructed tests as well as alternative measures;
- use assessment results to improve student learning, teaching effectiveness, and the learning environment; and
- reflect upon and improve their professional performance based on professional standards, student, peer and supervisor feedback, and best practices.
Professionalism and Relationships
- develop a personal philosophy of education that will serve as a basis for professional decisions;
- demonstrate knowledge of the American public school system;
- practice professional and ethical behavior consistent with recognized educational standards and codes of ethics;
- engage in research, reflection, and life-long learning to assure continued personal and professional development;
- exhibit a genuine sense of responsibility and service to students and teaching, valuing all aspects of students' well being; and
- build collaborative and respectful relationships with colleagues, supervisors, students, parents, and community members.
Credit Distribution
Total Credit Hours: 129
Pedagogy Core (48 Credit Hours)
EDU 234 Adolescent Reader and Writer with Field Work 3
EDU 236 Content Area Literacy with Field Work 3
EDU 340 Issues: Child Abuse, Drug awareness, School Violence 0
EDU 363 Adolescent Teaching: Social Studies Methods with Practica 3
EDU 469 Foundation of Education 3
ESP 230 Introduction to Special Education 3
ESP 276 Positive Behavioral Support Approaches to Classroom Management & Instruction 3
ESP 328 Education and Assessment of Children with Mild to Moderate Disabilities with Practica 3
ESP 338 Educating and Assessing Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities with Practica 3
ESP 400 Integrating the Curriculum: An Educational Collaboration 3
EDU 480 Student Teaching 11
EDU 481 Student Teaching Seminar 1
CIS 165 Computer Applications in Secondary Education 3
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 240 Adolescence 3
Content Core (39 Credit Hours)
ECO 200 Macroeconomics 3
ECO 201 Microeconomics 3
GEO 110 Physical Geography 3
GEO 310 Cultural Geography 3
HIS 100 Western Civilization 3
HIS 101 World Cultures 3
HIS 140 Early United States History 3
HIS 150 Contemporary United States History 3
HIS 315 History of Ethnic America 3
HIS 400 American Historiography 3
HIS 402 The History of New York State 3
POL 100 Introduction to Political Science 3
POL 101 United States Government 3
General Education Requirement (30 Credit Hours)
GEN 110 Ideas and Experiences: Introduction to Critical Thought and Expression 3
GEN 230 Creative Expression 3
GEN 240 Scientific Discovery 3
GEN 410 Baccalaureate Capstone I 3
GEN 411 Baccalaureate Capstone II 3
ENG 110 College Writing II 3
ENG 200 Analytical Writing 3
SPE 130 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
MAT 114 Intermediate Algebra 3
MAT 201 Statistics and Society 3
Liberal Arts Requirements (6 Credit Hours)
ENG 215 Survey of World Literature 3
PHY 104 Physical Science 3
Foreign Language Requirement (6 Credit Hours)
FRE 101 and FRE 102 French I and French II 6
or
SPA 101 and SPA 102 Spanish I and Spanish II 6
