Program Purpose

This masters program is intended for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, geosciences, or physics (or equivalent) and who wish to earn a certificate to teach in grades 7-12 in NYS public schools.    This accelerated (15 month) program will provide all of the required course work, field experiences and student teaching as well as selected courses in the content areas so that graduates will be eligible for both initial and professional certification in the science discipline in their first degree.  This provides an opportunity to fulfill a regional need for qualified science teachers from nontraditional sources such as content majors or individuals considering a second career.

 

Program Structure and Content

The academic content contains a pedagogical core, literacy and language acquisition courses, method courses specific to the teaching of science, use of technology to enhance learning and assist student with special needs, assessment, teaching scholarship and science content courses.

 

Program Requirements                                                                                Hours

Pedagogical Core

EDU 502 Psychology of Adolescence                                                           3

EDU 508 Teaching Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings                            3

EDU 301 Child Abuse and Neglect                                                                1

EDU 302 Drugs and Alcohol                                                                                     1

EDU 303 Fire Safety and Violence Prevention                                              1

 

Literacy                                  

EDU 536 Adolescent Literature and Technology                                           3

one of the following other courses                                                                  3

EDU 506 - Introduction to Literacy Learning

EDU 586 - Content Area Literacy

EDU 587 Psychological Foundations of Literacy

 

Methods

SCED 560 Foundations of Teaching Science to Adolescent Learners           4*

SCED 660 Developing Expertise in Science Teaching                                   4*

SCED 680 Inquiry into Science Teaching in Context                                     3

                       

Content

BIO, CHEM, GEO, PHY, SCI, SCED electives, upon advisement            6

                       

Supervised Teaching

SCED 670 Student Teaching: Middle School                                                6

SCED 671 Student Teaching: High School                                                    6

Total Hours for Degree                                                                                   44

 

May include additional hours at the graduate or undergraduate level for candidates who want to  

  also qualify for the general science 7-12 extension or multiple certificates.

* includes 50 hours of field experience each in middle and high school

Ideal Course Schedule

 

 

Summer Year I		FALL		January Term
COURSE TITLE	Credits	COURSE TITLE	Credits	COURSE TITLE	Credits
EDU 508 Exceptional Learner	3	SCED 560  Foundations of Teaching Science to Adolescent Learners* (1st half of semester)	4	EDU 301 Child Abuse and Neglect	1
EDU Literacy or Content Elective	3	SCED 660  Developing Expertise in Science Teaching* (2nd half of semester)	4	EDU 302 Drugs and Alcohol	1
EDU  Literacy	3	EDU 502 Psychology of Adolescence	3	EDU 303  Fire Safety and Violence Prevention	1
Total Credits	9	Total Credits	11	Total Credits	3

 

Spring		Summer Year  II
COURSE TITLE	Credits	COURSE TITLE	Credits
SCED 680 Inquiry into Science Teaching in Context	3	Content Elective or EDU Literacy	3
SCED 670 Student Teaching: Middle School†	6	Content Elective	3
SCED 671 Student Teaching: High School†	6
Total Credits	15	Total Credits	6

 

*Field-based course with middle and high school placements (50 hrs each)

†Student Teaching

 

Criteria and procedures for admission

Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, geosciences, or physics or the equivalent and have an overall GPA of 2.75 in their undergraduate program; two recent (within last six months) letters of recommendation are required.  General admission requirements can be found at the Application Procedures section of the Graduate Web site (http://www.fredonia.edu/gradstudies/gradapp.asp).  In general, students are expected to apply by January 15 to begin the program the next summer.  The program is designed for students to take a sequence of courses starting one summer and through to the end of the next summer.  Some allowance, upon advisement, may be given for certain courses to be taken out of sequence or on a part time bases.   Student will be admitted to the program based on the assessment of GPA and letters of recommendation by the SEP Graduate Committee.   A transcript screen tool will be employed to determine content course deficiencies and requirements for any dual certifications or the general science 7-12 extension.

 

 

Admission to the Program

·      BS degree in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, or equivalent; 2.75 GPA overall and in the discipline.  Evaluation of transcript by the MAT Coordinator to identify the certification area(s) and any deficiencies that must be addressed through further coursework.  Identified deficiencies will be outlined in a contract along with a timeline for their completion. 

·      Passage of the CST in the disciplinary area.  If candidate has not taken/passed the CST then candidate must pass exam and have results in hand during the fall semester.  See the following for links to certification examinations (http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/NY_viewSG_opener.asp)

·      Evaluation by the MAT Coordinator of knowledge of research and investigation in science.  Candidate must demonstrate knowledge in this area by one of the following four methods:

1.     Candidate has taken a graded course that addresses the competencies required:

A.   Statement of research problem

B.    Literature review

C.    Experimental design

D.   Data Collection and organization

E.    Analysis and Interpretation of data

F.    Final Conclusions

G.   Discussion

H.   Report

For instance, Fredonia B.S. Science Majors often participate in undergraduate research experiences that gives them experiences that meet the knowledge of research competencies.

2.     Candidate describes in detail ONE research project where all of the requirements (A-H above) were addressed.  Candidate will provide evidence (e.g. a research report, notebook, published paper, etc.) in support of meeting this requirement.

3.     If candidate’s current occupation involves experiences that address the requirements (A-H above), then the candidate provides a narrative explaining how s/he has met those requirements.  At least one writer of a letter of recommendation should address this explicitly in their reference letter.

4.     If no experience/course meets this requirement then candidate will be required to take a research course/experience as part of their curriculum in the MAT. 

• Evaluation of Foreign Language Requirement.  This requirement must be satisfied in

any one of the following four ways: (1) completion of course work at the 116 level at SUNY Fredonia, (2) transferring of two successful college semesters, (3) scoring at the 50^th percentile or higher on the CLEP exam, or (4) completion of three years of high school language with a passing Regents score (65 or higher).  If not met on entrance this requirement must be completed by the end of the spring semester.