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Adolescence Science Education Master of Arts in Teaching

Office:  Science Center 221E/318
(716) 673-3285
Holly Jon Lawson, Project Coordinator, Fredonia Science Center
Email:  holly.lawson@fredonia.edu
Website: http://home.fredonia.edu/scienceeducation

Program Purpose

This master's 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 N.Y.S. 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 disciplines in their first degree, as well as General Science 7-12 and science in grades 5-6. 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 for the Adolescence Science Education Master of Arts in Teaching degree (44 credit hours)

Pedagogical Core:

EDU 502Psychology of Adolescence

3
EDU 508Teaching Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Settings

3
EDU 301Safe Schools/Healthy Students: Child Abuse and Child Abduction

1
EDU 302Safe Schools/Healthy Students: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse

1
EDU 303Safe Schools/Healthy Students-DASA: Safety Education/Fire and Arson/School Violence

1
Total Credit Hours:9

Literacy:

EDU 528Technology in the Schools

3
Total Credit Hours:6

Plus one course from the following:

EDU 506Introduction to Literacy Instruction

3
EDU 589Writing in the Middle and Secondary Schools

3
Total Credit Hours:3

Methods:

SCED 560Foundations of Teaching Science to Adolescent Learners

3
SCED 660Developing Expertise in Science Teaching

3
SCED 680Inquiry into Science Teaching in Context

3
Total Credit Hours:9

Content:

BIOL, CHEM, GEO, PHY, SCI, SCED: 6 cr hrs of electives, upon advisement

6
Total Credit Hours:6

Supervised Teaching:

SCED 670Student Teaching - Middle School Science

6
SCED 671Student Teaching - Secondary School Science

6
Total Credit Hours:12

Required course for 5-6 extension:

EDU 321Teaching in the Middle School

3
Total Credit Hours:3

Additional requirements for General Science 7-12 extension:

Candidates are required to have completed at least 18 credit hours of study in two sciences outside the area of initial certification.

As of December 31st, 2013, candidates in all education programs are required to complete training under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).  Beginning in the Fall 2013 semester, the training required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) will be included in EDU 303 at Fredonia.  Candidates planning to graduate after Fall 2013 who have already completed EDU 303 on campus or taken a workshop as a substitution for EDU 303 must also complete the EDU DASA workshop prior to graduation.

Total Credit Hours: 45

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 3.00 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 Studies website (http://www.fredonia.edu/gradstudies). 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. Students will be admitted to the program based on the assessment of GPA and letters of recommendation by the Science Education Partnership (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

  • B.S. degree in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, or equivalent; 3.00 GPA overall and in the discipline. Evaluation of transcript by the M.A.T. Coordinator to identify the certification area(s) and any deficiencies that must be addressed through further course work. Identified deficiencies will be outlined in a contract along with a timeline for their completion.
  • Passage of the Content Specialty Test (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. Students should see the following for links to certification examinations (http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/NY_viewSG_opener.asp).
  • Evidence of completing the GRE general exam.
  • Evaluation by the M.A.T. 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:
    1. Statement of research problem
    2. Literature review
    3. Experimental design
    4. Data Collection and organization
    5. Analysis and Interpretation of data
    6. Final Conclusions
    7. Discussion
    8. 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 M.A.T.

Candidates in all education programs are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement must be satisfied in any one of the following ways:

  • Score of 85 percent or higher on New York State Regents Exam or New York State High School Equivalent Exam*: Requirement is fulfilled.
  • Scores of 65 percent - 84 percent on New York State Regents Exam or New York State High School Equivalent Exam*: Student needs to take an Elementary I level course or an Elementary II level course of a language or equivalent course(s), or successfully complete an equivalent Fredonia proficiency exam.
  • Scores below 65 percent on New York State Regents Exam or New York State High School Equivalent Exam*: Student needs to take an Elementary I level course and an Elementary II level course or equivalent course(s) of the same language.
  • If student did not take a New York State Regents Exam or New York State High School Equivalent Exam*: Student needs to take an Elementary I level course and an Elementary II level course or equivalent course(s) of the same language.
Note: The General Education foreign language requirement differs from the certification requirement and must be satisfied for degree conferral.
* High School Equivalent Exam refers to a New York State Local School District Exam or Regional Exam in a Foreign Language.