Admissions to this program have been suspended effective November 2018.
This program prepares certified childhood special educators with knowledge regarding best practices in special education so they can also serve those learners with special needs at the adolescent level. Students will become familiar with research-validated components of development and instruction at the adolescent level. The program meets the academic requirements for initial and professional certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities Generalist (grades 7 - 12).
Teaching is a profession. Certificate students have professional responsibilities to their students, their peers, their classmates and instructors, and to society at large. Students in the program will be working with children and other professionals in educational contexts, including, schools, community centers, and other sites of learning. Their professional responsibilities include following through on commitments made to children and schools, being appropriately prepared and on time for all interactions/lessons, maintaining confidentiality and respect, and interacting with all stakeholders/participants in a professional manner. Professional interactions include everything from dressing appropriately for the situation to maintaining appropriate language both in talking with and talking about others. Failure to meet professional responsibilities can result in a student’s academic dismissal from the program.
Please note: This program is not eligible for federal financial aid.
Admission Requirements
- N.Y. State certification (initial or professional) for Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Childhood level (grades 1 - 6)
- A master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or from an institution authorized by the Board of Regents to confer degrees
- Appropriate required course distributions:
- General Core in Liberal Arts and Sciences: 30 semester hours (including coursework in artistic expression, communication, information retrieval, humanities, Language other than English, written expression)
- Content Core: 30 semester hours in Liberal Arts and Sciences including 6 semester hours in each of the following areas - English Language Arts; Concepts in Historical and Social Sciences; Scientific Processes; Mathematical processes
- Pedagogical Cores: 21 semester hours including Human Development and Learning; Teaching Students with Disabilities; Foundations of Education; Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; 6 semester hours in Teaching Literacy
- Completion of DASA (Dignity for All Students Acts) training
- Completion of Autism requirement
- A 3.0 or better (out of a 4.0) quality grade point average
- Three letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant's teaching or academic work
- A compelling written statement of intent or reason for pursuing the advanced certificate in special education
Degree Requirements (15 credits, 5 courses)
- E Psy 522 Adolescent Psychology (3)
- E Spe 655 Assessment of Students with Disabilities (3)
- E Spe 658 Curriculum & Instruction for Adolescents with Disabilities: Collaboration, Strategies & Co-Teaching (3)
- E Spe 580 Practicum: Teaching Students with Diverse Learning Needs (3)
- Elective - As advised (3)
Please note: This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If you have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of your intended academic program.
As an approved teacher preparation program with the New York State Education Department, there may be additional certification requirements applicable. These requirements may include, but are not limited to additional workshops. Certification procedures and requirements are outlined on the School of Education’s Teacher Certification website.
Federal Licensure/Certification Disclosure
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.
The Adolescent Special Education for Childhood Special Educators AGC program at the University at Albany is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that the Adolescent Special Education for Childhood Special Educators AGC program at the University at Albany meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the additional following U.S. States: none.
It is important to note that the University at Albany is not the licensure/certification authority in other U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in other U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.