4 + 1 Degree – BA or BS and MSED in Adolescence Education: Students With Disabilities Catalog
Department Chair: Marya Grande, PhD and Kelly Harper, PhD
Canisius University is now offering a 4+1 (Bachelor's and Master's degree program) for content area majors who wish to become teachers. Content areas include Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, and History. Students in this program are advised as undergraduates to add certain education courses as electives so they are prepared for both Adolescence Education 7-12 certification in their content area and Students with Disabilities (All Grades: PreK-Grade 12) certification.
These programs were created because there is a growing shortage of teachers in Adolescence Teaching Students with Disabilities. Candidates completing this program will earn a BA/BS in their content area and a MSEd, and will be certified to teach in mainstream and special education classrooms.
Grade Requirements
Graduate students enrolled in initial certification programs must achieve a C or above in all course requirements and a B- or above in all graduate program coursework. Failure to meet these requirements will require repeating the course &/or completing additional coursework.
Licensure Disclosure
Canisius University cannot determine whether completion of this program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements outside of New York State for the intended occupation. We advise you to contact your state licensing board or appropriate licensing entity to determine whether the program meets requirements for Professional Licensure in the state where you are located or the state in which you intend to pursue licensure. Please contact the associate dean of your school if you have further questions.
Curriculum
The 4+1 programs offer a BA/BS in the content area as well as a MSEd in Special Education. This 4+1 program also leads to Initial Adolescence certification in the content area as well as Initial certification in Students with Disabilities (All Grades: PreK-Grade 12). Since the program leads to two teaching certificates, candidates must meet the content requirements for both certificates over the course of the five years. In some instances, New York State has additional requirements for certification; for example, all candidates certified to teach Students with Disabilities need two math courses, two English courses, two social studies courses, and two science courses. These are identified as appropriate.
Undergraduate Requirements
An Ignatian Foundation
All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.
Content Areas
BIOLOGY
The Biology major (please see the BIO-MSEd 4+1 Curriculum and Roadmap tabs within the major) meets the biology content requirement for certification in Adolescence 7-12 Biology.
CHEMISTRY
The Chemistry major (please see the Chemistry BS-MSEd 4+1 Curriculum and Roadmap tabs with the major) meets many of the state certification requirements in Chemistry.
ENGLISH
The English major (please see the English-MSEd 4+1 Curriculum and Roadmap tabs with the major) meets the English content requirements for certification in Adolescence 7-12 English.
MATHEMATICS
The Mathematics major (please see the Mathematics BS-MSEd 4+1 Curriculum tab with the major) meets the Mathematics content requirements for certification in Adolescence 7-12 Mathematics.
SOCIAL STUDIES (HISTORY)
The History major (please see the History BA/MSEd 4+1 Curriculum and Roadmap tabs with the major) meets many of the state certification requirements in Social Studies. In addition, Social Studies candidates need to take a course in geography, cultural studies, political science or government, and economics. It may be possible to find a history course that also includes content in one of these areas.
Education Course List:
The education curriculum is provided below. Notice that several foundation courses are taken at the undergraduate level intermingled with other undergraduate requirements. The graduate courses begin at the 500 level and continue until completion. These 4+1 programs can be completed in as little as 5 years if some summer coursework is included.
The education curriculum is provided below for the MSEd portion of the 4+1 programs. Notice that several foundation courses are taken at the undergraduate level intermingled with other undergraduate requirements. The graduate courses begin at the 500 level and continue until completion.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Requirements | ||
| EDS 101 | Human Growth and Social Development: Adolescence | 3 |
| EDS 223 | Foundations of Adolescent Literacy (20 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| EDS 360 | Evaluation and Teaching Strategies (30 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| EDU 250 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDU 356 | Assessment for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| SPE 341 | Inclusive Strategies | 3 |
| Please select one of the following: | 3 | |
EDS 402 | Methods of Teaching English: Adolescence (30 hours of field experience required) | |
or EDS 403 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics: Adolescence | |
or EDS 405 | Methods of Teaching Science: Adolescence | |
or EDS 406 | Methods of Teaching Social Studies: Adolescence | |
| Graduate Requirements | ||
| EDU 595 | Child Abuse Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 596 | Prevention of School Violence Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 597 | Dignity for All Students Workshop | 0 |
| EDU 615 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SPE 580 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| SPE 631 | Reading and Writing Process for Students with Learning and Behavioral Disorders (25 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| SPE 640 | Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (LBD); Etiology and Research Based Interventions | 3 |
| SPE 644 | Collaborative Practices on a Transdisciplinary Team | 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 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| SPE 698 | Seminar in Teaching and Assessment (50 hours of field experience required) | 3 |
| SPE 693 | Student Teaching | 9 |
| SPE 697 | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
| Total Credits | 57 | |