Program Leader: Mrs. Sarah Hackett, 518-564-5124
Email: swea4428@plattsburgh.edu
Sibley Hall, Room 220A
Department Chair:
Dr. Maureen Squires, 518-564-5134
Email: msqui001@plattsburgh.edu
Sibley Hall, Room 323C
The Program
The combined program in adolescence education (grades 7-12) leads to a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and initial certification in one of the following areas: biology, chemistry, Earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, or Spanish. In addition to general education and undergraduate courses in the subject major, students in these programs take an undergraduate, field-based course in education during the sophomore year that introduces them to foundations of education and prepares them for classroom experience. In the eighth semester of full-time study (or equivalent), students may take up to 12 graduate education credits. With careful planning, each program can be completed in five years plus a summer of full-time study. A minimum 108 undergraduate credits is required.
Students in the program are undergraduates and charged undergraduate tuition until the semester that they attempt their 13th graduate credit or meet all academic progress requirements to advance to graduate status, whichever comes first. Graduate course grades of I, W, WC, or E count as credits attempted. Graduate tuition rates apply from then onward, packaged, if applicable, with graduate forms of financial aid. Both degrees are conferred when the program is complete. Students failing program requirements may be either counseled to repeat requirements or transferred into the corresponding subject major in the bachelor’s program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet general college requirements and admission procedures for undergraduate study. (see Admissions section of this catalog). Minimum qualifications for entering freshmen (with less than 28 credits) are an 85 high school average and combined SAT scores of 1050 in critical reading and math. Applicants not meeting admission requirements may enter the corresponding subject area undergraduate degree program and seek to enroll into the B.A./M.S.T. program once minimum requirements are met.
Students with 28-82 credits (from another program at SUNY Plattsburgh or from another institution) and a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA are eligible to transfer into the program.
Monitoring of Student Progress
Accepted students are assigned two advisors, one in the subject area and one in education. If a student falls below standards for GPA 3.00 or professional dispositions, the Academic Progress Committee will review and recommend either remediation or dismissal from the program. Unprofessional behavior or substandard teaching performance can be grounds for dismissal, regardless of GPA. Dismissed students may request readmission and would be considered transfers (see above).
General Education Requirements
Students in the Combined BA/MST Adolescence Education programs must satisfy all requirements for graduation, including General Education requirements, as part of their undergraduate work. The required Education classes in the Adolescence Education combined BA/MST programs do not satisfy the Oral Expression requirement. For a list of approved Oral Expression courses see the General Education section of the most current college catalog.
Requirements for Student Teaching
Students must apply for student teaching in February of the year before the intended student teaching semester. They must also attend one of the application/orientation meetings, complete an application form, and pay an application fee.
Prior to student teaching a student must have completed:
- A minimum of 30 graduate hours at 3.0 GPA or above.
- All required graduate professional education courses through the semester preceding the student teaching experience with no grade below a B.
See additional information about student teaching and teacher certification (including the mandated NYSTCE exams) in the Teacher Education Unit section of this catalog.
Capstone Project
Successfully complete a capstone.
Tuition Liability for Change from Graduate to Undergraduate Program
If a student in a combined program starts a semester at the graduate level and then voluntarily or involuntarily changes programs to an undergraduate program after the date of 100% tuition liability, the change becomes effective in the subsequent semester and the student will continue to be charged the graduate tuition rate until the current semester is complete. If a student in a combined program starts a semester at the graduate level and then voluntarily or involuntarily changes their program to an undergraduate program before the date of 100% tuition liability, the change becomes effective in the current term and the student will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate for the entire semester. The student is also liable for the difference between the graduate and undergraduate tuition rate according to SUNY Tuition Refund Schedule. Financial aid would also change from graduate to undergraduate for the entire semester, and the student would be responsible for any balance resulting from this change.
For more information, contact the program leader, Sarah Hackett, and/or the chairperson of the specific content area.
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