Inclusive Adolescence Education
Master of Science in Education
For current and prospective secondary educators (middle school, junior high, or high school: grades 7-12)
- Program is ideal for someone not yet certified to teach, including recent college graduates or career changers who hold a content-specific degree or major/minor/concentration of 30 credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics, English, math, history/social studies, French, German, Italian, or Spanish and want to become certified to teach that subject and certified in Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist
- Choose the right secondary education master’s degree program option for you — whether you have no previous teaching certification, general-education content certification (grade 7-12), childhood certification (grades 2-6), or professional certification.
- Nazareth also offers an M.S.Ed. in TESOL/Adolescence Education which leads to New York state teacher certifications in both Adolescence Education (grades 7 through 12) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (all grades).
Highlights
Classes on campus one night/week and online
Flexible program, full- or part-time
Complete in as fast as 12 months full-time
Fieldwork in urban, suburban, and rural schools
Initial Certification (42 or 48 credits)
Program is ideal for someone not yet certified to teach, including recent college graduates or career changers who hold a content-specific degree or major/minor/concentration of 30 credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics, English, math, history/social studies, French, German, Italian, or Spanish and want to become certified to teach that subject and certified in Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist
Catalog: Initial certification program requirements (48 credits) and course descriptions »
Catalog: Initial certification program with school district teaching residency (42 credits) »
Additional Certification at the Same Developmental Level (36 credits)
Program is ideal for teachers already certified in adolescence education who want to teach students with disabilities (adding certification for Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist)
Catalog: Additional certification (same level) program requirements and course descriptions »
New convenience: Courses meet one night per week on campus and online.
Additional Certification, Changing Developmental Level (39 credits)
Program is ideal for teachers certified in general education at a younger grade level who meet the content area prerequisites and want adolescence certification in that subject and in Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist
This program provides initial certification in both the content area for this secondary education level (grades 7-12) and in teaching Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist.
Catalog: Additional certification (changing level) program requirements and course descriptions »
New convenience: Courses meet one night per week on campus and online.
Inclusive Education Specialty (30 credits)
Nazareth’s M.S.Ed. Inclusive Education Specialty program is for teachers who hold initial certification in teaching students with disabilities (Birth–grade 2, Grades 1–6, 7–12, or all grades) and either Early Childhood Education (Birth–grade 2), Childhood Education (grades 1–6), or a content area (grades 7–12).
What to Expect
- Nazareth's affordable cost for grad teaching degrees makes this high-demand certification within reach, enabling you to fill a needed teaching position in a school district in the local region or beyond.
- To fit well into your busy life, classes meet only one night per week on campus in the fall, spring, and summer A terms, with additional face-to-face meeting time during summer B. The remainder of the program happens online.
- Nazareth's full-time field placement officer and full-time certification officer provide you with strong support, including prep for certification exams and facilitating hands-on experiences with students. If you're working in a school district, this can include facilitation with your own school district so you can meet degree requirements while keeping your job.
- Individualized program accommodates a wide range of content areas, building on your background.
- Individual advisement is available for program planning and support in applying for N.Y. state certification.
- You have the option to get specialized preparation in teaching students with autism and students with severe or multiple disabilities. Details: Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism (I-SPAN) specialization, Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities annotation.
- Options to become further specialized with a gifted extension or taking a three-course elective sequence to earn a local certificate of specialization in deafness.
- Nazareth's full-time director of clinical experiences and partnerships and full-time certification officer provide you with strong support, including prep for certification exams and facilitating hands-on experiences with students. If you're working in a school district, this can include facilitation with your own school district so you can meet degree requirements while keeping your job.
- Your full-time career coach for education (part of Nazareth's nationally recognized Center for Life's Work) is available for resume, interviewing, and job search guidance.
- Additional guidance and support is available from your individual academic advisor and from the School of Education's director of academic support services.
Why Nazareth?
"My goal was to gain experience and get hired in the teaching field; my undergraduate degree is in biology. My master’s degree has made me more marketable to future employers and showed me that I can set a goal and persevere. I thoroughly enjoyed my field experiences in varied school districts, especially since I'm from a more rural background. Professor Gena Merliss has opened my eyes to the importance of culturally responsive teaching. My advice: If you are working full-time, don’t be afraid to consider going to college part-time; you won’t burn out as quickly and you can put your best efforts into your assignments."
— Gabriella Prusack '25G, a long-term special education substitute teacher at Victor Senior High School while completing her master’s degree
Value of Your Degree
2-for-1
Dual-certification in both general and special education grades 7–12 positions you well for employment.
Outlook
Between 2023 and 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 64,000 job openings each year for high school teachers.
$65,220
Average salary for high school teachers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)
Career Paths
Graduates work as content area teachers who are well prepared for diverse classrooms, and/or special education teachers in roles as consultant teachers, resource room teachers, integrated co-teachers, and self-contained special education classroom teachers.
Making Grad School Affordable
Grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, partner benefits, loans, and undergraduate loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree. Among the Nazareth opportunities: Teacher residency programs provide initial certification seekers with tuition support, a paycheck, co-teaching experience and mentoring. Funding is also available for high-need teachers and teacher candidates from underrepresented populations.
Curriculum Examples
- Strategies for Differentiated Planning Teaching and Assessment for Diverse Secondary Classrooms
- Diverse Adolescent Learners
- Strategies for Teaching Literacy in Adolescent Content Areas
- Individualized Education Programs
- Transition Planning and Services for Adolescents with Disabilities
- Capstone Seminar