Adolescence Education

The School of Education has undergraduate programs in Adolescence Education in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, English, Geological Sciences, World Language (French or Spanish), Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies (History). Candidates will work toward a B.A. or B.S. Degree in their Liberal Arts major of study as well as eligibility for New York State initial certification in Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12.

Core education courses are taught within the School of Education and the Liberal Arts departments.  Candidates in these degree programs are assigned an academic advisor from the academic department for their major. 

The program is organized into a sequence of four blocks of related courses.  All teacher candidates must complete 100 hours of field experience, as part of the education coursework, prior to student teaching.  The field experience allows candidates to gain practical experience through application of the knowledge from coursework.

Please review the Undergraduate Bulletin regarding the courses required for the Adolescence Education program.  Note that the linked Bulletin is for 2019-2020; students must refer to the Bulletin for the academic year in which they matriculated into SUNY Geneseo.

Program Requirements

For more information, specifically with regards to scheduling, please see the Master Schedule.

Education Coursework

Related Course Requirements

• PSYC 216 Adolescent Development (Certification candidates do not need to take PSYC 100 as a prerequisite to PSYC 216.  For Adolescence certification candidates, INTD 203 counts as a pre- or co-requisite for PSYC 216.)
• EDUC 215 Foundations of Literacy in the Secondary School (Should be taken with Block II or III for experience of lesson planning from the Block courses.  This course has 25 hours of field experience.)
• H&PE 350 Health & Safety Issues in Schools (INTD 203 is a prerequisite for H&PE 350.)

Seminar Requirements 

• Infectious Control Seminar (Blood Borne Pathogens) held two times per semester; candidates are notified through campus e-mail
• Child Abuse Seminar held as part of H&PE 350 as well as one time per academic year outside of H&PE 350; candidates are notified through campus e-mail
• SAVE Seminar held as part of H&PE 350 as well as one time per academic year outside of H&PE 350; candidates are notified through campus e-mail
• Dignity for All Students Act held as part of H&PE 350 as well as one time per academic year outside of H&PE 350; candidates are notified through campus e-mail

Other Requirements

Foreign Language Competency

All initial certification programs require the satisfactory completion of the foreign language requirement. For candidates who entered SUNY Geneseo in 2003 or later, the College language requirement is proficiency through the third semester (201) of a foreign language. The foreign language requirement for certification can be satisfied in any one of the following ways:

• a grade of C- or better in a foreign language course at the 201 level or a score on the foreign language placement test that places the student at the 201 level,
• four units of a foreign language in high school (completion of foreign language sequence through Level IV, one year beyond regents exam) and a grade of 85% or better in the New York State Regents Exam,
• a score of 4 or better on the advanced placement examination in a foreign language, or
• equivalent coursework with a minimum grade of C- transferred from another college

American Sign Language proficiency equivalent to 201 levels also can be used to fulfill this requirement for students seeking teacher certification.

Minimum Competency Requirement

Teacher candidates must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average to continue in a certification program. In addition, a grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses:

Adolescence: INTD 203; EDUC 204, SPED 205; EDUC 215; INTD 301, INTD 302 (FREN 320, SPAN 320); and FORL 101/102/201 (for FORL requirement).

Writing Requirement

Adolescence candidates must meet the requirement in their major department.

Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions Policy

All teacher education programs include a clinical/field component. If you have been convicted of a felony, your criminal history record may impede your ability to complete this program and/or become a NYS certified teacher. Please review the SUNY Geneseo policy.