Overview
Dr. Susan Schultz, Program Director
Mission
The mission of the Special Education: Adolescence program is to provide a quality educational experience that prepares candidates for distinguished careers in inclusive education and for leadership roles in schools and communities. The special education programs develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions special educators need in order to effectively teach all students, including those with exceptional learning needs.
Adolescence Options in Special Education (Grades 7-12 - Generalist)
M.S. Special Education Dual Initial Certification
Prepares non-certified graduate candidates who are pursuing adolescence initial certification in English, LOTE—French or Spanish, social studies,mathematics, biology, chemistry or physics grades 7–12, and certification to teach students with disabilities at the same developmental level, and results in a Master of Science in Special Education. (42 credits)
Candidates who, at the time of applying, have not yet passed the New York State Content Specialty Test (CST) for the subject-area in which they seek certification are admitted provisionally. This provisional status enables the applicant to take courses for the first semester, during which they must take and pass the CST in order to continue in the program.
M.S. Special Education Initial/Professional (Adolescence)
Prepares teachers who are initially certified in Adolescence Education and are pursuing certification to teach students with disabilities and results in a Master of Science in Special Education. (30 credits)
Special Education Advanced Certification Generalist 7-12
Prepares teachers who have completed the master’s degree requirement and are pursuing certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 7–12. (18 credits)
Admission Requirements
For information regarding application and admission to a graduate program in special education, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or email grad@sjfc.edu.
The Admissions Committee of the Special Education program and the graduate program director review applicant qualifications.
To comply with New York State regulations, all applicants to graduate-level teacher certification (or educational leadership certification) programs that will start on or after July 1, 2016 must provide St. John Fisher College with official scores on the ACT or SAT (if taken within the last 10 years), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Millers Analogy Test (MAT), or the Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST):
- Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) Note: This is also a required certification exam in New York State
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
For specific information regarding the Master of Science in Special Education program, please contact Dr. Susan Schultz, program director, through the School of Education office, (585) 385-7296 or email sschultz@sjfc.edu..