The best English teachers strengthen the connections among their students, and between their students and the world at large. They support students’ imagination and critical thinking through the study of literature and media, and they support the development of students’ voices through speaking, listening, and writing. The gifts of an outstanding English teacher are a lifelong love of reading and writing along with the skills to make a difference in the world.
The Undergraduate Adolescence Education Competency-Based Teacher Education Program Outline of Education Course Requirements for Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12) Initial Certification.
Admission Requirements to the Program
- 3.0 overall GPA in College course work
- >Grade of B or better in Basic Communication course(s).
- Complete the undergraduate program application
Requirements for Student Teaching*
- Grade of B or better in Methods Course
- Approval of Coordinator and Chair
Student Teaching is a capstone experience for all undergraduate teacher candidates seeking a bachelor's degree. It is a full-time commitment extending for an entire semester with placements in two different settings. The School of Education requires that all required coursework is completed BEFORE the capstone experience begins, and it restricts candidates from taking any other course(s) while registered for Student Teaching except the co-requisite fieldwork 3 and the Student Teaching Seminar.
Adolescence Education students must have a 3.0 GPA to register for the Methods course in their academic discipline. Students unable to meet this GPA prerequisite will be advised to change their major so they can graduate in a timely manner.
*These requirements are baseline only. Education program enrollments can be more competitive, depending on the number of applicants.
Pedagogical and Disciplinary Expertise
The curriculum focuses on core pedagogical concepts and methods, complemented by upper-division electives taught by Department of English faculty. The program offers small classes led by highly respected and widely published scholars who are passionate about preparing new teachers to work with talented and diverse populations of children.
Join a National Network of Writing Teachers
One thing that sets SUNY New Paltz apart; we are home to the award-winning, Hudson Valley Writing Project, a local site of the National Writing Project (nwp.org). MAT students get the opportunities to join, participate, and contribute to cutting edge teaching workshops as well as youth and community writing programs. There are many fieldwork and internship opportunities.
Develop your Teaching in the Real-World
This program includes a full-semester student teaching capstone experience, giving teacher candidates a valuable opportunity to hone their craft with one of our many partner districts, including partners in New York City and Long Island. Student teachers are supported by faculty advisors on campus and professional mentors in the field, who strive to ensure that all graduates are ready to lead a classroom on day one.
Required Couplings:
- Intro Curriculum & Assessment and Field Work #1
- Methods, Field Work #2 and Digital Environment
- Student Teaching, Student Teaching Seminar and Field Work #3
Recommended Couplings:
- Sociological & Philosophical Foundations of Education and Developing Adolescent
- Intro to Literacy for Diverse Learners and Differentiating Instruction in the Secondary School
Admission to the Undergraduate Adolescence English Program requires a 3.0 GPA in college
course work, and a B or better in Composition I & II. The Adolescence English Education program
includes the following Education courses (41 credits):
Educational Foundations Courses (13 credits)
- EDS340 Sociological & Philosophical Foundations
- EDS372 Developing Adolescent
- SED354 Foundations Seminar
- EDS383 Literacy for Diverse Learners
- SPE385 Differentiating Instruction
English Education Pedagogy & Practice (12 credits)
- SED453 Intro to Curriculum & Instruction
- SED356 Teaching & Learning in the Digital Environment
- SED370 Teaching English in the Secondary School
To prepare future English teachers, our candidates get real-world, hands-on experiences through
the following clinical experiences:
Clinically Rich Experience Courses (16 credits)
- SED353 Fieldwork I
- SED350 Fieldwork II
- SED407 Fieldwork III
- SED404 Student Teaching in the Middle School
- SED405 Student Teaching in the High School
- SED406 Student Teaching Seminar
In addition to these educational foundations, pedagogy, and clinical practice courses, the program requires the completion of the following English cognate courses (37-38 credits):
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PROGRAM INFORMATION
Mary Sawyer, Program Coordinator
sawyerm@newpaltz.edu or 845-257-2856
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Required Courses
English Foundational Courses (16 credits)
- ENG300 Seminar in Critical Practices
- ENG303 Introduction to British Literature
- ENG 333 Introduction to American Literature
Plus, one of the following:
- ENG343 Transnational Literature
- ENG353 Multiethnic & Diasporic Literature
English Language and Linguistic Courses (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- ENG327 Development of Modern English
- LIN201 Introduction to Linguistics
- LIN413 Sociolinguistics
Shakespeare (4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- ENG406 Shakespeare I: Selected Works
- ENG407 Shakespeare II: Selected Works
Theory and Practice of Reading and Writing (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- ENG224 Expository Writing
- ENG345 Creative Writing Workshop I
- ENG385 Theories of Writing
Literary Criticism (4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- ENG420 Literary Criticism
- ENG423 Contemporary Literary Theory
Literature for Young Adults (4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
- ENG460 Classic Juvenile Fantasy Literature
- ENG465 Young Adult Literature
Upper-Division English Electives (3-4 Credits)
- One 300-400 level English course
Transportation
Students are responsible for their own transportation to field and student teaching placements and must be prepared to commute up to 45 miles, one way, to these placements.
Additional Requirements:
Additional requirements for New York State Teaching and Leadership Certification can be found at the SUNY New Paltz Certification Advising web site. This site includes information on mandatory workshops, fingerprinting, certification exams, and more.
Moral Character
Students must have good moral character. Applicants for admission are asked to provide information about past convictions, misconduct, etc. on the application for a certificate, and the New York State Education Department is authorized to investigate complaints regarding an applicant's past convictions which raise a reasonable question as to the individual's moral character.
