School of Education

Social studies teachers play a crucial role in our societies, teaching students to think critically about the world around them and inspiring them to believe in their own power to change it. The undergraduate degree in Adolescence Social Studies Education is the ideal career pathway for aspiring Social Studies educators.

The Undergraduate Adolescence Education Competency-Based Teacher Education ProgramOutline 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. 

Work with Expert Teachers and Historians

The curriculum focuses on core pedagogical concepts and methods, complemented by upper-division electives taught by Department of History 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.

Prepare the Next Generation of Citizens

Teens and young adults are getting involved in the political process like never before, speaking their minds and fighting for causes that affect their lives. We depend on dedicated teachers to guide these dynamic young minds as they embark on lifetimes of service and engagement in our democratic society.

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 

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PROGRAM INFORMATION

Laura Dull, Program Coordinator

dullj@newpaltz.edu or 845-257-2849

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Admission to the Undergraduate Adolescence Social Studies Program requires a 3.0 GPA in college course work, and a B or better in Composition I & II. The Adolescence Social Studies Education program includes the following Education courses (41 credits):

Required Courses

Educational Foundations Courses (13 credits)

• EDS340 Sociological & Philosophical Foundations
• EDS372 Developing Adolescent
• SED354 Foundations Seminar
• EDS383 Literacy for Diverse Learners
• SPE385 Differentiating Instruction

Social Studies Education Pedagogy & Practice (12 credits)

• SED453 Intro to Curriculum & Instruction
• SED356 Teaching & Learning in the Digital Environment
• SED373 Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School

To prepare future Social Studies 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 Social Studies cognate courses (43-46 credits):

Three courses in each of the following three sections are required. For each section, at least one must be History, at least one should be 200-level, and at least one must be upper-division.

• Europe (10-11 credits)
• United States (10-11 credits)
• Africa, American Indians, Asia, Latin America, Middle East (10-11 credits)

Geography/Economics (9 credits)

• GEO213 Economic Geography
• GEO201 Human Geography

Plus, either of the following:

• One Additional Geography and One Additional Economics
• Two Additional Economics Courses

Political Science (4 credits)

Choose one of the following:

• POL216 American Government and Politics
• POL227 International Politics
• POL229 Introduction to Comparative Politics

All courses must have prior approval under History Department advisement. No selected topic or independent study courses are allowed, except by special permission. Only grades of C- or better are acceptable for major courses. All majors are required to maintain a portfolio of their history essays and to write a 300-word “Exit Essay” as a graduation requirement. See your History department advisor for details. All majors must take at least one course “Pre-1500” and one course “Post-1500”.

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.