Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Adolescent Education

Impact a Young Adult’s Life Through a Career in the Classroom

Want to study your favorite subject and learn how to share that passion with others as a teacher? In the adolescent education bachelor’s program at the University at Albany, you’ll develop the in-classroom skills and subject-area expertise you need to work with students in Grades 7–12.

The coursework will support your intellectual curiosity while equipping you with a comprehensive understanding of adolescent development, teaching methods, social and cultural contexts, literacy instruction, instructional technology and more.

While studying curriculum, standards, assessments and teaching strategies, you’ll gain ample classroom experience in your chosen subject, including student teaching in your own Grade 7–12 class under the guidance and mentoring of a teacher and supervisor. With these experiences, you’ll graduate ready to make a difference in today’s ever-changing, diverse classrooms.

Additional Program Information

• Program of Study
• Field Experiences
• Career Outcomes
• School of Education Home

Becoming an Adolescent Education Major

Designed for outstanding students, the undergraduate adolescent education program at UAlbany empowers you to pursue a career where you can make a lasting impact in today’s secondary school classrooms.

Current UAlbany students and transfer students must submit applications for admission to the adolescent education major after meeting the following eligibility requirements:

• Successful completion of at least 24 credits (sophomore status)
• Cumulative grade point average for all coursework must be 3.00 or higher at the time of evaluation

If you meet the above criteria, you must submit an essay as part of the application to declare the major process. Be sure to reach out to your advisor for further information.

Teacher Certification

This degree is a New York State approved pathway leading to initial certification in Adolescent Education (Grades 7–12) in one of eight secondary subject areas: biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies or Spanish.

This program is approved for licensure or certification in New York State.

Program of Study

By earning your BS in Adolescent Education at UAlbany, you’ll learn the teaching skills and subject knowledge you need through coursework and robust experiential field work as a student teacher.

This in-person program will include topics for teaching, such as educational psychology, adolescent development, literacy instruction, lesson planning and classroom management, as well as in-depth study of a secondary subject. In your chosen concentration, you will study key subject areas in-depth and develop a deep well of knowledge to share with your future students. You will also gain innovative classroom experiences, and graduate prepared to lead a class of secondary students.

Required Courses and Fieldwork

84 credits, including 30 credits in your chosen concentration and 18 credits of field experience and student teaching.

Core Courses

36 credits in the following topic areas:

• Foundations of Education
• Teaching as a Profession
• Educational Psychology, Development and Assessment
• Special Education
• Literacy
• Secondary level teaching methods

Concentration Courses

Minimum of 30 credits in the content area, including a minimum of 15 credits at the upper division level carefully selected to support your success as a teacher:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• English (double major option)
• Math
• Physics
• Social Studies
• Spanish

Please see the Undergraduate Bulletin for specific course requirements for the concentrations.

Fieldwork and Student Teaching

Our New York State approved program immerses you in classroom experiences, with 18 credits dedicated to field experiences and your student teaching placement in schools working with young adults in Grades 7–12.

Field Experiences and Student Teaching

To fulfill the student teaching requirements, you will spend two semesters in a range of school placements, with in-classroom time prior to student teaching. Through these placements you will experience a variety of communities—including in high-need schools—work with students across developmental levels and socioeconomic backgrounds and engage with families and caregivers.

A faculty member with expertise in content and pedagogy will mentor you during these experiences to help ensure your time in your placements is productive and valuable.

Career Outcomes

With current teacher shortages creating a lot of opportunity in the field, earning your BS in Adolescent Education will set you up for a successful career in education. We will not only provide professional guidance and advice, we’ll also support you in finding a position after graduation through our partnerships with area schools and other educational opportunities.

If you wish to continue your studies at the graduate level, you’ll find a wide range of carefully designed advanced degree programs at the UAlbany School of Education, including nationally ranked online programs, to help you earn your New York State Professional teaching certification and reach the next level in your professional pursuits.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the major concepts within your chosen subject of instruction (e.g., English, history, chemistry) as evidenced by your grades in content courses and performance on New York State content examination.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of New York State content learning standards for your subject areas through planning and delivery of standards-based classroom instruction.
• Plan lessons that demonstrate knowledge of how 5–12 students learn and engage with core ideas and cross-cutting concepts in your subject area.
• Engage in reflective inquiry on your practice both independently and with others to foster continual personal growth and learning progression toward more sophisticated understandings.
• Design assessments that recognize and consider student preconceptions and understandings developed during instruction.
• Design and facilitate authentic learning experiences, which facilitate relevant and meaningful content learning for 5–12 students.
• Provide learners with multiple points of access to instruction (e.g., visual, verbal, written, gesture, etc.).
• Demonstrate knowledge of how theories and research about social justice, diversity and equity can enhance students’ opportunities to learn.
• Understand and adapt to diverse learning styles in instructional settings.
• Demonstrate understanding of an interconnected and interdependent global context.
• Demonstrate how media and technology can enhance classroom practice to meaningfully support learning.
• Pursue scholarship to enhance and engage professionally in both the content area and teaching field (e.g., attend conferences, read new literature, write, etc.).