Adolescence Special Education (Advanced Certificate)

Adolescence Special Education Advanced Certificate

Prerequisites

Coursework

  • Evidence of successful completion of an introductory course in special education (SPED 501, SPED 500 or the equivalent)
  • At least 6 credit hours in each of the following:
    • Mathematics
    • English/Language Arts
    • Science
    • Social Studies

Certification

  • Must possess initial certification or be eligible for initial certification in adolescence education (unless a student is currently enrolled in TLEL's MAT program

Applicants to the advanced preparation programs must submit all of the following materials:

  1. Certificate application
  2. Official transcripts for all college study. Applicants should have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
  3. At least two letters of recommendation from superiors who can attest to your competence as a teacher and your potential to successfully complete graduate study.
  4. Resume, to include current employment, previous professional education experience (including student teaching), volunteer work and other experiences with children and youth.
  5. Copy of NYS Teacher Certification from your TEACH account. This is required for all advanced programs and advanced certificate programs; this is not required for the MA TESOL program. Go into your TEACH account and create a screenshot that displays your identifying information and certificates issued. If you are not yet certified, provide a statement regarding where you are in the process and what the expectation is to receive NY state certification. TLEL will preliminarily accept an out of state license for the application. In this case a conditional admission decision may be offered, with the expectation that the student obtains the equivalent NY state credential within a prescribed amount of time after beginning the program. Note: there is no guarantee that NYS will recognize/accept an out of state credential or that our programs fulfill teacher certification requirements in other states.
  6. Personal statement (further instructions detailed below).

Personal Statement

Dispositions are the values, commitments, and professional ethics that influence an individual's behavior towards students, families, colleagues, and communities. An individual's dispositions affect their opinion of student learning, motivation, and development, as well as an individual's professional growth.

Collectively, faculty members from the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership identified the Professional Dispositions they see as essential to the development of an effective educator or educational leader. These Professional Dispositions include a readiness to:

  1. Demonstrate a commitment to learning and diversity;
  2. Build rapport and serve as a strong role model to peers, colleagues, and learners;
  3. Display effective communication skills (oral and written) in all settings; and
  4. Demonstrate professional competence and conduct.

For the personal statement, describe how one or more of these professional dispositions has (a) influenced your decision to become a teacher and/or (b) will contribute to your effectiveness as a teacher. Please approach this by telling a story about an incident or event in your life that illustrates that particular characteristic.

The personal statement you provide will be evaluated by faculty and staff members on the basis of how well you address the prompt and your skill at organizing, developing, and conveying, in standard written English, an event or story that illustrates how you have demonstrated (or perhaps observed) the characteristic in your life.

Please make sure your response directly addresses the prompt. Personal statements should be 500-750 words (approximately 2-3 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, size 12, 1-inch margins). Personal statements must be uploaded directly into the Binghamton University application system and are not mailed or emailed to a faculty or staff member.

Please note: This statement requires foci differ from the generic Graduate School personal statement instructions. This is an important part of the application. Be as specific as possible, including examples where appropriate.

Inquiries

For more information regarding the application process and transcript reviews, contact Christina Mack.