Inclusive Adolescence Education Major

Learn to work with students with disabilities through diverse field and coursework.

The inclusive adolescence education major prepares you to teach students with disabilities at the secondary level, middle/high school level (grades 7-12.) In your first year, you’ll be immersed in diverse field and coursework. Those experiences paired with inclusive practices will prepare you for today’s classrooms. All along the way you'll receive support from faculty mentors in a Christ-centered environment. You'll have the foundation you need to grow spiritually and as an educator.

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New York State Teacher Certification

Upon completion of this program, you may apply for an Initial Teaching Certificate from New York State. In addition, you must complete the required New York State Teacher Certification Examinations appropriate to your desired teaching certificate(s).

What will I learn?

Through Houghton’s Inclusive Adolescence Education program, be equipped for transformative learning and service as you:

  • Pursue coursework in theories of teaching and learning, literacy, special education, classroom management, curriculum, assessment, and content-specific teaching methods
  • Immerse yourself in diverse field and coursework starting in your first year
  • Observe, learn, and teach in a spectrum of schools. Including opportunities in rural and urban schools, or a half semester abroad
  • Dedicate your senior year to a full semester of student teaching
  • Receive intentional, personalized academic advising and mentoring by education faculty. These faculty are committed to integrating theory, practice and Christian faith in their teaching
  • Collaborate on research with education faculty members. Present your findings at international, national and regional conferences
  • Work towards an additional teaching certificate in one of six areas—augmented history (social studies), biology, chemistry, english, mathematics or physics (150 hours of field experience prior to student teaching)

124 Credits

69

Required Courses

55

Elective Courses and General Education

Degree Requirements

Experiential Learning

Through Houghton’s experiential learning, you’ll have at least 100 hours of contact time prior to student teaching. Some of these opportunities may include:

  • Assisting with Math, Division, Literacy Days where groups of students come to campus
  • Summer AmeriCorps opportunities in Buffalo where you work with English Language Learners
  • Getting connected with a teacher or groups of teachers for an entire year as part of your Junior Practicum
  • Service learning opportunities: after-school programs, collaborating with local teachers, tutoring. Organizations like Journey’s End Tutoring in Buffalo, Reading Club at King Center Charter School in Buffalo, or Allegany County Outreach

Inner City Immersion Experience

Experience teaching in an inner-city setting. Teaching in Urban America, is a two-week site experience in Buffalo, NY.

  • Observe and engage in a more diverse classroom setting
  • Discuss culture, poverty, privilege and race and their relationships with education
  • Engage in a service-learning project in the community
  • Explore the city of Buffalo

Intentional Mentoring by Faculty

At Houghton, your education professors serve as mentors throughout your coursework and fieldwork. You will receive careful placement and personal oversight by full-time education faculty who know you well. All faculty have earned graduate degrees in specific areas of specialization and all have served as classroom teachers.

Application Requirements

1

Start Your Application

Complete the application here
Apply Now
2

Documents and Supporting Materials

You’ll be asked to provide your official high school transcript and your test scores (can be waived)
Testing Policy
3

Personal Statement

The personal statement portion of our application for admission is perhaps the best place to truly tell your story, to tell who you are and what is important to you.
Personal Statement

Have Questions?

Discover if earning your degree in Inclusive Adolescence Education from Houghton University is right for you.