The Liberal Arts & Sciences: Adolescence Education degree is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year college to pursue teacher certification in Adolescence Education (Grades 7–12), with specializations in English or Math. This program offers a robust academic foundation in liberal arts, adolescent development, and teaching practices, ensuring students are well-prepared for the challenges of the classroom.
Students gain practical experience through guided fieldwork in local middle and high school classrooms, allowing them to apply their learning and explore the teaching profession in real-world settings. In addition, students will receive personalized advising to select courses that meet SUNY General Education requirements and build a concentration area aligned with the expectations of transfer institutions.
While this program is designed for transfer into a four-year teacher preparation program, it also equips students with valuable knowledge and classroom experience that can support entry-level roles in educational settings, such as teaching assistants or aides, within grades 7-12. Most students transfer to four-year institutions to complete a bachelor’s degree in teacher education and fulfill New York State certification requirements.
Please note: A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation; however, many transfer institutions require a higher GPA for admission to their teacher preparation programs. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with both OCC and four-year college advisors to ensure a smooth transfer process.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Liberal Arts & Sciences: Adolescence Education (EDA.AA) degree is to introduce students to the teaching profession and equip them with the foundational knowledge, skills, and field experience necessary for successful transfer to a four-year teacher education program.
Program Learning Outcomes
Successful graduates of this program will be able to:
- Apply key theories of adolescent development to design age-appropriate learning experiences that stimulate cognitive, emotional, and social growth for students in grades 7-12.
- Develop and apply a variety of instructional strategies and teaching methods to engage students across different learning styles and abilities.
- Design learning environments that are equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive, ensuring all students feel valued, respected, and supported.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect critically on their teaching practices, field experiences, and interactions with students, families, and colleagues.
- Successfully complete all required coursework, field experiences, and professional preparation activities to ensure a smooth transition to four-year institutions and readiness for New York State teacher certification.
Essential Skills & Dispositions
Students enrolled in the Liberal Arts & Sciences: Adolescence Education program are expected to demonstrate the following essential skills and dispositions, with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Emotional resilience and psychological well-being to effectively support adolescents, families, peers, and faculty in a middle or high school setting.
- Interpersonal skills to build respectful, collaborative, and professional relationships with individuals from diverse cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.
- Clear written and oral communication that is appropriate for academic, classroom, and professional settings, enabling effective interactions with students, colleagues, and the broader school community.
- Critical thinking and sound judgment to make informed instructional decisions, solve problems creatively, and engage in reflective teaching practices.
- Personal and professional qualities such as integrity, empathy, reliability, and a commitment to ethical practice in all professional interactions.
These competencies are nurtured and assessed throughout coursework, advising, and field experiences. Students who may benefit from additional guidance in developing these areas are encouraged to seek support from their advisor or the program coordinator early in their academic journey.
Students participating in fieldwork or classroom observations are expected to demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and preparedness at all times. These experiences are essential for teacher preparation and are a reflection of the individual, the program, and the institution.
Specializations
Recommended Transfer Pathways for Adolescent Education Majors
To ensure students are fully prepared for upper-division coursework in Adolescent Education, we strongly recommend the following degree pathways based on their intended certification area:
- Natural Science Specializations (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics)
Students planning to pursue adolescent education in a science field will be best served by enrolling in the Liberal Arts & Sciences: Mathematics and Science (A.S.) This program provides the depth in math and laboratory sciences required for a smooth transfer into SUNY teacher preparation programs.
- Social Studies Certification
Students interested in teaching social studies at the adolescent level should choose the Liberal Arts & Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences (A.A.) , which offers the broad grounding in history, government, economics, and the social sciences that transfer institutions expect.
• School Psychology Pathway
Students intending to pursue school psychology after transfer are also strongly encouraged to enroll in the Liberal Arts & Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences (A.A.) , as it aligns most directly with coursework in psychology, human development, and the social sciences.
These recommendations are designed to give students the strongest academic foundation and the most seamless pathway into bachelor’s-level teacher education and related programs.
