Skip to Main Content

English: Adolescence Education/Special Education 7-12 Generalist (ASPIRE Dual Degree Program) - BA/MSED

Program Overview:

The Adolescence Special Education Preparation for Inclusive and Reflective Educators (ASPIRE) program is a five-year dual degree program leading to secondary education teaching roles in general education and special education. In addition to the English Adolescence Education certification, candidates will be eligible for Adolescence Special Education Generalist certification.

Students who are accepted into the combined, dual degree program do not receive a bachelor’s degree when undergraduate coursework is complete; rather, both the bachelor and master’s degrees are awarded when all graduate requirements are completed. Students who are accepted into the dual degree program as undergraduates, and who meet all requirements for advancement, are guaranteed acceptance into the graduate program.

Guidelines developed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) were utilized in the development of this program. The Special Education/Adolescence Education program provides pre-service teachers with integrated course content across the disciplines of special education, adolescence education, adolescent development, literacy, educational psychology, and instructional technology. The program prepares future educators to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of a diverse student population, collaborate with colleagues, and exhibit leadership in their professional endeavors. The program is delivered by experienced faculty and supervisors who focus on the elements of diversity, instructional planning, differentiation of instruction, reflective practice, technology, research-supported practices, and collaboration. This program requires a minimum of 63 credits of study, includes a full semester of student teaching, and involves the College-wide Core program with specific expanded course work to meet certification requirements. See the catalog description on Core requirements for additional details. The majority of the major must be completed at The College of Saint Rose.  Certification exam information and fingerprinting information/processing is available at the New York State Department of Education “TEACH” website http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach.

Program Contacts:

Dr. Jennifer Marlow

Chair, English Department

Email: marlowj@strose.edu

Dr. Frances Ihle

Co-Chair, Literacy and Special Education Department

Email: ihlef@strose.edu

Program Webpage: ASPIRE Program

Program Requirements:

Requirement for Advancement in Dual Degree

Admission into the College does not ensure good standing in the Adolescence Education/Special Education (ASPIRE) Program, nor does good standing in this program ensure admission to student teaching. In order to maintain good standing through all stages of the Adolescence Education/Special Education program, students are required to maintain the following academic standards: 3.0 index in the education major, 2.8 index in the academic major and 3.0 overall GPA. Education courses must meet the minimum grade of C+ or higher at the undergraduate level and B or higher at the graduate level to apply to the degree. An education major course cannot be repeated more than one time with no more than 3 total education courses repeated during the 5 years of program completion. An F in any graduate education course can result in dismissal from the ASPIRE program.  If a student falls below the required GPA in their content major, education major, or overall GPA, he or she must meet with the academic advisors in the academic major and School of Education to determine if continuation in the 5-year ASPIRE program is possible.

Students must apply for student teaching in accordance with program guidelines. This includes satisfactory completion of all major courses in their academic major and the education major with the exception of SED 590, SIE 580, SIE 582, and SIE 584.  No additional courses beyond SED 590, SIE 580, SIE 582, and SIE 584 should be taken during the student teaching semester.

Major in English: Adolescence Education (46 credits)

Required courses (16 credits):

ENG 112Intro to Literary Studies

4

ENG 201Language and Linguistics

4

ENG 330Critical Theory

4

ENG 498Senior Seminar

4

ENG 330 prerequisites: ENG 112 or ENG 114 and two literature courses at the 200-level or one 200-level and one 300-level literature course.

ENG 494 and ENG 498 prerequisites: ENG 330, one 300-level writing course, 90 credits, and at least one 300-level literature course

Thirty-two additional credit hours of English courses with these stipulations: (See lists below for categories that fulfill specific requirements. Although one course may fulfill two stipulations, all English majors must complete 32 credits of these courses.)

Literature Courses (20 credits):

Two 200-level literature courses

8

Three 300-level literature courses

12

At least two of these courses, on either the 200- or 300-level, must be in Early Literature and at least two, on either the 200- or 300-level, in Later Literature.

Writing courses (6 credits):

200-level writing course

2

300-level writing course

4

Performance Arts or Film/Digital Media course (4 credits):


Performance Arts or Film/Digital Media course

4

Categories for English elective courses:


Early Literature (Pre-1800 for British Literature; pre-1865 for American Literature; pre-1650 for World Literature):

ENG 223Sympathy & Early Amer Novel

4

ENG 226Women & Wrtg (Early Periods)

4

ENG 230Early British Literature

4

ENG 244Early World Literature

4

ENG 260Earlier Shakespeare

4

ENG 261Later Shakespeare

4

ENG 271Crime&Punish in Poe's America

4

ENG 320Studies 19th-C. US Literature

4

ENG 328Interdisciplinary Connections

4

ENG 335Studies in Renaissance Lit

4

ENG 342Studies in Medieval Literature

4

ENG 344Restor/18th C. British Lit

4

ENG 346Shakespeare on Film

4

ENG 350Romanticism/Early19thCBritLit

4

ENG 371Studies in Women's Literature

4

ENG 381Periodical Studies

4

*ENG 328, ENG 371, and ENG 281 depending on topic.

Later Literature (Post-1800 for British Literature; post-1865 for American Literature; post-1650 for World Literature):

ENG 216Black Literatures

4

ENG 217Crime Fiction

4

ENG 22120th-C. US Literature

4

ENG 227Women & Wrtg (Later Periods)

4

ENG 228Contemporary Fiction

4

ENG 229Contemporary Poetry

4

ENG 231Post-1800 British Liter

4

ENG 234Comparative Ethnic US Lit

4

ENG 235Latinx Literature

4

ENG 236Postcolonial Literatures

4

ENG 237Asian American Literature

4

ENG 238Native American Literature

4

ENG 245Literary Movements

4

ENG 248Queer Literary Studies

4

ENG 279Film: Theory & Practice

4

ENG 322Studies in Modernisms

4

ENG 323Studies 20th-C. US Literature

4

ENG 328Interdisciplinary Connections

4

ENG 336Studies in Black Literatures

4

ENG 340Studies in the Novel

4

ENG 355Victorian Literature & Culture

4

ENG 370Literature and Empire

4

ENG 371Studies in Women's Literature

4

ENG 372Studies in Diverse Literatures

4

ENG 373Studies in Contemporary Narrative

4

ENG 375Studies in Digital Media

4

ENG 377Literary and Cultural Studies

4

ENG 379Studies in Film

4

ENG 381Periodical Studies

4

*ENG 328, ENG 371 and ENG 381 depending on topic.

200-level literature courses (all writing-intensive):

ENG 216Black Literatures

4

ENG 217Crime Fiction

4

ENG 22120th-C. US Literature

4

ENG 223Sympathy & Early Amer Novel

4

ENG 226Women & Wrtg (Early Periods)

4

ENG 227Women & Wrtg (Later Periods)

4

ENG 228Contemporary Fiction

4

ENG 229Contemporary Poetry

4

ENG 230Early British Literature

4

ENG 231Post-1800 British Liter

4

ENG 234Comparative Ethnic US Lit

4

ENG 235Latinx Literature

4

ENG 236Postcolonial Literatures

4

ENG 237Asian American Literature

4

ENG 238Native American Literature

4

ENG 244Early World Literature

4

ENG 245Literary Movements

4

ENG 248Queer Literary Studies

4

ENG 260Earlier Shakespeare

4

ENG 261Later Shakespeare

4

ENG 271Crime&Punish in Poe's America

4

ENG 279Film: Theory & Practice

4

300-level literature courses (all writing-intensive):

ENG 322Studies in Modernisms

4

ENG 323Studies 20th-C. US Literature

4

ENG 328Interdisciplinary Connections

4

ENG 335Studies in Renaissance Lit

4

ENG 336Studies in Black Literatures

4

ENG 340Studies in the Novel

4

ENG 342Studies in Medieval Literature

4

ENG 344Restor/18th C. British Lit

4

ENG 346Shakespeare on Film

4

ENG 350Romanticism/Early19thCBritLit

4

ENG 355Victorian Literature & Culture

4

ENG 370Literature and Empire

4

ENG 371Studies in Women's Literature

4

ENG 372Studies in Diverse Literatures

4

ENG 373Studies in Contemporary Narrative

4

ENG 375Studies in Digital Media

4

ENG 377Literary and Cultural Studies

4

ENG 379Studies in Film

4

ENG 381Periodical Studies

4

200-level writing courses (all writing-intensive):

ENG 206Creative Writing

4

ENG 246Imaginative Wrtg:Pract/Pedag

2

ENG 247Nonfic Wrtg Wrkshp:Pract/Pedag

2

ENG 251Nonfiction Writing

4

ENG 252Writing for Digital Media

4

ENG 253Intro to Digital Publishing

4

ENG 254Online Lit Jrnl Edit & Pub

4

ENG 255Writing Digtl Media Criticism

4

300-level writing courses (all writing-intensive):

ENG 311Wrtg Creative Nonfiction

4

ENG 312Writing Poetry

4

ENG 313Writing Fiction

4

ENG 314Script Writing

4

ENG 315Professional Writing & Editing

4

ENG 317Advanced Prose Writing

4

Performance Arts courses:

ENG 218Oral Interpret of Literature

4

ENG 219Poetry in Performance

4

Film/Digital Media courses*:

ENG 115Intro to Digital Media

4

ENG 252Writing for Digital Media

4

ENG 253Intro to Digital Publishing

4

ENG 254Online Lit Jrnl Edit & Pub

4

ENG 255Writing Digtl Media Criticism

4

ENG 279Film: Theory & Practice

4

ENG 314Script Writing

4

ENG 315Professional Writing & Editing

4

ENG 346Shakespeare on Film

4

ENG 375Studies in Digital Media

4

ENG 379Studies in Film

4

ENG 381Periodical Studies

4

* Additional courses with a film and/or digital media focus may also fulfill this requirement.

Required Courses for Adolescence Education/Special Education Degree (62 credits)

Undergraduate Courses

EDU 102Violence Prevention

0

EDU 103Child Abuse Prevention

0

EDU 111Dignity for All Students

0

EDU 300Foundations of Education

3

EPY 243Adolescent Development

4

EPY 370Ed Psych/Instruct Tech

4

SED 347C&I:Inten Sup Needs Children

4

SEE 100Intro to the Profession

0

SEE 106Intro to Portfolio

0

SEE 249Prin & Proc Eff Behav Mgmt

4

SIE 146Ind w/Except in Schl & Comm

4

SIE 360Inclus Curr&Instr Dgsn-ASPIRE

4

Graduate Courses

LRC 521Adv Literacy Improvmnt G 5-12

3

LRC 528Read & Write for Adol w/ Disab

3

SEC 515Curr & Instr in Secondary Sch

3

SEC 520Method Teach Eng. Sec. School

3

SED 506Found/Issues/Resrch in Spec Ed

3

SED 519Inst Prac Divers Learn Eng Soc

3

or

SIE 585Instruc Div Lrnrs:ENG/SOC ST

3

SED 530Inst Pract Diverse Learn; MST

3

or

SIE 586Inst Diverse Learn:Mat/Sci/Tec

3

SED 567AdvThry/Prac Tch Childw/EBD

3

or

SED 522Autism Spectrum Disorders

3

SED 590Res Seminar Sp Ed

3

SIE 566Assess Content Instruc & Indiv

3

SIE 580On-Site Prof Exp Adol Educ

6

SIE 582On-Site Prof Exp Sem:Adol/Sp E

2

SIE 584Portfolio in Adoles & Spec Ed

1

Internship/Field Experiences/Service:

Candidates complete two seven week student teaching experiences, one at the grades 7-9 level and another at the grades 10-12 level. One placement is in special education, and the other in general education.


Culminating Academic Experiences:

The candidate will complete a Professional Portfolio to reflect growth as he or she progresses through the program, leading to initial teacher certification. Candidates are guided during each phase of the process beginning with early curriculum courses and culminating in the final capstone experience.


Suggested 5 Year Course Plan:

This suggested plan is designed to give students an idea of how to balance their coursework over 10 semesters and to graduate within 5 years. It should be used along with your Degree Works worksheet and in consultation with your faculty advisor. It is meant as a guide, not a definitive list of courses that must be taken as written. Your faculty advisor will help you make any necessary adjustments during advisementSpecial education generalists (7-12) have responsibility for supporting students in the four core disciplines (i.e., English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies); it is recommended that 6 credits of coursework be taken in each of these content areas.

Year 1

Fall (16 credits)

ENG 105 (L01) - 4

ENG 112 - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L09) - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L02) - 3

Lib Ed requirement (L12) - 1

SEE 100 - 0

 

Spring (18 credits)

200-level literature - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L04) - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L07) - 3

Lib Ed requirement (L03) - 3

SEE 106 - 0

SIE 146 - 4

 

Year 2

Fall (17 credits)

200-level literature - 4

ENG Perf/Film/Digital Media (also L05) - 4   

Lib Ed requirement (L12) - 1

EPY 243 (L11) - 4

SIE 360 - 4

EDU 111 - 0

 

Spring (17 credits)

ENG 246 or 247 - 2

ENG 300-level literature - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L06) - 3

EPY 370 - 4

EPY 337 - 0

SEE 249 - 4

 

Year 3

Fall (18 credits)

ENG 330 - 4

ENG 300-level literature or writing - 4

General elective - 3  

EDU 300 - 3

SED 347 - 4

 

Spring (18 credits)

ENG 300-level literature - 4

General elective - 4

ENG 201 - 4

EDU 102 - 0

SED 506 - 3                           

LRC 528 - 3

Year 4

Fall (14 credits)

ENG 300-level literature or writing - 4

General elective - 4   

Lib Ed requirement (L10) - 3

SED 519 - 3 

  

Spring (16 credits)

SEC 515 - 3

SED 530 - 3

SED 567 - 3

EDU 102 - 0

ENG 498 - 4

Lib Ed requirement (L08) - 3

 

Year 5

Fall (9 credits)

SEC 520 - 3

SIE 566 - 3

LRC 521 - 3

EDU 103 - 0

SEE 108 - 0

 

Spring (12 credits)

SIE 580 - 6          

SIE 582 - 2

SIE 584 - 1

SED 590 - 3

Grades 5-6 Extension (Optional):

Extensions are not required as part of the Adolescence Education program at Saint Rose. The New York State Education Department offers an extension for grades 5-6 to the teaching certification for Adolescence Education grades 7-12. This extension to teach in grades 5 and 6 is designed to enable students to create developmentally appropriate classroom contexts for learning in the content areas of their certification (English Language Arts or Social Studies). An extension will show that the certified adolescence teacher has added expertise in the area of extension. Students must obtain fingerprint clearance prior to beginning field experiences. Adolescence Education students who wish the College to recommend them to the New York State Education Department for the extension must complete all the requirements for Adolescence Education certification and the additional requirements shown below.

Required Courses:

EDU 440Middle Level Education

3

EDU 385Tchg Lang Arts/SS 1-6

4

EDU 385: 15-hour field experience is required. The prerequisite of EDU 245 will be met with SEC 365.

Career Opportunities and Graduate Study:

  • Grades 7-12 English teacher
  • Special Education co-teacher in a content area classroom
  • Special Education resource/consultant teacher
  • Special Education teacher in a self-contained classroom

Find Out More:

Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid: https://www.strose.edu/admissions/