Geology Department
Robert S. Darling, chair
Bowers Hall, Room 342
(607) 753-2815
Fax: (607) 753-4973 

Adolescence Education: Science
Rena Janke, co-coordinator
(607) 753-2907
Angela Pagano, co-coordinator
(607) 753-2309

Overview

With your initial certification to teach Earth science in hand, you now have the challenge of meeting the New York State Education Department’s requirements for professional certification. SUNY Cortland’s M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: Earth science (7-12) will help you fulfill those requirements. Whether you enroll in full-time graduate study or attend part time during your first years of teaching, the degree will give you the opportunity to broaden and deepen your knowledge of the geosciences and other sciences while continuing to improve your teaching skills. 

Program Highlights

You’ll enhance your content knowledge with graduate courses in geology, as well as advanced study in biology, chemistry and/or physics. You have two options for furthering your understanding of adolescent learners and how to create and maintain a positive teaching-learning environment for science.

Option I

You will extend your teaching skills through exploration of emerging teaching methodologies and resources. You’ll examine the social, historical, philosophical or psychological foundations of education. 

Option II

You will study the nature of the middle school adolescent learner and the teaching strategies that work best at that developmental level. This option allows you to earn a middle-level extension of your 7-12 certificate to include grades 5 and 6 for Earth science. 

Culminating Experience

Beyond fulfilling any specific degree requirements determined by the Geology Department, you’ll complete a culminating master’s project.

Career Potential

With the M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: Earth science (7-12) from SUNY Cortland, you will earn the institution’s recommendation for New York state’s professional certification in Earth science for grades 7-12 or for the middle-level extension of the certificate to include grades 5 and 6.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a degree program stated in this catalog, you should present the following for enrollment in the program leading to an M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: earth science (7-12):

1. All undergraduate transcripts that reflect evidence of completion of a bachelor’s degree in geology/earth science or functionally related subject area. The transcripts need to show at least 30 credit hours of course work in the area of the certification, including astronomy and meteorology.
2. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate, or a certificate of qualification for provisional certification, to teach earth science in grades 7-12 issued by the New York State Education Department.
3. An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5
4. Three letters of recommendation from former professors or professional colleagues who can speak to the candidate’s preparation and competence for teaching earth science in grades 7-12.
5. An interview with the coordinator of adolescence education: science (7-12).

Apply for the M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: Earth science (7-12).