Physics Department
Brice Smith, chair
Bowers Hall, Room 342
(607) 753-2821
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 physics and mathematics 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: mathematics and physics (7-12) will help you fulfill those requirements. Whether you choose to enroll in full-time graduate study or attend part-time while you’re in your first years of teaching, the degree will give you the opportunity to broaden and deepen your knowledge of physics and mathematics while continuing to improve your teaching skills.

Program Highlights

You’ll enhance your subject knowledge through graduate courses in mathematics and physics . Beyond course work in content, you’ll have two options to improve your pedagogical skills.

 Option I   

Includes study in the use of technology as a teaching tool in the secondary mathematics classroom.

 Option II   

You’ll study the nature of the middle school adolescent learner and the teaching strategies that work best at that developmental level. With this option, you’ll earn a middle-level extension of your 7-12 certificate to include grades 5 and 6 for mathematics and physics .

Culminating Experience

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

Assistantship Opportunity

To become more involved in the field while you study for your degree, review the description of the semester-long Mathematics Department graduate assistantship and additional information about graduate assistantships at SUNY Cortland.

Career Potential

With the M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: mathematics and physics (7-12), you can expand your capacity to teach middle school or high school mathematics and physics. You’ll also earn SUNY Cortland’s institutional recommendation for New York state’s professional certification in both mathematics and physics. 

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: mathematics and physics  (7-12):

1. All undergraduate transcripts which reflect evidence of completion of a bachelor’s degree in physics/mathematics or functionally related subject area. The transcripts need to show at least 30 credit hours of course work in physics and at least 30 hours of course work in mathematics.
2. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate, or a certificate of qualification for initial or provisional certification, to teach physics and mathematics issued by the New York State Education Department.
3. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.7 overall, in the major, and in related areas of science and math.
4. Three letters of recommendation from former professors or professional colleagues who can speak to the candidate’s preparation and competence for teaching physics/mathematics 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: mathematics and physics  (7-12).