ҹɫÊÓÆµ

Post-Baccalaureate Program

  • Adolescence Certification for Career Change Emphasizing Secondary Schools (ACCESS) prepares you to teach at the middle/junior/senior high school level, if you already have a background in a secondary teaching content area.Ìý
  • Dual certification in special education grades 7-12 is available.Ìý
  • Learn about adolescent learners and master the skills and methods to create learning-centered, engaging lessons that are standards-based.

Program is Ideal For

  • Someone with a master’s degree in a subject area who wants teaching certification for that subject (biology, chemistry, physics, English, math, history/social studies, theatre, Chinese, French, German, Italian, or Spanish).
  • If you don’t have a master’s degree, Nazareth’s Inclusive Adolescence Education master’s program could be the better option.

Career Information

  • Becoming dual-certified —Ìýable to teach a subject area and meet the needs of special education secondary students (grades 7-12) —Ìýpositions you well for employment.
  • Jobs include secondary content area teachers, consultant teachers, resource room teachers, integrated co-teachers, and self-contained special education classroom teachers.

What to Expect

  • Complete the program in four semesters
  • 100 hours of fieldwork and 14 weeks of student teaching
  • 6-week special education practicum (for those seeking dual certification in students with disabilities)
  • Get New York state initial teacher certification in adolescence education (grades 7-12) for your content area and students with disabilities (generalist, grades 7-12).

Curriculum Examples (34 Credits)

  • Principles of Teaching, Learning & Assessment for Diverse Secondary LearnersÌý
  • Social Foundations of EducationÌý
  • Language, and Literacy DevelopmentÌý
  • Foundations of Teaching Secondary Students with DisabilitiesÌý
  • Motivation and ManagementÌý
  • Curriculum MethodologyÌý
  • Full Curriculum

Tuition and Fees

ACCESS students pay undergraduate tuition rates for all but one course. Tuition rate is part-time except for final term, which is full-time.ÌýProgram costs »

Graduate tuition is eligible for the Educational Partner Network discount.


Application Process

Application Deadlines

  • Fall term: Rolling through Aug. 1

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree, and preferably a master's degree from an accredited institution
  • Cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and a B average in your major field

How to Apply

1. , which includes submitting a professional statement, and resume. See below for more details.

Resume

Include information about your degree(s), employment experience, and specialized skills, training, and/or certification(s).

Professional Statement

In this essential component of the application:

  • Explain your reasons for seeking this certification program.
  • Include any information that will advance your candidacy, such as personal and professional attributes and goals, volunteer and professional experiences related to the program to which you are applying, and other related life experiences.
  • Describe your future academic plans and anticipated contributions to the specific profession for which this program will prepare you.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is expected. If you did not meet that minimum or if you did not have a B average in your major field, you also must address each of the following in your professional statement:

  1. Explain why your grades were below Nazareth's minimum expectations.
  2. Explain your potential to positively contribute to the teaching profession.
  3. Describe relevant experiences and/or activities that demonstrate your ability to successfully complete graduate work at ҹɫÊÓÆµ.
  4. Outline specific procedures you will follow to successfully navigate and meet the rigorous requirements of graduate study.
Letters of Recommendation
  • ¸é±ð±ç³Ü±ð²õ³ÙÌýtwo letters of recommendationÌýbe mailed or sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions (gradadmissions@naz.edu). The letters of recommendationÌýmust specifically address your potential as a beginning teacher, and must be from people who are not friends or relatives and who have direct knowledge of your ability to work in an educational setting
  • Or you can use a credential file for this requirement if the letters were submitted for the purpose of graduate study, not for employment. If you have this type of file, have your college send it to Nazareth’sÌýGraduate Admissions office.
  • These recommendations are used only for admission to a graduate program at ҹɫÊÓÆµ. Graduate Admissions will dispose of all letters of recommendation following the admissions review process.

Ìý

2. Request official transcripts fromÌýall colleges attendedÌýbe mailed or sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions (gradadmissions@naz.edu).ÌýIf you graduated from Nazareth, we will obtain your Nazareth transcript for you.

Transcript details
  • International applicants: Submit English-translated transcripts, including bachelor's or higher degree equivalency through aÌýÌýevaluation service such as World Education Service, Educational Credential Evaluations, or . (The evaluation is at the expense of the student.) Also seeÌýinternational admissions requirements.

After applying

  • Eligible candidates will be invited for a required interview with the program director.
  • Upon acceptance, you’ll receive instructions about registering for courses.

Ask a Question

Loading...
Eric Morris, alum of post-baccalaureate secondary education NYS teacher certification program

The ACCESS program "turned out to be an incredibly valuable asset to my future, launching my career in a spectacular way," says alumÌýEric Morris. He loves economics, butÌýwanted to share this passion more directly than his job as an economic and policy analyst allowed.

Naz faculty taught him the science of how people learn and the importance of getting to know students' learning styles and needs. He found his professors approachable and helpful in discussing teaching and his future, and they guided him through what can be a big bureaucracy to help him get good placements as a student teacher — which quickly led to a full-time job.