Pathway to Teaching - Program Options

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Initial Certification in Childhood 1-6/Students with Disabilities 1-6 (dual certification)

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be recommended by Roberts Wesleyan University to the NYS Education Department for Initial Certification in Childhood 1-6/Students with Disabilities 1-6. These teaching titles certify you as a childhood teacher grades 1-6 general education classrooms; as a special educator in an inclusive classroom, self-contained classroom, resource room; or as a building special educator or push-in/pull-out teacher in grades 1-6 classrooms.

Note: Students will not be certified until they have also met all other NYS requirements for certification, including fingerprinting clearance and all required NYS exams/assessments.

Initial Certification in Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be recommended by Roberts Wesleyan University to the NYS Education Department for Initial Certification in Students with Disabilities in grades 7-12. This teaching title certifies the student as a 7-12 special educator in a self-contained classroom or resource room, as a building special educator, or as a push-in or pull-out classroom teacher.

Extension Option Available

Initial Certification in Adolescence Education (in a content area) / Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist (dual certification)

Certification in a content area requires 30 credit hours in that content area (such as biology, chemistry, English, French, mathematics, physics, or social studies) in addition to all of the PTT pedagogy courses. You are also required to complete an additional 50 hours of fieldwork (a total of 150 hours of OPE) and pass the NYS Content Specialty Test (CST) in your chosen content area.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be recommended by Roberts Wesleyan University to the NYS Education Department for Initial Certification in Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist and Content Specialist 7-12. This teaching title certifies the student as an adolescent content teacher in a 7-12 classroom and as a special educator in a self-contained classroom, resource room, or as a building special educator or push-in or pull-out teacher in a 7-12 classroom.

Extension Option

Students may earn an additional extension to their base Students with Disabilities certificate by completing 18 or more credit hours in one or more of the subject areas below and passing the NYS Content Specialty Test (CST) in the content area of extension. The extension allows them to teach the content area to Students with Disabilities 7-12.

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • English
  • French
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Social Studies
  • Spanish

Note: Students will not be certified until they have also met all other NYS requirements for certification, including fingerprinting clearance and all required NYS exams/assessments.


Related Majors

Adolescence and Special Education, M.Ed. - Prepare for New York State teaching certification and earn a Masters in Adolescence Education, as well as a Masters in Adolescence Special Education (Grades 7-12) in an affordable and flexible dual certification program developed for time constrained adults.
Childhood and Special Education, M.Ed. - Prepare for New York State teaching certification and earn a Masters in Childhood Education, as well as a Masters in Childhood Special Education (Grades 1-6) in an affordable and flexible dual certification program developed for time constrained adults.
Literacy Education, M.Ed. - Build on your existing certification as you take advantage of the growing demand for literacy specialists, with a Literacy Education, M.Ed. from Roberts Wesleyan University.
Special Education, M.Ed. - Interested in a Masters in Special Education? Build on your existing certification to become a highly qualified teacher of students with disabilities, with a Special Education M.Ed. from Roberts Wesleyan University.
Adult and Graduate Admissions - 585.594.6600 | 800.777.4792 (toll free) - AGE-Admissions@roberts.edu