Adolescent Education
Dreaming of making a lasting impact on students? Molloy University’s adolescent education program gives you the knowledge and tools to make a difference in the lives of young people.
Our program leads to New York State Initial Certification as a teacher of grades 7–12 in the content area you are passionate about: biology, earth science, English, math, social studies, or Spanish.
We have been a leader in teacher education for more than 50 years, and our graduates are recognized as the best in the field. In fact, the overall pass rate on New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) for program completers in 2022–23 was 95 percent.
About the Undergraduate Education Adolescent Program
At Molloy, we prepare you to enter the classroom with confidence. Our Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs in adolescent education provide the multidimensional experience you need to become an effective middle or high school teacher. With our values-centered curriculum, you will develop cutting-edge strategies for teaching students in diverse, inclusive classrooms in grades 7-12.
We want to accommodate everyone who wants to earn an undergraduate teaching degree, which is why we offer courses in a variety of modalities: hybrid, asynchronous, and in person. We also make it easy to transfer into our undergraduate adolescent education program with clear guidelines, articulation agreements with local community colleges, and funding opportunities.
When you earn our undergraduate teaching degree, you will:
- Work with accomplished faculty
- Receive a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences aligned with national, state, and institutional teaching and learning standards
- Explore a variety of student-teaching field experiences so you can see where your true passion lies
Benefits of Our Adolescent Education Program
Faculty with Grades 7-12 Experience
Our faculty includes renowned adolescent education experts, international presenters, and best-selling authors. They are creating innovative projects in many school districts and doing groundbreaking research in grades 7–12 education.
Small class sizes mean you can form close relationships with faculty members who provide individualized advisement and mentoring once you begin your career. You may even have the opportunity to publish or present research with your professors.
Dual Majors in Adolescent Education
We prepare content experts who can double major or apply for multiple grades 7-12 certifications. Opportunities include:
- Double major in math and math education or Spanish and Spanish education
- Biology Education majors can take 18 credits in another science discipline—like chemistry, physics, and earth science—to be eligible to apply for those certifications
- Earth Science Education majors can take 18 credits in another science discipline—like chemistry, physics, and biology—to be eligible to apply for those certifications
Adolescent Education Program Advising
When you enroll in our undergraduate education degree program, you are assigned two advisors: one from the Education Department and one from your content area. Together, they will guide you through your coursework to successfully complete your degree and help you plan your next steps after graduation.
Molloy’s Career Center and field placement office provide guidance on the job search process and share openings with students. Our teacher certification office will help you apply for certification and answer your questions even after graduation.
Adolescent Undergraduate Education Facilities and Location
Molloy University is located near New York City, so you can work in city and Long Island schools. We work with public schools to provide you with hands-on experience, and many of these schools hire our undergraduate education students to work in their classrooms.
Our campus offers spacious facilities where you can convene to work on projects and use technology, like BenQ boards, that mimic what you will use in the classroom.
Career Outcomes for Adolescent Education Program Graduates
Our relationships with area school districts enable us to connect students with exciting employment opportunities teaching grades 7–12. There is a constant need for high school math and science teachers, and as more teachers retire, positions will continue to become available in all disciplines.
We report strong career placements, and some districts only want to hire middle and high school teachers trained at Molloy.
Adolescent Education Coursework and Field Experience
Credits vary based on your specialization but include:
- General education requirements (26–38 credits)
- Content area requirements (30–40 credits)
- Education requirements (31 credits)
- Elective requirements (1–8 credits)
- Total credits (121–122 credits)
Before your 14-week student teaching experience you will participate in two field experiences, for a total of 100 hours of observation/participation. Specifically:
- You will observe a local middle or high school in your first experience
- In the second experience, you will participate in pre-student teaching
During your final semester, you will student-teach full-time in the classroom with a cooperating teacher. You will have many opportunities to be observed by your Molloy University field supervisor and your cooperating teacher, who will provide feedback to help you improve your craft. Our graduates tell us they learn a lot from their time in the classroom.
Additionally, we offer STEM programs to local elementary, middle and high school students where our teacher candidates plan and present STEM activities.
Related Programs
Not sure our adolescent education program is for you? Explore additional degrees offered at Molloy: