Share the love of Christ and grow as a servant leader to Middle and High School students.

As an Adolescence Education Major at Houghton University, gain the experience you need to teach grades 7-12 and pursue your initial teacher certification. This can be a single certification or together with a Grade 7-12 content area—math, science, English or social studies. In your first year, engage in diverse field and coursework. Those experiences paired with inclusive practices will prepare you for today’s classrooms. All along the way, you'll receive support from faculty mentors in a Christ-centered environment. You'll have the foundation you need to grow spiritually and as an educator.

Degree Snapshot

Undergraduate - Bachelor's

Degree Types: BA

Optional Content Area Certifications: Biology, Chemistry, English, Math, Physics or Social Studies

Program Credits: 124

Explore Courses & Degree Requirements Teaching Certification Meet the Faculty

What will I learn?

Houghton education major teaching in front of class during student teaching experience.

Through Houghton’s degree in Adolescence Education you will be equipped to serve a diverse body of students as you:

Pursue coursework in theories of teaching and learning including, literacy, special education, classroom management, curriculum, assessment, and content-specific teaching methods
Immerse yourself in diverse field experience and coursework starting in your first year
Observe, learn, and teach in a spectrum of schools. Including opportunities in rural and urban schools, or a half semester abroad.
Collaborate on research with education faculty members. Present your findings at international, national and regional conferences
Dedicate your senior year to a full semester of student teaching either locally or beyond Houghton; urban, rural or international locations

Why study Adolescence Education at Houghton?

Experiential Learning

At Houghton, you’ll have at least 100 hours of field experience prior to student teaching. Some of these opportunities may include:

Assisting with Math, Division, Literacy Days where groups of students come to campus
Summer AmeriCorps opportunities in Buffalo where you work with English Language Learners
Connecting with a teacher(s) for an entire year as part of your Junior Practicum
Service learning opportunities at organizations like Journey’s End Tutoring in Buffalo, Reading Club at King Center Charter School in Buffalo, or Allegany County Outreach

Inner City Immersion Experience

Experience teaching in an inner-city setting. Teaching in Urban America, is a two-week site experience in Buffalo, NY.

Observe and engage in a more diverse classroom setting
Discuss culture, poverty, privilege and race and their relationships with education
Engage in a service-learning project in the community
Explore the city of Buffalo

Intentional Mentoring by Faculty

At Houghton, your education professors serve as mentors throughout your coursework and fieldwork. They are committed to integrating theory, practice and Christian faith in their teaching

You will receive careful placement and personal oversight by full-time education faculty who know you well. All faculty have earned graduate degrees in specific areas of specialization and all have served as classroom teachers.

Courses & Degree Requirements

Popular Courses

EDUC 217 Education & American Culture

Explore the history and philosophy of education and how it influenced American education. Discover how culture, heritage, and language can also impact students' experience and education. You’ll consider the role of education and the responsibilities of teachers. By the end of the course, you'll develop an initial personal philosophy of education.

EDUC 221 Educational Psychology

Examine the teaching and learning processes of individuals. Focus on learning theory, developmental theory, information processing, motivation, intelligence and child and adolescent development.

EDUC 240 Teaching in Urban America

Gain a better understanding of race, class, and cultural issues in contemporary urban schools. You’ll develop an awareness of family and community as partners with schools in the education enterprise. You will also participate in a 10-day field experience in an urban school, working as a teachers’ assistant.

Degree Options

BA - 124 credits

41 credits
Required Courses

83 credits
Elective courses + general education

BA Degree Requirements

Second Major in Content Area

To receive an additional certification in one of the following content areas, you can pursue a double major or a minimum of 30 credit hours in that content area.

Biology
Chemistry
English
Math
Physics
Social Studies

How do I get my New York State teaching certification?

New York State Initial Teacher Certification

Upon completion of this program, you may apply for an Initial Teaching Certificate from New York State. In addition, you must complete the required New York State Teacher Certification Examinations appropriate to your desired teaching certificate(s).

More about NYS Teaching Certification

Steps to Professional NYS Certification

After completing your degree at Houghton and the required certification exams, you can begin working towards your professional teaching certification.

Pursue a Master's Degree
Gain Classroom Teaching Experience - 3 years or 540 days

Are there jobs in teaching?

Beginning in late 2017, job openings began to exceed hires in public education. Educators are needed in all areas of public education. For more details on the educator shortage and historical graphs, visit nea.org.

Chart Source: National Education Association
Data source: NEA analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, Seasonally Adjusted Data