COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master’s in Secondary Education (MSSE) program at the University at Albany is typically completed in about 18 months, although the duration may vary depending on a student’s pace. The program is designed to combine academic coursework with extensive field-based experiences in schools, allowing future teachers to gradually build their skills in real classroom environments. Students often begin the program with two summer courses, followed by graduate-level classes during the fall and spring semesters while participating in school-based field experiences. In the final fall semester, students complete full-time student teaching along with a graduate seminar, where they reflect on and analyze their classroom experiences in depth. The curriculum is organized into several key areas. The Foundations of Education component includes courses such as Teachers in Context, Adolescent Development, Assessment in Education, and Characteristics of and Methods for Teaching Exceptional Secondary Students in Inclusive Settings. These courses provide essential knowledge about how students learn, how to assess learning, and how to support diverse learners in inclusive classrooms. The Teaching Methods and Field Experiences section focuses on practical instructional training, including Teaching Middle School: Methods and Field Experience (6 credits), Teaching High School: Methods and Field Experience (9 credits), and Teaching in the Secondary School (3 credits), all of which help students develop classroom management and lesson planning skills. The Technology, Media, and Literacy component includes Media Literacy and either Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum or Teaching Composition in the Secondary School, depending on the student’s subject concentration. Students also complete Advanced Study in their content area by taking two graduate-level courses (500-level or above) in their chosen subject specialization. In addition, the program requires completion of New York State certification training requirements, including School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SAVE), Child Abuse Identification and Reporting, and the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Overall, the program prepares students to become confident, reflective, and certified secondary school teachers equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical classroom experience.