Education

Requirements for the Secondary Education (Minor)

Students who plan to qualify for the secondary school teaching certificate should declare a minor in secondary education during their first year or upon declaring a major. To this end they should consult with the School of Education during their first year. For general academic purposes, students remain under the guidance of the program in which they are majoring.

Secondary Education Courses:

SED 201 Foundations of Special Education
ELL 206 English Language Learners
EDU 231 Educational Psychology
EDU 351 Reading in the Content Areas
EDU 451 Teaching in the Secondary School
EDU 452 Student Teaching and Seminar (Secondary)
SED 572 Secondary Field Experience

And the following disciplinary requirements:

Mathematics
6 semester hours, MTH 110 & 124 or SSC 252 & 253 recommended
English Composition and Literature
Six semester hours of English comp/literature

And recommended elective courses include:

PSY 101 Introduction to General Psychology
PSY 221 Childhood and Adolescence OR PSY 281 Principles of Learning and Memory

Admission to EDU 451 which is offered in the fall semester of the senior year is dependent upon:

1. The recommendation of the student’s major program;
2. Passing the Basic Skills Assessment or meeting the SAT/ACT score criteria;
3. A careful review of the student’s personal qualifications;
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000;
5. A minimum GPA of 3.000 in SED 201, EDU 351, 582, ELL 206, and EDU 231;
6. A minimum GPA of 3.000 “in the major” and;
7. The recommendation of a program screening panel during the spring semester of the junior year.

Continuance in the program is dependent upon maintaining the GPA requirements. Students should complete the specialty area test of the Praxis Series Examination prior to admission to EDU 451 Teaching in Secondary School. Students who have successfully completed EDU 451 and EDU 452 (student teaching) and the Praxis requirements, and have the recommendation of their major program and the School of Education will be recommended for certification to teach in Pennsylvania upon graduation.

NOTE: Student Teacher placements are made by the School of Education. Placements are final and cannot be changed. Transportation is the responsibility of the student teacher.

See the Undergraduate Catalog for specific requirements.