Secondary Education, MS

The Secondary Education program offers courses and fieldwork for students seeking an initial Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate, grades 7-12, in a specific academic area. The application deadline to the program is March 1st. Later applications may be accepted as program capacity allows. International students may be permitted to complete this program without certification if they have satisfied the teaching standards in their respective countries. Students in the program will pursue a Master of Science degree. The Master of Science degree requires 34 credits in course work and prepares grades 7-12 teachers who are planning to teach in various grades 7-12 content areas, including Biology, Chemistry, Communication, History, Political Science, English, General Science, Mathematics, and Physics. The Master of Science degree that prepares 7- 12 teachers in Modern Languages and Latin requires 36 credits. These programs require 70 hours of field experience, a semester of student teaching, and pass a comprehensive examination. Applicants who do not possess an undergraduate degree in the outlined above content areas may be required to take additional undergraduate course work.

International students may be permitted to complete this program, however, upon graduation, they will not be eligible for certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to state regulations. International students accepted into this program will be accepted on probation. They must take nine (9) graduate credit hours and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.00 at the conclusion of these 9 credit hours.

Program of Study for MS in Secondary Education

Students pursing the Master’s in Secondary Education must complete a total of 36 graduate credit hours, including 80 hours of field experience and a semester of student teaching, and pass a comprehensive examination.

Certification Areas: Biology, Chemistry, Citizenship with History, Citizenship with Political Science, Communications, English, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, Modern Languages and Latin.

Research Course Requirement (3 credits)

EFND 506 - Educational Research and Statistics

Foundation Course Requirements (9 credits)

Secondary Education Requirements

ESPC 501 - Inclusionary Classroom Practices
ESPC 506 - Education of the Exceptional Child
ESLS 503 - Introduction to English Language Learners
ERDG 517 - Literacy on the Secondary Level
ECUI 521 - Field Experience I
ECUI 526 - Field Experience II
ECUI 531 - Field Experience III
ESEC 536 , ESEC 541 , ESEC 542 , ESEC 546 , ESEC 551 Subject Methods (upon certification area)
ESEC 566 - Secondary Classroom Management and Discipline
ESEC 565 - Secondary Classroom Internship
Credits / Units: 36

Student Teaching and Praxis

Application for student-teaching must be uploaded into Taskstream. Students must pass the requisite Praxis Subject Assessment test(s), which are mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, prior to student-teaching and upload the score into Taskstream. The due dates for submitting student teaching application and Praxis scores are provided below. Taskstream will not be available for submitting applications after the established dates and time.

	Deadlines for
Term	Student teaching application	Submission of Praxis scores

Spring	No later than October 1, 11:59 p.m. for student teaching in spring semester	No later than January 1, 11:59 p.m., prior to the spring student teaching semester
Fall	No later than March 1, 11:59 p.m. for Student Teaching in Fall semester	No later than August 1, 11:59 p.m., prior to the fall student teaching semester

Additional Certifications and Self-Improvement

Students who already possess secondary teaching certification may pursue additional secondary certifications. Courses required for the additional certifications will depend on the areas(s) in which certification is sought and on previous work. The student should consult the Director of Graduate Education Programs regarding specific requirements.