The curriculum for the preparation of teachers for secondary school certification has three components:

• a representative core of general education courses
• a concentration of studies in an academic discipline
• designated courses in professional education

• Sciences
• Secondary Biology
• Secondary Chemistry
• Secondary Earth and Space Science
• Secondary General Science
• Secondary Physics
• Secondary English
• Modern Foreign Languages
• German
• Spanish
• Secondary Mathematics
• Secondary Social Studies

Professional Education

All students enrolled in the Secondary Education curriculum complete a professional concentration focusing on knowledge, skills and dispositions associated with teaching in the middle and secondary school.  This concentration emphasizes:

• Foundational understanding about American education
• The cognitive, affective, sensory, and psychomotor behaviors consistent with the growth and development of secondary school youth
• Understanding, selecting and organizing the methods and skills in each of the academic disciplines that are most appropriate in enabling students to attain desired behaviors
• Measurement and evaluation as a process for analysis and decision making in the classroom
• Clinical experiences and applications associated with pre-professional field experiences and student teaching
• Appropriate use and application of technology

Required Professional Education Courses

• SEDU271 Education in a Multicultural Society
• SEDU306 Content Literacy in the Middle and Secondary Schools
• SEDU381 Measurement and Evaluation in the Middle and Secondary School
• SEDU383 Education Technology and Computer Literacy
• SEDU491 Professional Performance in Middle and Secondary Schools
• SEDU495 Student Teaching
• One Instructional Techniques Course:
• SEDU565 Instructional Techniques for Secondary English
• SEDU571 Instructional Techniques for Secondary Mathematics
• SEDU572 Instructional Techniques for Secondary Science
• SEDU573 Instructional Techniques for Secondary Social Studies
• SEDU574 Instructional Techniques for Modern Foreign Languages
• SEDU575 Secondary Field Experience
• SPED330 Exceptional Learners

A student in Secondary Education must earn at least a grade of C in each course presented toward fulfillment of the minimum number of hours required for graduation and certification in the student's major academic field, professional education courses and student teaching, including required supporting courses.

Courses in specialization areas may be used, where appropriate, to meet General Education requirements thus permitting students to complete degrees within or close to the minimum 120 hours required for graduation.  This requires careful planning.

All Secondary Education majors must complete a three semester hour literature course in addition to ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 and a math course at the 100 level or above in addition to MATH 104 to comply with PDE certification requirements.