Dec 03, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Education Secondary Certification in Social Studies

Students interested in teaching a secondary area certification 7-12 in Social Studies, can pursue the certification requirements in either of two ways:

1. As an Education Minor. Student pursues History as a major and then should declare an Education minor and consult with their major disciplinary adviser and their School of Education adviser as early as possible, preferably first-year. All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification must have declared Education as a minor and formally apply into the teacher certification preparation program during the spring semester of their sophomore year (see UG teacher certification entry and exit requirements). See the School of Education section of the catalog for Education minor requirements.

2. As a BA Secondary Education, Social Studies major. (See catalog page for the major)

Requirements for Social Studies 7-12 Certification as an Education Minor.

Professional Education Courses

ED 110 Teaching for Learning (4 Credits) + Lab
ED 226 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (3 Credits) + Lab
ED 300 Teaching English Learners (4 credits)
ED 306S Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy: K-12 (3 Credits)
ED 375S Managing an Inclusive Classroom (3 Credits)
ED 315 Differentiated Instruction (4 Credits)
ED 411 Designing Learning Environments (4 Credits)
ED 412b Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Social Studies (3 Credits) + Lab (Meets IL requirement)
ED 417 Student Teaching: Secondary (12 Credits)

Certification Area Content Courses

HS 110 The West in the World, From the Great Voyages of Discovery to 9/11 (4 Credits)
HS 104 European Civilization, 1789 to Present (4 Credits)
ED 360 Public History (3 Credits)
PS 101 Introduction to American Politics (4 Credits) , PS150, PS220, PS241, or PS340
IS 265 Migration Politics in the Americas (4 Credits) , IS320, or IS330
EC 210 Principles of Macroeconomics (4 Credits) or EC211 PY101, PY102, PY153, or ED315
SO 101 Introductory Sociology (4 Credits) or ED110

Undergraduate ENTRY REQUIREMENTS for the Teacher Certification Preparation Programs

Recommended minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at the time of application.
No grade of “C or below” in a required certification course.
Completed and earned grades of C or better in 6 credits in Mathematics above the MA 100 level (recommended: MA 117 and MA 118).
Completed and earned grades of C or better in 6 credits in English. One course in Composition (EN 101) and one course in American/English Literature (recommended EN 119).
Completed 48 credits.
Meets Basic Skills testing requirements with qualifying scores and/or ACT/SAT qualifying scores.
Background Checks: Meets background check requirements using the Castle Branch System for
- Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)
- Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
- Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
- Tuberculosis (TB) test result

EXIT REQUIREMENTS for Teacher Certification Candidates

Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
Completion of an approved program of study leading to certification in the area of certificate requested.
Satisfactory completion of student teaching, fieldwork or internship (required grade of “B” or better) in the area of certification.
Completion of a professional portfolio.
Recommendation of University Certification Officer on the TIMS application.