Program: Secondary Education, Minor, Grades 7-12 Certification - Arcadia University

Apr 06, 2025

2016-17 Undergraduate Catalog

Arcadia University is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to certify students in the following six secondary education areas: Biology, Chemistry, General Science, English, Mathematics and Social Studies. Prospective secondary education teachers must complete requirements in their respective disciplinary major—Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics or Social Studies (History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology majors).

In addition, candidates for certification complete coursework in the Professional Education Core designed to prepare students to teach in grades 7-12. This constitutes a minor in Secondary Education. Advisers in the respective liberal arts and sciences departments will guide the student in the selection of disciplinary content courses, while secondary education faculty guide the student through the certification and Professional Education Core requirements. It is essential that all students pursuing certification in Secondary Education declare Secondary Education as a minor. Forms to declare a minor can be found on the Registrar’s Office website.

Students interested in secondary certification should consult with their disciplinary adviser and their education adviser as early as possible, preferably freshman year. All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification apply into the certification program during the spring semester of their sophomore year. See the section outlining the application process for all certification candidates.

Requirements for Secondary Education Minor with Certification in Grades 7-12

The following Professional Education courses are required for Secondary Education certification. Courses with an asterisk (*) are courses that apply to the Arcadia University Undergraduate Curriculum requirements:

Eight courses (22 credits)

ED 110 Teaching for Learning (3 credits) (meets Self and Society requirement) *
ED 201 Teachers as Researchers and Writers (3 credits) (meets Research Writing requirement) *
ED 226 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (3 credits)
ED 306S Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy (3 credits)
ED 315S Differentiated Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms
ED 375S Managing an Inclusive Classroom
ED 411 Designing Learning Environments (3 Credits)
US 324 Understanding Language Learning: Using Two Languages To Engage with the World (meets Writing, Self and Society and Crossing Boundaries designated requirements) *

Choose only one methodology course appropriate to your area of certification. (3 credits)

ED 412a Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: English (3 credits)
ED 412b Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Social Studies (3 credits)
ED 412c Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Mathematics (3 credits)
ED 412d Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Science (3 credits)

Student Teaching

ED 417 Student Teaching: Secondary (12 credits) *

Additional courses required by PDE

(PA Code, Chapter 354)

At least one course in Written Communication

EN 101 Thought and Expression I (4 credits) (meets Writing requirement) *

One course in American/English Literature

EN 229 Voices of America (4 credits) (meets Cultural Legacies requirement) *

Two Mathematics courses

MA 117 Mathematical Concepts I (meets Quantitative Reasoning requirement) *
MA 118 Mathematical Concepts II (meets Quantitative Reasoning requirement) *

Complete a full day field pre-student teaching experience the semester prior to student teaching.

Suggested Course Sequence

The following courses should be taken in the following sequence. Required Professional Education courses that also meet the Arcadia University Undergraduate Curriculum requirements are noted with an asterisk (*).

Freshman Year

Fall

EN 101 Thought and Expression I (4 credits) *

One course in Mathematics *

Any one of the following is recommended for majors who do not have a mathematics requirement.

Spring

ED 110 Teaching for Learning (3 credits) *
EN 229 Voices of America (4 credits)

Sophomore Year

Fall

ED 226 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (3 credits)

Spring

US 324 Understanding Language Learning: Using Two Languages To Engage with the World

Note:

By the end of the Spring Semester, certification program candidates will submit the following requirements as part of their application to the Secondary Education Programs:

Qualifying scores from PAPA, CORE SAT and/or ACT tests.
GPA of 3.0 or above.
Clearances: PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse, FBI clearances, TB Test results, and Arrest/Conviction report.

Acceptance to the program is required in order to continue to take 300 and above level professional education courses.

Note:

Certification program candidates also should complete the PAPA tests by the end of the sophomore year and submit passing scores when applying into the School of Education teacher certification program (GPA of 3.0 required).

Junior Year

Fall

ED 411 Designing Learning Environments (3 Credits)

Spring

ED 375S Managing an Inclusive Classroom (Note: ED375 has a required lab: ED375L)
ED 315S Differentiated Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms

Note:

In the spring semester, candidates for certification must Obtain Student Teaching Information from the Office of School and Community Collaborations (Taylor Hall, Room 101).

Senior Year

Fall

Choose only one course appropriate to your area of certification from the following:

ED 412a Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: English (3 credits)
ED 412b Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Social Studies (3 credits)
ED 412c Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Mathematics (3 credits)
ED 412d Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Science (3 credits)

Complete Pre-Student teaching Full day field Experience (Fieldwork one school day a week)

Note:

In the fall semester, candidates for certification must:

Complete Student Teaching application and submit by early September.
Have minimum GPA of 3.0 required for admission.
Make sure all clearances are current and valid.

Spring

ED 417 Student Teaching: Secondary (12 credits) (14 weeks full-time teaching)

Requirements for All Certification Undergraduate Program Candidates

Note: All undergraduates seeking PA Certification must meet the same requirements for admission, testing, and exit . Please see the School of Education section of the catalog for more information.