Penn GSE : Teacher Education Program : M.S. Ed. degree and certification in secondary education: mathematics, social studies, English, world languages, Mandarin Chinese, science

Graduate Degree Program in Secondary Education (M.S. Ed.)

TEP is still accepting applications! Classes begin on July 14th, 2008 (program orientation on July 11, 2008).

This urban-focused, full-time, ten-month degree program prepares students to become reflective, collaborative, creative teachers. Students simultaneously pursue a master’s degree and certification in secondary education (grades 7–12) in any of the following areas:

In the secondary education program, coursework and the supervised student teaching experience mutually inform each other. Student teaching placements are carefully selected to provide meaningful experiences. The student teaching fieldwork provides the context for learning to teach, and grounds the intensive coursework in practical experience and active research. Students complete neighboorhood studies and volunteer placements during the summer term. Student teaching then occurs in both the fall and spring semesters. All student teachers are assigned to an urban public school for the full school year. This allows student teachers to gradually move into increased teaching responsibility in a familiar school environment with young students they get to know well over time.

All coursework supports students in developing knowledge about current research. It guides their growing skills as inquiring practitioners. Course assignments are integrated with fieldwork experiences so that students learn to think deeply and critically about their practice in the classroom. Program requirements include courses in sociocultural and psychological foundations for learning and methods of teaching, as well as seminars on such topics as health and human sexuality, learners with special needs, classroom management, pedagogy, and curriculum development. Instructional technology is woven throughout the coursework. As students capture and edit video, design websites, and explore educational software and productivity tools, they learn how to introduce this technology into classroom settings.

Program of Study
The M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education requires completion of 11 course units of approved graduate work. Because of the interdependence of the program’s coursework and fieldwork, students may not transfer in course credits from other graduate programs. The program requires that students participate on a full-time basis, beginning in mid-July and finishing the following May. As a culminating project, each student must construct a portfolio, which includes an artifact collection and an extensive analytic essay based on a research question that emerges from the student’s year of learning.

The program is designed for students with strong academic backgrounds in content areas that correspond with their areas of certification (mathematics, social studies, English, foreign language, and science). The program prepares creative and reflective teacher leaders, and it places particular emphasis on urban school teaching and learning. In the initial summer term, students take foundational courses in curriculum development, pedagogy, and the psychological foundations of interactions with adolescents. In the fall term, content-specific methods courses and half-day student teaching help students connect theory and practice. In the spring term, students do more intensive student teaching, and take courses that expand their knowledge base for making curriculum and teaching decisions. Instructional technology
is integrated throughout students’ coursework.

Fall
EDUC 577 Interactional Processes with Adolescents
EDUC 515 Field Seminar: Secondary Education (with student teaching)
EDUC 627 Teaching Methods, subject-specific
One approved GSE elective

Spring
EDUC 555 Advanced Field Seminar: Secondary Education (with student
teaching)
EDUC 657 Advanced Teaching Methods, subject-specific

MATHEMATICS:
Whether teaching algebra, geometry, or an advanced mathematics course, prospective teachers learn how to promote facility with data relationships. Student teachers learn to develop explicit connections between familiar situations, mathematical notation, patterns, and processes. Student teachers also learn the importance of using computer and calculator technologies in facilitating thinking processes and problem solving.

SCIENCE:
The secondary science education program emphasizes studying science through projects that are chosen for their relevance to adolescents and for their potential to foster inquiry. Readings, classes and assignments encourage student teachers to expand their students' mastery of science language and processes. Depending on their own backgrounds, students can prepare for certification in earth science, astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology, and general science.

ENGLISH:
The Secondary English Education program brings research on learning to teach, student-centered classrooms, and the National Writing Project to the foundational English methods courses in the fall and spring terms. Field supervisors and classroom mentors have connections with the local Philadelphia Writing Project to ensure a cohesive experience of theory and practice.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Student teachers learn the strategies for helping their students comprehend and demonstrate how geography, economics, law, and government are all interwoven with events in history.
Our program places special emphasis on the humanities approach in which primary texts drawn from literature— fiction, biography, and autobiography—enhance study of a time period.

Philadelphia is a very diverse city, and student teachers can have placements in secondary schools where French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Greek, or Latin are taught.

Our new specialization in world languages: Mandarin prepares speakers of Mandarin to teach Mandarin Chinese language and culture to high school students. Applicants must have taken on the undergraduate or graduate level a minimum of four courses in Chinese languages, history, art, literature, politics, culture or civilization in addition to being fluent in Mandarin. There will be a language assessment prior to admission.

Certification Requirements
Students will be recommended to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for Instructional I teacher certification when they have completed the degree requirements and passed all portions of the Praxis examinations required by the PDE. In addition, students are required by the PDE to have completed the following academic requirements in their undergraduate coursework:

These requirements can also be met through Advanced Placement waivers,which must appear on an applicant’s transcript. We urge students to complete these courses prior to the July program start date.

The PDE also requires the equivalent of an undergraduate major in the academic area in which the student wishes to obtain teaching certification, with a particular distribution of those major courses. This distribution is subject-specific. All secondary education applicants’ transcripts are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to see that these distribution requirements have been met.

The teacher education program accepts students on a rolling admissions basis. Admission is for the summer term only—the one-year program begins in mid-July.

Program Faculty
Michelle Loucas, M.A., San Francisco State University
Susan L. Lytle, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Jeanne Vissa, Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
Susan A. Yoon, Ph.D., Ontario Institute for Science Education

Degrees & Programs

Faculty

Policies & Procedures

Course Information

Contact Information