B.A. In Secondary Education

Admission to Candidacy in Teacher Education

The undergraduate program in Secondary Education is designed for students who wish to obtain teaching credentials in secondary education while completing their majors in the humanities, arts, natural and social sciences. To do so, students complete a second major in Secondary Education designed to meet certification requirements in the District of Columbia and make them eligible for certification in over 40 states. Students should consult with the director of Teacher Education to coordinate their general and subject-area certification requirements with other university major requirements.

Undergraduates seeking teacher certification in secondary education should contact an advisor in the School of Education, Teaching & Health as early as possible. Admission to the university and declaration of a major does not constitute admission to candidacy in teacher education, which is based on academic and related performance criteria.

To be admitted to candidacy in the Teacher Education Program, students must:

• Earn a passing score (as set by the District of of Columbia teacher licensing agency) on PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Test
• Earn an average grade of 2.70 or higher in
  • EDU-205 Schools and Society
  • EDU-320 Psychology of Education
  • and a passing grade in EDU-321 Field Experience: Observation and Analysis
• Receive satisfactory recommendations from faculty
• Have an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher
• Have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher in their primary major

The Teacher Education Committee reviews student applications and makes decisions regarding admission to candidacy.

Liberal Arts and Science Requirements for Teacher Certification Program: Secondary

To qualify for teacher certification, students must meet subject-area certification standards. These requirements may overlap with General Education requirements.

Major Requirements

• 37 credit hours in Secondary Education course requirements with grades C or better.
• Completion of the major requirements with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in one of the following:

  American Studies
  Anthropology
  Biology
  CLEG (Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government)
  Chemistry
  Economics
  Environmental Studies
  French Studies
  Foreign Language and Communication Media
  Justice
  German Studies
  History
  International Studies
  Language and Area Studies
  Law and Society
  Literature
  Mathematics
  Music
  Performing Arts: Theatre
  Physics
  Political Science
  Spanish Studies
  Sociology
  Statistics
  Studio Art

• An overall grade point average of 2.70 with 3.00 or higher in their primary major
• All students must complete the Praxis II Exam prior to graduation. Course Requirements
  
• EDU-205/EDU-205G Schools and Society 4:2 (3)
• EDU-320 Psychology of Education (3)
• EDU-321 Field Experience: Observation and Analysis (1)
• EDU-492 Service Learning in Teacher Education (1)
• EDU-499 Student Teaching (12)
• EDU-520 Reading, Writing, and Literature across the Curriculum (3)
• EDU-522 Principles of Effective Methods and Instruction (3)
• EDU-540 Methods, Materials and Management in Secondary Education I (3) (or other methods courses offered by arts and sciences departments and approved by the SOE adviser)
• EDU-542 Methods, Materials and Management in Secondary Education II (3)
• EDU-541 Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children (3) or
  • EDU-545 Overview of All Exceptionalities: The Arts in Special Education (3)
• EDU-xxx Elective (2-3) as approved by SOE adviser

*Note: EDU-205, EDU-320 and EDU-321 must be taken prior to application for admission to the Teacher Education program.University Honors Program

Students in the University Honors Program have the opportunity to graduate with University Honors in the major. To do so, students complete 12 hours of advanced-level Honors work in the school and, upon the school's recommendation, graduate with University Honors in the major. The school's Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding school options.