Program Codes:
MSQSEPP
Master of Science
Availability: online
Introduction
The graduate program in Secondary Education is a 12-month, fully online program. The program has been developed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a content area of English, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, history, or other related fields. Individuals completing the requirements of the MSSE program can apply for Pennsylvania Department of Education teaching certification in grades 7-12.
Mission Statement
The MS Secondary Education: Pedagogy and Practice degree prepares students to attain Pennsylvania Certification in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, Math and Social Studies. Students in this program demonstrate strong pedagogical skills, leadership and service to others throughout the program. Graduate students approach teaching using a reflective-practitioner approach that requires strong content knowledge, leadership, hands-on experiences in the field and rigorous research skills. Courses adhere to the Pennsylvania Department of Education objectives listed for development of highly qualified teachers.
Accreditation
The curriculum has been developed to meet standards set forth by Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). We have been approved to offer certification in:
Admission Requirements
Thesis
All students must complete a thesis based on some topic related to secondary education. Approval of topics must be granted by the program director. In order to participate in graduation, student will be expected to defend their thesis project prior to the commencement date. Many students will need to gain approval through IRB prior to gathering their data. Please refer to the IRB section under Academics for a description on the processes and requirements.
Clinical and Student Teaching
To obtain PDE certification, teacher candidates must complete a 120 hour clinical experience and 12 week student teaching experience. Both experiences can be completed at a distance, but students may be subjected to an additional fee for hiring of a distance supervisor. Distance student teachers will still be required to participate in distance seminar. Students may student teach internationally up to 6 weeks. For those student teaching outside of Pennsylvania, all lesson plans must adhere to Pennsylvania state standards and students will be evaluated using PDE evaluative forms. Students are required to compile an exit portfolio at the end of student teaching. Students who register for courses with a clinical experience are required by PA state law to obtain ACT 24/82, ACT 34, ACT 114 and ACT 151 clearances, a clear TB test and the Mandatory Reporter Training Course. Copies of these clearances must be presented to the course instructor during the first week of class and submitted to the Education Office. Clearances must be updated every 36 months.
Praxis II Exam
Graduate students are not required to complete the PRAXIS I series exams, but must obtain a passing score on the PRAXIS II content knowledge in the area they are seeking certification. For more information on passing scores, exam registration, etc. please refer to: https://www.ets.org/praxis/pa/requirements.
Secondary Education Curriculum
The graduate program in Secondary Education operates on a semester calendar. Summer, fall and spring semester are completed in a predetermined sequence.
The summer curriculum is designed around the theoretical frameworks which underlie best practice in secondary education, the fall curriculum revolves around practical aspects of secondary education such as lesson planning, curriculum development, etc. and the spring semester wraps up the program with clinical placements, student teaching, and thesis.
Upon completion of the requirements for the master of science degree in Secondary Education - Pedagogy and Practice, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following competencies:
To obtain the Master of Science in Secondary Education degree students must successfully complete all requirements, including a minimum of 30 graduate credits, while maintaining a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average. To obtain the Pennsylvania Department of Education secondary teaching certificate (7- 12), students must complete a PDE application and have successfully passed and submitted the PRAXIS II content exam. Teacher candidates will apply for certification through the PDE Teacher Information Management Information System (TIMS) https://www.mypdeapps.pa.gov/.
This course will introduce students to the role of teaching as science, art, and social justice in urban middle and high schools. Topics include theory and application of critical pedagogy, the role of teacher as educational leader, the interconnectedness of school and community, and the application of inquiry-based learning leading to pedagogy of risk-taking.
The purpose of this course is to equip the secondary teacher candidate with expertise in current technology as an assistive learning tool and to explore the integration of literacy across disciplines as well as prepare content area teachers to support, accommodate and coach students with disabilities in develop content specific reading and to use these strategies to improve literacy for all students on content areas in grades 7-12.
Overview of the psychology of learning, motivation, growth and development, personality dynamics, and social adjustment with emphasis on the diversity of learners in today's classrooms.
This class addresses issues related to the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms and programs through policy, research, and practice. This class will give participants an opportunity to explore and develop their personal philosophy toward inclusion and collaboration in schools and communities. Participants will learn tools for collaboration, instructional strategies, assessment, and curriculum design, which will allow them to educate students with exceptionalities in the general education classroom.
The purpose of this course is to critically examine curriculum design and instruction for the 21st century middle and high school. The course will require students to analyze and develop standards-based instructional units, paying close detail to academic rigor, instructional decision-making, and urban educational theory. Includes a 30-hour clinical experience
The purpose of this course is to critically examine curriculum design and instruction for the 21st century urban middle and high school specific to the field of mathematics. The course will require students to analyze and develop standards-based instructional units, paying close detail to academic rigor, inquiry-based learning and instructional decision-making as they pertain to the field of mathematics.
The purpose of this course is to critically examine curriculum design and instruction for the 21st century urban middle and high school specific to the field of science. The course will require students to analyze and develop standards-based instructional units, paying close detail to academic rigor,inquiry-based learning and instructional decision-making as they pertain to the field of science.
The purpose of this course is to critically examine curriculum design and instruction for the 21st century urban middle and high school specific to the field of English. The course will require students to analyze and develop standards-based instructional units, paying close detail to academic rigor, inquiry-based learning and instructional decision-making as they pertain to the field of English.
The purpose of this course is to critically examine curriculum design and instruction for the 21st century urban middle and high school specific to the field of social studies. The course will require students to analyze and develop standards-based instructional units, paying close detail to academic rigor, inquiry-based learning and instructional decision-making as they pertain to the field of social studies.
This graduate course will examine educational research, with emphasis placed on understanding, conceptualizing, and critically analyzing single case experimental design. Special emphasis will be placed on the application, analysis, strategies, tactics, of single case research (within, between, and combined series designs) related to educational and clinical practices, and social issues. In addition, students will learn to critically evaluate published single case research paying special attention to design, methods, visual analysis, and experimental control.
This experience is designed to prepare students to assume full teaching responsibilities under the mentorship of secondary supervision in an urban setting. Students seeking secondary education certification who hold no teaching certificate are required to complete a 6-credit (360 hours) Capstone Clinical teaching experience in a middle or secondary school.
This capstone course provides an opportunity for students to engage in scholarly research to develop a research project that establishes a strong qualitative or quantitative project that may be theoretical or applied in nature. A strong literature review, detailed analysis, scholarly insights and defense of conclusions is required. Prerequisites: EDSP 502: Educational Research must be approved by the program director prior to initiating the research. Any Institutional Review Board applications must also be initiated through the program director.
4+1 in Secondary Education
The 4+1 program affords the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in only five years by taking graduate-level equivalent courses during their junior and senior years. Undergraduate majors complete EDUC210 Comparative Issues in Education (3 credits) and WL101 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners (3 credits) typically during their junior and senior years. Additional online graduate courses can be taken once the two equivalent courses have been taken. The 4+1 courses cannot be used towards the undergraduate 121 credit minimum. Students interested in the 4+1 must apply through the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education.