Frequently Asked Questions

What is E=mc²?
The program name, E=mc², stands for Educating Middle-grades Teachers for Challenging Contexts. It is a Transition to Teaching program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, designed to train midcareer and early retiree mathematics and science professionals as middle-grade teachers for high-need schools. With its academic components thoroughly integrated with field-based experiences, E=mc² provides a streamlined certification process to teach middle school students in Pennsylvania.

What is the academic component of the course?
Over the course of 4 semesters (including two summer sessions), program participants will complete 25 credits of courses and field experiences. The curriculum includes courses on early adolescent development, instructional methods appropriate for middle grades students, and strategies for responding to the needs of individual students. Participants are supported as field experiences progress from individual to small-group to whole-class instruction.

What is the field component of the course?
All of the coursework will be accompanied by field work in cooperating schools. This component of the program provides for progressively more involved participation in classroom teaching, beginning with observation in the first semester, followed by one-on-one tutoring, small group instruction, and occasional whole-class instruction in the second semester. Participants will progress to student teaching in the third and fourth semesters. E=mc² participants will be supported in their teaching by at least two master teachers and their cohort of E=mc² novice math and science teachers.

What qualifications are required for prospective teachers of mathematics?
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and strong background in mathematics, with credits in college-level math, including calculus, algebra, Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry, linear algebra, and number theory.

What qualifications are required for prospective teachers of science?
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and a strong science background in, for example, chemistry, biology, physics, or earth sciences, with credits in college-level science courses and their associated laboratories.

What other qualifications are required?
Both teachers of mathematics and of science should have several general education courses in college. These courses could include such topics as literature, history, political science, technical writing, and/or writing-intensive courses.

Are there other considerations for program admittance?
The selection process will focus on the applicants’ prior academic performance, relevant work experience, and potential as classroom teachers. Significant weight will be given to letters of reference and the applicants’ statements of goals. Applicants will be required to pass several standardized tests for teachers, the Praxis examinations, and submit their scores. These tests, among other things, measure basic academic skills; general and subject-specific knowledge; and teaching skills. In addition to being required by the state to receive a teaching certificate, the exams will be used by Temple faculty to individualize E=mc² the participant’s program. For the latest information on the Praxis exams, please contact Jeremy Wagner, Temple University College of Education, Telephone: (215) 204-2797, E-mail: jwagner@temple.edu.

Is there any financial support for participants in the program?
Yes! E=mc² will provide participants with a $5,000 partial tuition subsidy, with the potential for up to $15,000 of support.

Can I keep my current job while participating in E=mc²?
In the first 2 terms, yes—provided you have the flexibility to attend some daytime classes and can fully participate in student teaching.

Where and when can I apply?
Online applications are now available. Go to http://www.temple.edu/education/emc2/Emc2DynamicApplication.pdf

What is my obligation to the program?
Candidates accepted into the E=mc² program are required to teach in a public school for 3 years in one of our partner districts, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, or Chester-Upland. Candidates will be asked to sign a memorandum of understanding stipulating their obligations to the program. Candidates that do not fulfill this agreement will be required to reimburse the E=mc² program for tuition and books received.

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