Secondary Education
Bachelor's Degree / Certification Program (CITE)

Focus areas: Math, science, English, social studies, world languages.

Program Description:

Students concentrating in secondary education choose a content area specialty and pursue a dual major in their content area and in education. Students can pursue a teaching certificate in secondary education in English, social studies, foreign language, mathematics or science (general science, biology, chemistry or physics).

Although each area of concentration has its own specific goals, the programs that prepare students for secondary school teaching aim to produce high quality professionals with the skills required to engage adolescents and help them take control of their own learning.

Because secondary education at the undergraduate level requires a double major and leaves little space in the curriculum for electives, some students may prefer to consider the College's five-year teacher preparation. Students accepted into the five-year program take four graduate level education courses as undergraduates and then complete a master's degree with certification in their fifth year of study.

Program Overview (by speciality):

English Education

The specialization in English Education emphasizes the social, intellectual and discursive skills necessary to ensure that students can not only survive but thrive in a rapidly expanding world. Courses stress connections between the advanced literacy demands of high school and the similarities and differences in the literacies necessary to thrive in home and school communities. The English Education program seeks to prepare teachers to engage secondary students in the production and interpretation of literary and non-literary spoken and written texts. Graduates of this specialization will be able to identify the basic structures and functions of language; become familiar with the texts and histories of American, European and non-Western literary genres; and place reading and writing within the larger context of films, plays, videos and other forms of expression.

Foreign Language Education

The Foreign Language Education program is devoted to providing students with a combination of fluency in the target language and the ability to implement best practices in foreign language pedagogy. The program is framed by a world languages approach which holds that learning and teaching of a foreign language means learning and teaching alternative world views. The foreign language education program emphasizes that learning a foreign language also means learning about another way of life and avoiding a narrow cultural perspective by developing intercultural understanding. Through the experiences in this program students gain a deeper understanding of the nature of language and culture.

The foreign language program offers certification in Spanish and in French, Italian, German, Latin, Portuguese and Hebrew. Although most graduates work in secondary school settings, there is an increasing need for foreign language teachers in elementary schools, especially for teachers of Spanish. In response to this need, the curriculum is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills they can apply in K-12 settings.

Mathematics Education

The mathematics education program aims to prepare students to teach mathematics in middle and secondary schools. The program follows the standards and recommendations of leading mathematics professional organizations. The curriculum is designed to provide candidates with knowledge of the interests and abilities of students at different levels of mathematics achievement. The program emphasizes problem-solving skills, mathematical thinking processes and methods of actively engaging children and young adults in their own learning. Students in mathematics education complete the mathematics education curriculum in the mathematics department as well as the curriculum in the College of Education.

Science Education

The science education program aims to prepare high quality middle and secondary school teachers in the areas of biology, chemistry, earth and space science, general science and physics. The National Science Teachers Association has endorsed the curriculum framework. The program requires a strong foundation in at least one science discipline with supporting expertise in mathematics as appropriate. Students graduate with an understanding of the nature of science and its complex relationship to the society in which it functions and which it serves. Students complete majors in both a science discipline and in education.

Social Studies Education

The professional preparation program in social studies aims to prepare teachers with the skills necessary to create an informed citizenry with respect for diversity in a democratic society. The program emphasizes critical thinking about social studies curriculum frameworks and materials; curriculum development grounded in teaching for understanding; and sensitivity around controversial areas such as race relations, gender issues, war, peace, equality of economic and social opportunities, and global interdependence. It seeks to prepare teachers for the challenges and rewards of teaching in twenty-first century classrooms. Undergraduates generally pursue a double major in history and education, although students can major in other social science areas and complete the certification program in social studies education.

The program in social studies education has the following objectives:

• To produce teachers with a solid background in the liberal arts with knowledge and expertise derived from academic content areas;
• To assure an instructional content base consistent with the standards for certification adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National Council for the Social Studies;
• To develop an understanding of the relevance of the social studies curriculum to the contemporary world;
• To encourage an awareness of the importance of developing students' critical thinking and problem solving skills for assessing and evaluating information and making informed decisions;
• To promote an attitude of professionalism and a desire for growth as a professional.

Contact Information

For more information about this program, please contact:

Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, & Technology in Education
College of Education
Temple University
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19122

phone: (215) 204-2117/8377