Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education (CITE)
Graduate Certification Program (GCP)
Masters in Education (M.Ed.)
Program Description
The Graduate Certification Program (GCP) at Temple prepares students and working professionals with undergraduate majors outside education that make an important contribution to educating today's youth. In fact, current trends in education emphasize the important role of subject-matter experts in the teaching field.
Teacher Certification
Upon completion of the program, students receive a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) and a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate. Students may apply to the Career/Technical, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, or Special Education tracks of the GCP.
Working Toward Your Degree
Earlier in the program, most students qualify for a Pennsylvania Intern Certificate, which allows them to teach in Pennsylvania public schools for three years with all the rights and privileges of any professional employee. The Intern Certificate is only valid in the state of Pennsylvania.
Program Overview
Core Course Requirements
Sample advising sheets for the courses to be taken in all specializations of the GCP are available below for review online. Students should register for Education 5203 (403): Effective Teaching-Theory. One semester of full-time, supervised teaching is required of all students. During the semester in which students complete full-time supervised teaching, they are required to register for Education 5288 (406): Supervised Teaching and Education 5275 (412): Seminar in Supervised Teaching (Career/Technical, Elementary, and Secondary tracks only).
Specializations within the Graduate Certification Program
There are four specializations within the GCP. Students interested in attaining a teaching certificate will enroll in one of the following program specializations:
Career & Technical Education GCP Specialization - This specialization is for individuals who wish to teach in the areas of Business, Computer, and Information Technology; Industrial Education; or Marketing Education. The certification for Industrial Education is for grades seven through twelve. For Business, Computer, and Information Technology and for Marketing Education, the certification is kindergarten through twelve. See also: Career & Technical Education GCP Specialization Worksheet [pdf].
Elementary Education GCP Specialization [pdf] - This is the specialization for people interested in teaching elementary - school students. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be certified to teach students in grades kindergarten through six. Under certain conditions, elementary certified teachers can also teach in the middle schools.
Secondary Education GCP Specialization [pdf] - This specialization is for people who are interested in teaching secondary - school students in a specific content area. The program provides for certification in teaching English, Mathematics, Sciences, and Social Studies Education in grades seven through twelve and Foreign Languages in grades kindergarten through twelve.
Special Education GCP Specialization - This specialization is for people who are interested in teaching children with mental or physical disabilities in grades kindergarten through twelve. See also Special Education GCP Specialization Worksheet [pdf]
*PDF documents require Adobe Reader or other PDF document viewer.
Admission Requirements
Candidates must meet the general admission standards of the College of Education and the Graduate School. Admission is determined according to professional letters of recommendation, a Professional Goals' Statement, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, scores on either the verbal and quantitative tests of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and successful completion of Praxis I examinations. A personal interview is not required.
Minimum GRE/MAT Requirement:
Applicants must take either the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE or take the MAT in order to be admitted to the program. The GRE is computer administered. Information on the administration of the GRE maybe obtained by calling 800-GRE-CALL or by contacting www.ets.org The MAT is offered twice weekly and on some Saturdays at Temple University’s Measurement and Research Center and at other locations. For an appointment to take the MAT at Temple University, applicants may visit the Center at 300 Sullivan Hall or call 215-204-8611. Scores on the GRE or MAT are acceptable only if taken during the five years prior to application.
Applicants are expected to score in the 50th percentile or above on the GRE or MAT. Non-native speakers of English must take the TOEFL examinations. Scores of at least 575 are necessary for admission to the program (230 on the computer based version). Students who score between 575 and 600 (230-250 on the computer- version) must take an English refresher course.
Minimum GPA Requirement:
Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. There are two types of possible exceptions.
- Standard exceptions:
- 3.5 UGPA during the last two years.
- Minimum of 3.25 Graduate GPA for nine hours (typically taken as a non- matriculated student in the GCP.)
- GRE or MAT scores at or above the 65th percentile.
- Special exceptions: Applicants who do not meet regular admission criteria may be considered for a special exception if a compelling case can be made for admitting them. These special exceptions will only be rarely granted.
Prerequisites
Applicants to all programs must have at least six undergraduate credits in college - level mathematics and at least six undergraduate credits in English composition and English literature combined to be considered for admission to the GCP. These requirements must be fulfilled prior to admission.
Students may take up to, but not more than, nine semester hours of graduate study in the GCP before being admitted to the program. The credits will transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students enrolling in courses before being admitted to the program are not guaranteed admission.
Additional prerequisites vary depending on your desired program, as described below:
CTE Prerequisties
Students interested in the GCP – Career and Technical Education must meet the prerequisite requirements of their subspecialty – Business, Computer and Information Technology, Industrial or Marketing Education. Students interested in admission to Business, Computers, and Information Technology should contact Dr. Victor Gbomita, 215-204-6226, Ritter Hall 360. Students interested in Industrial Education should contact Dr. Thomas Walker, 215-204-3263, Ritter Hall 351. Students interested in Marketing Education should contact Dr. Victor Gbomita, 215-204-6226, Ritter Hall 360.
Elementary Education Prerequisites
Prerequisite to admission to the GCP- Elementary Education specialization is evidence of a course in each of the following five areas. It can be an undergraduate or a graduate level course with a grade of "C" or better.
- One of the following: U.S. History, American Government, World History,Foundations of American Education, U.S. Economics, and Law in Education
- One of the following: Multicultural Education, African American Studies, Latin American Studies, Asian Studies, and other courses dealing with studies in race.
- Two of the following: English Composition, English Usage, Linguistics, and Literature (English Language), and Journalism.
- One of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, Health Education, Physics, and a Laboratory Science.
- Two of the following: Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, and College Mathematics
Secondary Education Prerequisites
Before being admitted to the GCP- Secondary Education specialization, applicants must have completed all prerequisite courses in their subject matter (e.g., mathematics, English). The subject - matter advisor makes the determination of which courses are prerequisites. The following chart depicts the approximate number of credits required for entry into various secondary-education subject areas.
| Subject to be Certified | Approximate Number of Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Biology | 30 |
| Chemistry | 30 |
| Earth Science | 30 |
| English | 36 |
| French | 36 |
| General Science | 30 (covering at least three of the above science areas with a year plus a concentration in any area) |
| German | 36 |
| Hebrew | 36 |
| Italian | 36 |
| Mathematics | 30 (Beginning w/Calculus) |
| Physics | 30 |
| Portugese | 36 |
| Social Studies | 36 (including 27 semester hours in history and the balance in economics, geography, political science and sociology/anthropology) |
| Spanish | 36 |
*Non-native speakers must have 10 (3 credit) courses beyond the first two elementary courses with a minimum of 30 s.h. in the foreign language at the college level for certification in one foreign language. Work should include courses in conversation, composition, culture and civilization, linguistics, and contemporary literature. Native speakers must have eight courses at a university taken in the department of the language of certification (e.g., the Spanish Department) at their level of knowledge of the language, literature, and culture and linguistics. There are no foreign language examinations which award credit by examination at Temple.
Candidates must pass proficiency tests in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in each language of certification prior to acceptance in the program.
Special Education Prerequisites
Students who apply to the GCP - Special Education track are expected to have a course in teaching reading and mathematics. These courses, however, may be taken early in the program and are not prerequisites for admission.
How to Apply:
Completed applications must include:
- Completed Graduate School Online Application.
- Three professional letters of recommendation.
- Two copies of Professional Goals’ Statement.
- Two copies of official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited colleges or universities attended.
- Scores from GREs or MATs (current within five years of application date).
- Scores from PRAXIS Examinations. All applicants must pass all sections of PRAXIS I. These include one – hour Preprofessional Skills Tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.
- TOEFL examinations scores for non-native speakers of English.
Deadlines:
Completed applications are accepted year round and are processed as they are received (except during the summer months). It takes applicants about six to eight weeks to learn an admission's decision once an application is completed.
The admissions deadlines are as follows:
- Fall Semester – April 1
- Spring Semester – October 1
- Summer – May 1
Teaching Certifications
Intern Certificate
The GCP provides the academic training and practical experiences necessary to earn teaching certification. Students may first earn an Intern Certificate. The Intern Certificate is a temporary teaching certificate that expires three years from issuance and is valid only in the state of Pennsylvania. The Intern Certificate is not renewable. Applicants must be citizens of the United States or permanent residents (except for Foreign Language students.) The requirements for the Intern Certificate are as follows:
Career and Technical Education
- Available upon promise of employment from a school district and completion of statutory requirements.
- Pass: All sections of Praxis I and required sections of Praxis II (see p.9).
- Pass: Criminal background test, child abuse clearance, and tuberculosis test.
Elementary Specialization
- Complete with
a grade of "B" or better:
- Education 5203 (403) - Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice
- Education 5288 (406) - Supervised Teaching
- Education 5275 (412) - Seminar in Supervised Teaching
- Two pedagogy (i.e., teaching methods) courses. (A total of 15 s.h.)
- Pass: All sections of Praxis I and required sections of Praxis II.
- Pass: Criminal check of State of Pennsylvania, child abuse clearance, and tuberculosis test.
Secondary Specialization
- Complete
with grade of "B" or better:
- Education 5203 (403) - Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice
- Education 5288 (406) - Supervised Teaching
- Education 5275 (412) - Seminar in Supervised Teaching
- One or two pedagogy (i.e., teaching methods) courses in area of specialty (A total of 12 - 15 s.h.)
- Pass: All sections of Praxis I and required sections of Praxis II.
- Pass:Criminal check of State of Pennsylvania, child abuse clearance, and tuberculosis test.
Special Education
- Complete
with a grade of "B" or better:
- Education 5203 (403) - Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice.
- Two (2) Pedagogy Courses (i.e., teaching methods) courses
- Pass: All sections of Praxis I and required sections of Praxis II.
- Pass:Criminal check of State of Pennsylvania, child abuse clearance, and tuberculosis test.
Instructional I Certification
In order to receive Instructional I Certification, students must complete all courses in the program, pass all required sections of PRAXIS I and II, pass a tuberculosis test and receive child abuse and background clearances of the State of Pennsylvania. In addition those individuals completing Supervised Teaching after September 1, 2003 will have to pass a statewide performance evaluation and inventory based on Department of Education guidelines. Applicants must be citizens of the United States or permanent residents (except for Foreign Language students.)
Once the Temple certification officer receives a certification application, it takes about two weeks to process it. It takes approximately another six to eight weeks for the process to be completed at the State level.
Extending Certification
Students holding certification in one area of teaching sometimes wish to extend certification to another area without entering or reentering a graduate degree program. In such cases students should initiate contact with a faculty member in the desired area to work out a program. The following conditions will prevail:
- Students will take any necessary prerequisite courses in their desired new area of certification.
- Students will take all necessary core and pedagogy courses not previously in the student's background.
- Students will pass the required specialty area on the PRAXIS II.
- Students will not be required to take another semester of Supervised Teaching.
An exception to the above involves students who are certified in any area who wish to become certified in a secondary area. Such students need only pass the Specialty Area Test of PRAXIS II in the new area. For example, a student who is certified in Elementary Education or Social Studies Education need only pass the Specialty Area Test in English PRAXIS II to become certified in English. It is not necessary to take the prerequisite or pedagogy courses in English.
Summary of PRAXIS Examinations
The PRAXIS consists of a series of examinations used by the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Education to assess whether an individual possesses the necessary skills to become an effective teacher. The PRAXIS I Examinations consist of three individual tests Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. PRAXIS II evaluates a student's knowledge in her or his specialty area. Due to the admissions requirements of the GCP, all students admitted to the program will have passed PRAXIS I. Depending on their specialty area, students will have PRAXIS II requirements in order to receive the Instructional I certificate.
For general information on the PRAXIS Examinations, including the most recent Pennsylvania requirements, students are also encouraged to discuss the PRAXIS tests with their advisors and to either visit the Department of Education website at www.state.pa.us.gov.us or call The Pennsylvania Office of Teacher Certification at (717) 787-3356. Students may obtain information on testing dates and locations from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at www.ets.org. The ETS website also provides examples of the required test items through a link to "Tests at a Glance." Students may take paper and pencil versions of PRAXIS tests at specific times and locations. A computerized version of PRAXIS I only is available during business days at the Computer Based Teaching Center, 7th and Walnuts St., Philadelphia, (215) 238-8380.
Students seeking Temple assistance for the PRAXIS Examinations should visit the Student Resource Center, 150 Ritter Annex, and (215) 204-8011.
It is crucial that students pay close attention to test requirements, test codes, and registration information in order to avoid taking the wrong examinations and having their teaching certification delayed. The Appendix provides a resource list for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The PRAXIS II Examination requirements for the Intern and Instructional I certificates are as follows:
Career & Technical Education PRAXIS II
Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test (2 hrs.) for people seeking K-12 certification. (Business, Computer, and Information Technology; Marketing Education). Specialty Test (Business, Marketing, or Vocational General Knowledge) (2 hrs. the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or (In addition Industrial - Education students must pass the Occupational Competency Assessment of Praxis I.)
Elementary Education PRAXIS II
- Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test (2 hrs.)
- Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (2 hrs.)
Secondary Education PRAXIS II
- Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test (2 hrs.) (Foreign Language only.)
- Specialty Area Test (e.g., English, Foreign Language, Math, Science, or Social Studies (2 hrs.)
Special Education PRAXIS II
- Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test (2 hrs.)
- Education of Exceptional Students: Core Content Knowledge (2 hrs)
Practicum and Supervised Teaching
Early in their program, all GCP students should register for Ed. 5203 (403) Effective Teaching - Theory and Practice.
Students in all tracks must register for Ed. 5288 (406) - Supervised Teaching during the semester in which they are doing full-time supervised teaching. Students in the Career & Technical, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education tracks must also register for Education 5285 (412) - Seminar in Supervised Teaching the same semester. During this semester students will be teaching full-time on a daily basis. Such activities take place only during the fall or spring semesters. During the semester of Supervised Teaching, students will receive assignments from and be observed and supervised by a Temple faculty member. Students who obtain paid teaching positions might be eligible to be observed at the school in which they are teaching. Long-term substituting positions are acceptable Supervised Teaching arrangements. Daily substituting at different locations is not an acceptable teaching arrangement. Students who do not acquire paid teaching positions will be placed by Temple at an appropriate teaching site where they will work with a cooperating teacher, but will not be paid for their teaching activities. These students will also receive assignments and be supervised by a Temple faculty member. A requirement for doing supervised teaching is that students must have passed all necessary sections of Praxis II. (In addition Industrial Education students must pass the Occupational Competency Assessment of Praxis I.)
Each of the tracks has specific prerequisites for Supervised Teaching. A minimum of one semester in advance of enrolling in Supervised Teaching, students must register on-line (https://mdev.temple.edu/coe/), declaring their intention to do Supervised Teaching. This is in addition to the normal registration procedure for all courses. The final step in the process is to obtain the advisor's signature. A student may register for Supervised Teaching as far as one year in advance. All students in Supervised Teaching will have a $50.00 University fee added to their semester bills.
ADVISORS
Upon being admitted to the GCP, students will be assigned a faculty advisor in their teaching areas. Shortly after being admitted, students should make an appointment with their advisors to plan their programs.
Retention in the Program
A student is expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward attaining a Master's in Education degree. Graduate students at Temple University:
- May earn no more than two grades of less than "B-" quality, beginning with the semester during which they apply to the Graduate School;
- May receive no more than one grade of "F," beginning with the semester during which they apply to the Graduate School;
- Must have at least a 3.0 grade point average at graduation;
- Must register for at least one course every fall and spring semester.
- May not graduate with an "I" for "incomplete" or an "NR" for "Not Recorded" on their graduate record at Temple.
Contact Information
For more information about this program, contact:
Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education
College of Education
Temple University
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, RH 3rd FL
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
phone: (215) 204-2117/8377
fax: (215) 204-1414