Teacher Education Home Page
Initial Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Program: Grades 7-12
Temple University offers paths to initial certification in a variety of subject areas and with several design approaches. All options involve earning the equivalent of an academic major in a content area as well as taking pedagogy courses and development courses that explain how to effectively teach the content area to adolescents.
The possible Secondary Education certificates include:
Mathematics Education
Applicants seeking to become high school math teachers can choose between two programs that differ primarily in terms of the proportion of courses in the mathematics major, and the proportion of education-related courses on the nature of adolescents and how to teach.
Middle School (7th & 8th Grades) and High School Mathematics Program
The Mathematics Education program follows the standards and recommendations of leading mathematics professional organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 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.
The program includes:
- 16 courses offered by the College of Science and Technology that provide comprehensive content knowledge of mathematics (e.g., calculus, probability theory, modern geometry, etc.)
- 15 courses offered by the College of Education that provide comprehensive knowledge of adolescent development and effective techniques for teaching mathematics to diverse learners.
If you have additional questions about the Mathematics Education program, please contact:
Steve Ryan, Assistant Professor
email: spryan@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-5240
TUteach and Mathematics Education
The TUteach program is grounded in the “How People Learn” framework described in recent National Academy of Science publications. Compared to the traditional Mathematics Education program (above), the streamlined education-related courses of TUteach have less comprehensive treatment of teaching techniques, management and adolescent development. The TUteach program prepares students to pursue the same career options as other math majors or to teach high school mathematics.
The program includes:
- 19 courses offered by the College of Science and Technology that provide increased content knowledge
- 10 courses offered by the College of Education on the nature of learning and effective instructional techniques.
If you have additional questions about the TUteach program, please contact:
Linda Jones, TUteach Coordinator
email: lcjones@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-9165
Lisa Mathason, CST, TUteach Advisor
email: lisa.mathason@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-2890
Science Education
Applicants seeking to become high school science teachers can choose between two programs that differ primarily in terms of the proportion of courses in the science major and the proportion of education-related courses on the nature of adolescents and how to teach.
Science Education
The Science Education program, endorsed by the National Science Teachers Association, 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.
TUteach and Science Education
The TUteach program is grounded in the “How People Learn” framework described in recent National Academy of Science publications and has a strong emphasis on project-based instruction (learning content by intensive exploration of a problem rather than by solely listening to lectures). The TUteach program prepares students to pursue the same career options as other science majors or to teach high school science.
The TUteach program includes:
- 1-2 additional courses in the science major
- 4-5 fewer education-related courses
If you have additional questions about the TUteach program, please contact:
Linda Jones, TUteach Coordinator
email: lcjones@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-9165
Lisa Mathason, CST, TUteach Advisor
email: lisa.mathason@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-2890
World Languages Education
The World Languages 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 World Languages 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 World Languages program offers certification in:
- Spanish
- French
- Italian
- German
- Latin
- Portuguese
- Hebrew
If you have additional questions about the World Languages Education program, please contact:
Elvis Wagner, Assistant Professor
email: elvis.wagner@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-5821
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 can 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.
If you have additional questions about the English Education program, please contact:
Michael Smith, Professor and Department Chair
email: mwsmith@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-6137
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. 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.
If you have additional questions about the Social Studies Education program, please contact:
Christine Woyshner, Associate Professor
email: christine.woyshner@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-6147
