Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education-Math Education

The Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education-Math Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University prepares individuals with strong mathematics backgrounds to become certified teachers in grades seven through 12. This 19-credit non-degree certificate program is designed for college graduates and professionals seeking a career change. It provides a streamlined, practice-oriented route to initial teacher certification in secondary mathematics.

Participants develop deep pedagogical knowledge and practical instructional skills aligned to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s academic standards. The curriculum includes coursework in adolescent development, inclusive and equitable teaching strategies, and content-specific methods for teaching upper middle and high school mathematics.

You’ll also complete a full-time, supervised student teaching placement to build your confidence and classroom readiness in a real-world educational setting. Courses are offered on a part-time schedule with evening sessions at Temple’s Main Campus in Philadelphia—making the program flexible and accessible to working professionals and those currently teaching on emergency permits.

Why study Secondary Education-Math Education in the College of Education and Human Development?

In this program, you’ll explore how to meet the diverse needs of students at various levels of mathematical proficiency. Graduates are well-prepared to teach algebra I and II, geometry, pre-calculus, and foundational data and statistics content in secondary school environments. Emphasis is placed on the following skills.

• Fostering mathematical reasoning and conceptual understanding

• Building students’ confidence and critical thinking through problem-solving

• Engaging adolescents in active, inquiry-based mathematics learning

Program Outcomes

You’ll be equipped to 

• build deep content knowledge in algebra, geometry, statistics and mathematical reasoning; 

• design inclusive, standards-aligned lessons for diverse secondary learners;

• engage students in problem-solving, inquiry and real-world math applications; 

• create equitable, student-centered classrooms that foster positive math identities; and

• demonstrate professionalism and readiness for Pennsylvania teacher certification.

Program Format & Curriculum

The Secondary Education-Math Education Graduate Certificate program comprises 19 credits. Courses are held on Temple’s Main Campus in Philadelphia, though some online and hybrid options are available. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. You can attend full time or part time, and you have up to four years to complete the program.

You’ll complete the following courses.

Core Pedagogy and Inclusion Courses (13 credits)

• Literacy in the Disciplines (Secondary Education) (3 credits)
• Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities (3 credits)
• Foundations of Language Teaching (3 credits)
• Supervised Teaching (4 credits)

Mathematics Methods Courses (6 credits)

• Teaching Math in Middle Grades (3 credits)
• Teaching STEM through Project-Based Instruction (3 credits)

Fieldwork 

In addition to state certification exams and student teaching, you must complete field experiences as part of your coursework. Field placements are designed to give you teaching experience working with children in educational and noneducational settings. Students must complete required clearances and prerequisite coursework before beginning fieldwork. The majority of field experiences require students to spend seven full days over the course of a semester in the classroom. The Supervised Teaching course involves a full-time teaching placement in a secondary classroom under the guidance of a mentor teacher and university supervisor. During the student teaching semester, students are required to spend every day in the classroom for 14 weeks.