Professional Educator Programs

The College of Education strives to prepare caring, competent, and qualified professionals for educational settings. Aspiring teachers, must know the content they will teach, know how to teach the content, and meet high standards of teacher professionalism. To this end, programs in the College of Education are conceptualized around the notion of valuing the diversity of individual learners. We believe in the inherent worth of learners and that in schools and classrooms, as in society, diversity is a resource for learning, not an obstacle to be overcome. The diversity of learners is addressed through the following: 

• Imparting a thorough knowledge of subject matter and familiarity with the pedagogy, educational technology, and competencies essential to professional practice; 
• Contributing to the development of the scientific aspect of education through emphasis on the spirit of inquiry and development of research skills; 
• Promoting improvement in education as a field of both theoretical and applied scholarship; 
• Evolving such types of preparations as shall ensure the broadest possible social as well as academic and professional education in a dramatically changing world; 
• Developing educational personnel able to contribute effectively in a pluralistic society; 
• Discovering, through research by students and faculty, new knowledge in the field of education. 

Temple provides a variety of ways to obtain certification to teach in public elementary and secondary schools. The major routes to certification are as follows: 
 

• Through undergraduate programs in the College of Education. Students who have met the University's admission criteria can request matriculation in the College of Education. There are four broad categories of teaching certificates offered through the College: Elementary Education (for teaching in elementary schools through the sixth grade); Secondary Education (in English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies); Career and Technical Education (formerly Vocational/Technical Education); and Health and Physical Education. Students who are in the Elementary Education Program must also choose an additional area of certification in either Early Childhood Education or Special Education.

• Through the Five-Year Master's/Secondary Education Certification Program. Students who meet specific admissions criteria may be conditionally admitted to the Graduate Certification Program while still undergraduates.  The Five-Year Program offers the opportunity for  undergraduates from the colleges of Liberal Arts and Science and Technology to obtain an undergraduate degree while simultaneously pursuing a Master's and Secondary Teaching Education Certification.  Qualified students enroll in graduate level courses beginning in the fall semester of the junior year.  Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree, students make a seamless transition into graduate studies in the College of Education for one additional year.  After satisfying all graduate program requirements, students are awarded a Master's in Education with Secondary Teacher Certification.  Development of a Five-Year Master's/Elementary Education Certification Program is anticipated.  Please consult this website (www.temple.edu/bulletin/education.htm)  for updates about this program.

• Through the Graduate Certification Program in the College of Education. Students who have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in a field outside of education may earn an Intern and Instructional I certification plus a Master of Education degree. Programs are available in Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, Career and Technical Education, and Health and Physical Education. In some cases prerequisite courses are required. 

• Through undergraduate and graduate programs in other colleges. Certification in a variety of areas outside of those provided through the College of Education or through the Five-Year Teacher Certification program are provided by several other colleges. These include:

• Art - through the Tyler School of Art 
• Music - through the Esther Boyer College of Music 
• Health - through Health Studies 
• Speech - through Speech and Communication Science
• Home and School Visitor - through Social Administration

• Through the dual major program in secondary education.  Students who are seeking certification in one of the areas in secondary education will obtain a dual major in education and in their area of expertise.  Specific details about the requirements in these dual majors are available from the Office of Student Services.  The requirement for the dual major will be in effect for all students who matriculate in the Spring, 2001 semester and thereafter.

The College of Education offers an array of post-baccalaureate programs. See the Graduate Bulletin for more information. 

Return to menu. 

ADMISSIONS

Students are considered for admission to the College of Education upon meeting University criteria. Entrance is encouraged at the freshman level. Note that admission to the College of Education does not assure admission to a teacher certification program. Admission to teacher certification programs is highly selective and only a limited number of students can be accepted. Preference is given to students whose grades are exemplary and who have demonstrated a high potential for excellence in teaching in their early professional education courses. 

 In order to be considered for admission to the undergraduate degree program, students must meet high school proficiency requirements as determined by Temple University admissions criteria. To be admitted to a professional certification program, students must meet the following requirements: 

•Completion of a minimum of 48 semester hours and a minimum overall GPA of 2.8 for Fall 2002, and 3.0 by Fall 2003.

•Completion of the University Core requirements, including 6 credits of mathematics and 6 credits of English/literature.

•A grade of C or higher in courses required for the undergraduate degree at Temple.

•Basic skills proficiency/pass scores for the Pre Professional Skills Test (PPST) in the areas of Reading (172), Writing (173), and Mathematics (173). (Note: These scores are required pass scores as of February 13, 2000 by PA Department of Education.)

•Pass a speech assessment (certified clinician; standards-based).

•Pass with a C+ of higher and receive faculty recommendations in the 1^st two general professional education courses: Ed 255 and Ed 122 (or the first two courses in Education taken at Temple if the student transfers to Temple).

•Additional information as may be required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, including options for admissions if selected criteria are not met.

Students must be admitted to a certification program in order to enroll in the professional certification sequence and student teaching.

Recipients of baccalaureate degrees from other colleges (including those within Temple University) and universities should apply directly to the Graduate School for admission to post-baccalaureate degree or certification programs.

Transfer Students
Students who wish to transfer to the College of Education from another institution must be admitted through the Temple University Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transfer credits will be evaluated in the Admissions Office in accordance with College of Education and University policy. 

Changes in Program Requirements
Students should be aware that a major revision of most undergraduate teacher certification programs occurred for students admitted to the College of Education after July 1, 1999. These changes have been reflected in this Bulletin. Students are encouraged to check with the Office of Student Services, or with the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in Education to verify the requirements that pertain to their specific case. In addition, you should check the Web version of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the most current information about College of Education program requirements at the Program Descriptions section,or the College of Education's Web page at www.temple.edu/education/.

Students admitted into the College of Education prior to July 1, 1999, who have been continuously enrolled, are affected by the requirements in place when they were admitted.

Return to menu. 

See Financial Aid

Special Scholarships and Aid

The Mario D. Fantini Scholarship
This is an annual scholarship renewable each year, leading to the bachelor's degree. The recipient must maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for renewal each year. The scholarship was established by University Trustee Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille in memory of Mario D. Fantini, distinguished educator and alumnus of the University. The scholarship is designed to produce persons of excellence, committed to educational excellence for others, who transcend artificial barriers to make a difference in education. All applicants must be graduates of South Philadelphia High School and must be pursuing a career in education. The first Fantini Scholarship was awarded in 1990, for up to four years. The recipient was selected by the President of Temple from recommendations sent to a Temple scholarship committee. Nominations for the scholarship are made by the faculty of South Philadelphia High School. Applications may be obtained from the guidance counselors at the high school. Students who are interested in this scholarship should contact the Dean of the College of Education. 

Benjamin Rosner Memorial Loan Fund
Short term emergency loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students who are degree candidates. Information and applications are available in the Advising Office, Ritter Annex, Room 238. 

Dr. Alfred and Shirley Freeman Scholarship
The College awards one or more scholarships of $1,000 or more to Juniors or Seniors majoring in Elementary Education. This scholarship is renewable. 

Dr. Mildred Rice Jordan Scholarship
Up to three students may receive $750 renewable annual scholarships. 

Students should be graduates of Bartram High School, Benjamin Franklin High School, Edison High School, Germantown High School, Martin Luther King High School, Simon Gratz High School, South Philadelphia High School, West Philadelphia High School or University City High School. 

They must have a strong interest in and desire to teach, particularly in urban school districts or districts having significant populations of minority students. 

Dalibor W. Kralovec Scholarship
Up to fifteen students may receive scholarships for approximately 16% of full-time tuition and books. 

Candidates must be undergraduate seniors (90 credits as of May 18, 2000) with 3.5 GPA or better to apply for this scholarship. 

Candidates must be engaged in college/campus organizations and promote Temple University. 

Dr. Margaret J. Messinger Scholarship
One student may receive a full tuition-and-fees scholarship for the remainder of the student's undergraduate education. 

Candidates must be an academically excellent (GPA of at least 3.5) student pursuing an undergraduate degree in education, and  must maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 to continue receiving this scholarship. 

Return to menu. 

ACADEMIC ADVISING INFORMATION

Every freshman upon enrolling in the College of Education is assigned an academic adviser by the Advising Office. Transfer students are assigned an adviser in the Advising Office for at least one semester. After students have been admitted to a Teacher Certification program, they are assigned a faculty adviser. Students must meet with their advisers at least once each semester for course selection purposes. Academic difficulties should be discussed immediately with one's adviser. 

Return to menu. 

University policies and regulations apply to all undergraduate students and provide a framework within which schools and colleges may specify further conditions or variations appropriate to students in their courses or program. The Handbook for Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs in the College of Education contains additional regulations for education students. 

Academic Honors
A student who has completed 60 semester hours or more in residence at Temple University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 may be eligible for academic honors at graduation. A minimum of 45 hours of coursework must be completed with the assignment of letter grades. The remainder may be evaluated on a Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail basis. A student will be graduated "with distinction" in an academic field upon recommendation of the appropriate department. 

Courses Inapplicable to Graduation Requirements
Credits earned in the following courses are excluded from the total hours counted toward graduation: ELECT 0001, 0002, 00003, 0005, 0006; Mathematics 0015 (formerly Mathematics 0001); all SRAP coursework; and Military Science. 

Courses Inapplicable for Certification
Students should be aware that the State of Pennsylvania requires a specific set of courses for certification. For this reason, some courses which a student may take may not count toward the courses which are required to be recommended for certification. It is possible, for example, that a student may have accumulated enough credits to graduate, but not have the appropriate courses to be recommended for certification. This is one of the reasons why it is mandatory to meet with an academic adviser at least once per semester. 

Dean's List
Students' names will be placed on the Dean's List for any semester in which they complete a minimum of 12 semester hours with letter grades and earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or better. A student whose transcript contains any grades of "I" or "NR" for that particular semester will not be eligible for the Dean's List until these have been cleared. Each semester the College of Education presents a special program of academic and social activities for students on the Dean's List. 

Grades in Professional Education Courses
All professional education courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher, with the exception of Ed 0255 and Ed 0122,which require a C+ or higher. Students must be aware, however, that the State of Pennsylvania has significantly-increased the minimum GPA required for certification. For this reason, obtaining the minimal grade of "C" will typically not be sufficient to obtain certification.

Graduation without Certification 
In rare instances, a student who is unsuccessful in meeting certification program requirements or who has less than the required grade point average(s) may be graduated without certification provided that selected additional requirements as recommended by the academic adviser, and approved by the department chairperson and the Associate Dean are met. 

Probation and Dismissal 

The University requires that all students maintain a 2.0 overall average for all academic work completed at Temple University. Failure to do so will result in scholastic probation for the subsequent semester. Students who fail to raise their overall average to 2.0 during this subsequent semester will be dismissed from the College of Education. Students whose semester GPA with a minimum of 12 s.h. of graded coursework falls below 1.0 or who fail to remove themselves from probation are subject to dismissal. In addition, students must remember that maintaining a minimal GPA of 2.0, while not jeopardizing their standing within the University, will not be sufficient for admission to a teacher certification program nor for recommendation for teacher certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Students who are on probationary status will not be allowed to carry a roster of more than 12 semester hours. 

Students who have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better but who drop to a GPA of 1.0 to 1.99 for a single semester will be given an academic warning. Students who receive academic warnings for two consecutive semesters are subject to dismissal from the College of Education. 

Any student in a teacher certification program whose overall GPA drops below 2.8 in 2002-2003 or 3.0 in 2003-2004 will be given an academic warning. If, after one semester of academic warning, a student has not re-established the required cumulative GPA, the student may be subject to dismissal from the certification program. The College of Education will maintain the same level of achievement as required by the State of Pennsylvania for its minimal GPA for certification and for the student to not be subject to academic actions.

Readmission
A student who has been dismissed from the College of Education may petition for admission only after a period of at least one semester in which the student is not enrolled at Temple. This period does not include the summer sessions. Any work taken at Temple University or at any other university or college during the period of exclusion, unless under written program advisement, will not be applicable to a degree program. 

The total record of an undergraduate student seeking readmission to the College of Education or to a certification program after an absence of three or more semesters shall be subject to review by an academic adviser, the Associate Dean for Teacher Education, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If readmitted, the student's program for completion of degree requirements will then be planned in accordance with those degree requirements currently operative in the program. See Undergraduate Admissions for further information about the readmission process. 

Transfers Within the College of Education
Students must be in good academic standing in their program if transfer to another program within the College of Education is to be approved. (To transfer to another program within the College of Education a student must complete a Declaration of Change of Concentration form. This form is available in the Office of Student Services -- RA 238 -- and must be submitted, upon completion, to the Advising Office.) 

Transfers Within the University
Students from other Temple schools and colleges who wish to transfer to the College of Education must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or higher. 

Return to menu. 

General Studies Requirements, the University Core Curriculum, and the College of Education's Professional Course Sequence
Commonwealth standards for teacher certification require that at least one-third of a student's program be taken in general studies. This requirement is designed to assist individuals in their intellectual development and to provide the breadth of background needed by a teacher. This certification standard is met in all programs in the College of Education. In most cases, these general studies credits also meet the University Core Curriculum requirements. 

In addition to the general studies requirements, all undergraduate students in the College of Education must complete the Professional Education Course sequence. 

These courses, along with a selected list of courses which meet the general studies requirement or the University Core requirements, are listed below: 

Professional Course Sequence                                                           23 s.h. 

Ed 0122	The Developing Individual Across the Lifespan	3 s.h.
Ed. 0155	Inclusive Education for a Diverse Society	3 s.h.
Ed. XO60	Education and Schooling in America	3 s.h.
Ed. 0255	Effective Use of Instructional Technology in Classrooms	3 s.h.
Ed. 0205	Curriculum Instruction and Technology	3 s.h.
Ed. 0206	Assessment and Evaluation	3 s.h.
Ed. 0224	Service Learning	2-3 s.h.
Ed. 0225	Field Experience: Managing the Contemporary Classroom	3 s.h.

Note:  Ed 0122 and Ed 0255 must be passed with a C+  or better. 

Other Requirements for College of Education Students
In addition to the above required courses, all students in the College of Education must meet the following requirements. Most of these requirements are determined by the University Core Curriculum. Exceptions, exclusions, and additions to these requirements are noted in the individual program descriptions. 

• Composition/Writing

In addition to Composition C050, all students must complete five writing intensive courses. Three of these courses will be Intellectual Heritage X051 and X052, and the College of Education capstone course in the student's major area. 

• Literature

A minimum of one course in literature offered by the English or Foreign Language departments is required. 3 s.h. 

• Mathematics/Statistics/Logic

In addition to C055 (College Mathematics) all students must take at least one additional second semester mathematics, statistics, or logic course from those meeting Core requirements. 6 s.h. 

• Science and Technology

All students must take a minimum of two courses, one first semester and one second semester, from one scientific field. 8 s.h. (Note: Students in the Elementary Education program must take an additional semester of science.) 

• Social Science

In addition to C060 (Psychology as a Social Science), all students are required to take at least one additional course selected from the departments of African American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Geography and Urban Studies, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology. 3 s.h. 

• History

All programs in the College requires that students take either C067 (History of the United States to 1877) or C068 (History of the United States since 1877). 3 s.h. 

• The Arts

At least one Core course in performance, appreciation, or history of the arts is required. 3 s.h. 

• Language or International Studies

At least two courses are required. The list of courses meeting the Core requirements is available from advisers. 6 s.h. 

• American Culture

At least one course is required. This requirement can be met through X060/C060 (Education, Schooling, and the Individual in U.S. Society) or by History C067 or C068. 3 s.h. 
 
• Race

One course in race and racism is required (see your adviser). 3 s.h. 
 
• Professional Certification 

All curricula leading to the Commonwealth certification are organized to meet the standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Certificates for which Temple University, College of Education, undergraduate students may be recommended include the following: 
• Art Education (See Tyler School of Art)
• Early Childhood Education 
• Elementary Education 
• Health Education (See Health Studies)
• Health and Physical Education
• Music (See Boyer College of Music)
• Secondary Education 
• English 
• Foreign Language 
• French 
• German 
• Hebrew 
• Italian 
• Latin
• Portuguese 
• Spanish 
• Mathematics 
• Science 
• Biology 
• Chemistry 
• Earth and Space Science 
• General Science 
• Physics 
• Social Studies (no new admissions)
• Citizenship Education
• Social Sciences
• Special Education 
• Career and Technical Education 
• Business, Computer, and Information Technology K-12 (Formerly  Business Education) 
• Cooperative Education 
• Marketing Education K-12
• Vocational (Industrial) Education 

Students not obtaining Pennsylvania State Teacher certification within five years of completing their programs must take additional coursework before the College of Education will recommend them for certification. 

In addition, all students seeking certification are required by the State of Pennsylvania to pass the relevant parts of the Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Testing Program in order to be eligible for teacher certification. As of September 1, 2000 the required tests include the Praxis I and Praxis II batteries.  Students should check with the Office of Student Services for the current regulations. Data on temple Student's performance on the PRAXIS Tests are contained in the following table: 

Data for Temple Students on State Certification Tests: 2000 - 2001

		Number Taking Assessment	Number Passing Assessment	Institutional Pass Rate
Aggregate Basic Skills (Praxis I)		478	387	81%
Professional Knowledge (Praxis II)		387	319	82
Academic Content Areas (Math, English, Biology, etc)  Praxis II		411	332	81%
Other Content Areas (Career/Technical; Health Ed, etc) Praxis II		20	18	90%
Teaching Special Populations (Special Education; ELS, etc) Praxis II		52	42	81%
Summary (Candidates who completed one of more tests across all categories)		492	356	72%

Physical and Medical Standards
All students must meet certain health standards to obtain an Instructional Certificate to teach in the public schools of Pennsylvania. 

Physical and medical standards for certification and employment vary considerably from one state to another and from one school district to another within the same state. Students expecting to apply for positions in certain school districts should determine what the standards are in evaluating their own prospects for employment. The specific requirements for a given school district may be determined by writing to the appropriate official. Some representative statements of standards are on file in the Office of the Dean. Any student with a medical problem or physical handicap is urged to consult this office and the Health Services staff to ascertain suitability for the teaching profession. 

State law provides that each student participating in the school must take the same tuberculosis test required of teachers and other school employees. A report of the test obtained no earlier than six months prior to the first contact with school children shall be valid for a period of two calendar years. 

Diagnostic Speech Assessment
Candidates for teacher certification are given a diagnostic speech assessment. Additional diagnostic testing may be required and corrective actions may be taken to remediate problems. Decisions about remedial efforts and student eligibility to continue in a program will be determined by the Department Chairperson of the department in which the student is enrolled and approved by the Associate Dean of the College of Education. 

Performance Assessment

After being admitted to a teacher certification program and for the duration of the degree program, students will be required to maintain a professional education portfolio in either electronic or hard copy form. Faculty will use the portfolio to complement the performance assessment activity described above. The specific requirements for the portfolio will be available from the student’s faculty adviser.

Student Teaching

Application for student teaching placement must be made the semester prior to student teaching. Application forms are available in the Student Teaching Center (Ritter Hall 341). The following due dates are in effect: September 15th for Spring semester placements and February 1st for fall semester placements. 

Return to menu.