Graduate Bulletin
Graduate Teacher Certification Program,
Ed.M.
Concentration: Secondary English Education
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: April 1 [December 15 for international applicants]
Spring: November 1 [August 1 for international applicants]
Summer: April 1 [December 15 for international applicants]
Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members and others who can provide insight into the applicant's academic competence.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
Students are expected to have taken the equivalent of at least 36 credits of coursework in their major field of English. Courses should include the following:
- Language/Communication (3-6 s.h.)
- Knowledge of the history, structure, uses, and development of language (usually 1 to 2 courses in linguistics)
- Literature/Drama (27 s.h. of courses intended for undergraduate English majors at the 100 level or above)
- Historical Periods and Literary Genres (6-12 s.h.): English literature from Chaucer through the 20th century (usually 2 courses) and American literature from the Revolution through the 20th century (usually 2 courses)
- African American Literature (3 s.h): at least one course examining the development of literature by African Americans from an historical perspective, with a focus on more recent developments, or as a combination of the two
- Drama/Film/Media (3-9 s.h.): knowledge of theater, performance, and media, including history; a course in Shakespeare meets the drama requirement
- Advanced Study (6-9 s.h.): typically a senior seminar in the major as well as upper-division elective coursework
- Literacy (3-6 s.h.)
- First-year writing/introduction to academic discourse course (usually a general education course)
- Middle-level or advanced course in writing, research, or journalism
The Pennsylvania Department of Education expects that all individuals seeking teacher certification at the master's level, regardless of the discipline, have taken at least 6 credits of college-level mathematics and 6 credits of college-level English composition and literature in their undergraduate program. Prospective students should contact an advisor to discuss course/program prerequisites for the Secondary English Education concentration.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
A baccalaureate degree in
English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field is required.
Statement of Goals:
In the Statement of Goals, applicants should indicate their goals and objectives for obtaining a master's degree and certification in Secondary English Education. The statement should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple’s program; your future career goals; any job-related experiences that are relevant to the program; and your academic and research achievements and interests.
Standardized Test Scores:
The GRE/MAT is required. It is expected that the scores will generally be at or above the 50th percentile.
Applicants must also pass the PRAXIS I examination required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, a criminal background check, a TB test, and a child abuse clearance are required.
Resume:
A resume is required.
Transfer Credit:
Courses from accredited institutions may be transferred into the Ed.M. program as long as they are current (no more than five years old) and relevant. The faculty advisor determines relevancy of any course that a student wants transferred. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.
Test Waivers:
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor at the time of admission. The advisor reviews the student's credentials and determines which, if any, of the required courses can be waived. In general, this waiver covers the beginning-level courses in the program. Waiving a specific requirement, however, does not reduce the total number of credits needed to graduate.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond
the Baccalaureate: 33
Required Courses:
Core Courses (18 s.h.)
ED 403: Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice
ED 411:
Creating a High School Learning Community
ED 554: Characteristics of Computer Based Instruction
ED ADMIN 402: Action and Collaborative Research Seminar
SEC ED 471:
Reading Problems in Secondary Schools
SPECIAL ED 666: Inclusive Education
OR
URBAN ED 400: Introduction to Urban Schools
Specialized Pedagogy Courses (6 s.h.)
ENGLISH ED 621
ENGLISH ED 622
Student Teaching, Seminar, and Practicum (9 s.h.)
ED 406*: Supervised Teaching
ED 412*: Seminar in Supervised Teaching
ED 413: Practicum in Teaching
* Must be taken simultaneously; only offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Culminating Events:
Student teaching and its related seminar are the culminating events for this program.

Contacts
Program Contact Information:
www.temple.edu/education/cite/
Department Information:
College of Education
434 Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore
Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
axelrod@temple.edu
215-204-8001
Department Contacts:
Admissions:
Gwen Miller
gmiller@temple.edu
215-204-6387
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Saul Axelrod
axelrod@temple.edu
215-204-6060
Lead Professor for Secondary English Education:
Dr. Francis Sullivan
fsulliva@temple.edu
215-204-6157
Chairperson:
Dr. Thomas J. Walker
tjwalker@temple.edu
215-204-2296

About the Program
The Ed.M. program is uniquely designed so that teacher certification in Secondary English Education or in various other content areas can be earned simultaneously with the master’s degree. It is open to those who hold a baccalaureate degree outside education but who do not have a public school teaching credential. Individuals seeking a Pennsylvania Intern and/or Instructional I certificate should apply. Applicants already holding an Instructional I or II certificate who are interested in a master’s degree should apply to the CITE Department’s M.S.Ed. degree program.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years
Campus Location:
Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students are able to complete this degree program on either a full-time or part-time (8 credit hours or less per semester) basis. Evening classes on Main campus start at 5:00 p.m.
Department Information:
College of Education
434 Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia,
PA 19122
axelrod@temple.edu
215-204-8001
Interdisciplinary Study:
Not applicable.
Affiliation(s):
The program is a state-approved teacher certification program. It meets the general requirements and state standards for academic certification as specified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
The graduate programs in Temple’s College of Education are consistently ranked in the top 25% of U.S. colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Accreditation:
The program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is approved as a teacher certification program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Areas of Specialization:
The Secondary English Education concentration prepares students to teach English language arts in grades 7 through 12, which constitutes the scope of the Instructional I certificate in this area. Coursework focuses intensively on teaching students from diverse backgrounds to achieve at high levels; the impact of linguistic and cultural variation on classroom instruction; the use of technology to support student learning; and urban schools.
Other areas of specialization include Career and Technical Education (Business, Computer, and Information Technology; Industrial Education; and Marketing Education); Elementary Education; Secondary Education (Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies); Special Education; and World Languages (French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, and Spanish).
Job Placement:
Graduates typically pursue teaching positions in middle and secondary school settings in grades 7-12.
Licensure:
Intern Certificate:
Candidates may be eligible for a Pennsylvania Intern Certificate after completing supervised teaching and its prerequisites; passing both the PRAXIS I and II examinations; receiving a successful rating on the Pennsylvania Department of Education – PDE 430 form; and passing criminal background and child abuse clearance checks. The Intern Certificate allows the student to teach in public schools for up to three years. The Intern Certificate is issued only once and expires automatically in three years; no extensions are granted.
Instructional I Certificate:
Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and passing all PRAXIS examinations, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate.
Non-Degree Student Policy:
Students must matriculate within the first 9 credits of the program.

Financing Opportunities
Although some limited funding opportunities are available, assistantships are generally offered to doctoral-level students. Students who wish to apply for an assistantship should send a letter of interest, along with a resume, to Dr. T. J. Walker, Department Chair, Temple University, CITE Department, 351 Ritter Hall, College of Education, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

Updated 6.9.06
|