DIGITAL ADVISING SYLLABUS:JUNIORS & SENIORSMajor: Secondary Education

Social Studies Teaching Option

Fall Semester:

Expectations of Students in the College of Education

Field Experiences: Applying For Student Teaching

Concentration Areas

Other Student Teaching Options

Expectations of Students in the College of Education

• Background checks and clearances are required of you throughout your collegiate career. It is important that you maintain a clean record in order to be able to participate in the field experiences required by your major. Failure to do so can affect your ability to gain certification.

Maintain a Clean Record

• School administrators, parents and your future students may have access to the same social media sites you use. It is important that you are mindful of the things you post to your personal accounts that could be viewed by a future principal, parent, or student.

Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence

• As a future teacher, it is imperative that you maintain a positive public image for the sake of your students and the communities in which you will work.

Protect Your Brand

• Taken semester 6 or 7, with SSED 412W

• Clearances Required• Application Required: Submit

one year in advance• Location: Within 70 miles of

Campus; Transportation is the responsibility of the student

Middle Field Experience

• Taken semester 7 or 8• Clearances Required• Application Required: Submit

one year in advance• Location: Usually outside of

commuting distance; Students must arrange their own housing and daily transportation

Student Teaching

Applying For Field Experiences

C I 495C

C I 495E

C & I Field Experiences (CIFE)173 Chambers Building

814-863-1545

Concentrations

Citizenship Education• Completing the Citizenship Education concentration does not, by itself, qualify students for

any additional academic minor.

Civics & Government• Completing the Civics and Government concentration qualifies students for a Political

Science minor

Economics• Completing the Economics concentration qualifies students for an Economics minor

Geography• Completing the Geography concentration qualifies students for a Geography minor

Social Sciences• The Social Sciences concentration provides extra content preparation appropriate for

teaching Anthropology, Psychology, or Sociology courses in schools. Students may take all 15 credits in one of those departments in order to qualify for an academic minor.

The Social Studies Teaching Option requires all students to complete a 15-credit concentration. All concentrations require the student to choose course selections. Click the links below to view

course options.

Other Student Teaching Options

Locations in Pennsylvania

• Central Region• Philadelphia Region• Greater Montgomery• Bucks County

• Pittsburgh Region

Outside of Pennsylvania

• Pierre Indian Learning Center, South Dakota

• Sweden (Fall only)• Short Term Overseas Stude

nt Teaching• Student teachers complete 12

weeks of full-time teaching in PA, followed by 5 to 7 weeks student teaching at an international site

For the student teaching experience, student teachers spend fifteen weeks teaching full-time in classrooms. Student teaching opportunities are offered in various locations throughout Pennsylvania, in South Dakota, and abroad.

Spring Semester:

Semester 5-8 Scheduling

Minor Interests

Testing and Certification

Graduation Reminders

Resources for Academic Success

Student Teaching

Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 5-8)

Pre-Student Teaching

Semester 5

HIST 400-level Selection

Concentration Selection

CAS 100A

ENGL 202A or B

SPLED 400

Semester 6

SS ED 411

HIST 400-level Selection

Concentration Selection

Concentration Selection

ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/SS ED 200

Selection

SPLED 403A

Semester 7SS ED 412W

(Middle Field Experience)

CI 495C

Concentration Selection

Concentration Selection

HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412

Semester 8

CI 495E (Student Teaching)

A minor is an academic

program of at least 18

credits, or 6 classes

Qualifying for a History

minor is built-in to the

Social Studies Education program.

Use Minor Quest

to begin exploring

other minors

Most minors require at

least 2 courses taken

at the 400-level

Minor Interests

Testing & Certification

When Should I Take the Praxis: Social Studies Content Knowledge Exam?• Summer before your senior year, or later• Qualifying exam scores are not required for graduation

What Content is Covered on the Praxis Exam?• United States History, World History, Government/ Civics/ Political Science, Geography,

Economics, and Behavioral Sciences• Test at a Glance

When Can I Apply for Certification? • The month of your graduation• Final grades must be posted online• PDE 430 – Evaluation of your student teaching must be received in the Certification office

from your Supervisor

How Do I Apply for Certification?• Create an online account on the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) online• Follow carefully the instructions sent by the College of Ed Certification Office

Testing & Certification(FAQ)

I am Not Planning on Teaching Right Away, Is It Okay to Wait to Apply for Teacher Certification?• In the past the Pennsylvania Department of Education has changed certification

requirements so its best to apply for certification upon completing all current requirements.

• You may become ineligible for certification if requirements change over time.

I Am Not from Pennsylvania and I Do Not Want to Teach Here, Should I Still Apply for PA certification?• Yes apply for Pennsylvania certification.• The PDE certifies teachers at the highly qualified level.

All states will accept a teacher prepared in Pennsylvania (In some cases, additional standardized tests or coursework may be required.)

How Do I apply For Certification Out of State?

• Check that state’s Department of Education website.• Look for “out of state licensed teachers” for additional requirements

Graduation Reminders

• Check your degree audit at the end of your junior year for irregularities• It is your responsibility to notify the University of your intent to graduate at the

beginning of your graduation semester• Activate your intent to graduate on eLion under “Graduating This Semester” • Check the Academic calendar for dates when you can submit your intent to

graduate

Intent to Graduate

• You can declare your minor at any point after being accepted into your major• Declare your minor on eLion under the Major/Minor tab• Check your minor degree audit: adjustments and petitions must be made

through the minor department directly

Declaring Your Minor

• Education Career Day -- March 16, 2015• K-12 educators/ administrators

Career Fairs

Resources for Academic Success

• Helps you to calculate the grades necessary to reach a desired cumulative grade-point average (GPA)• On your eLion page, under

Grades, click Target GPA Prediction

Target GPA Prediction Tool

• To be considered a full time student, you must maintain 12 credits per semester

• Dropping below full-time can affect:• Your Financial Aid• Athletic Eligibility• International Students’

Visa Status

“Full Time” Status

• Ensure your academic success with iStudy tutorials on a variety of critical skills.• Test taking strategies• Time management skills• Communication techniques

• View the full list of iStudy tutorials

iStudy for Success

Semester 1

*ENGL 015

First Year Seminar

*Math Selection (GQ)

*HIST 020

*PSYCH 100

Science Selection (GN)

Semester 2

*GEOG 010

GEOG 30, GEOG 40, or GEOG 160

*HIST 021

Arts Selection

Science Selection

Health & Physical Activity (GHA)

Semester 3

*EDPSY 014

*ECON 104

HIST 001

*Literature Selection

*Math Selection (GQ)

Health & Physical Activity (GHA)

Semester 4

*CI 295

CI 280

HIST 002

*PL SC 001

GEOG 020

EDTHP 115 or 400-level EDTHP

Academic Plan: Secondary Education - Social Studies

*ETM requirement

Semester 5

HIST 400-level Selection

Concentration Selection

CAS 100A

ENGL 202A or B

SPLED 400

Semester 6

SS ED 411

HIST 400-level Selection

Concentration Selection

Concentration Selection

ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/SS ED 200 Selection

SPLED 403B

Semester 7

SS ED 412W

CI 495C

Concentration Selection

Concentration Selection

HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412

Semester 8

CI 495E

No add’l coursework permitted during Student Teaching