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Education Certification: Grades 7-12

  • Certificate
Education Certification Secondary Grades 7-12 Program professor inspiring students

Graduates with a secondary education certification will go on to become teachers in junior and senior high schools. Their task is to build on knowledge that these students acquired in middle school, arming them with the education necessary to succeed in college, trade school or professionally.

At Saint Vincent, students can gain certification in the following content areas:

Biology
Chemistry
English
Mathematics
Physics
Social Studies

Undergraduate Programs

Curriculum Requirements

  • Requirements for 7-12 Secondary Education Certification

    Courses in psychology (12 credits):
    PY 115 Educational Psychology* - 3 credits
    PY 214 Adolescent Psychology* - 3 credits
    PY 290 Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Student - 3 credits
    Courses in basic pedagogy (16 credits):
    ED 100 Foundations of Education* - 3 credits
    ED 205 Strategies and Techniques of Instruction - 2 credits
    ED 208 Classroom Partnerships and Inclusion - 3 credits
    ED 220 Academic Intervention and Differentiation in the Content Areas - 2 credits
    ED 300-306 Teaching in the Content Area (discipline area) - 3 credits
    ED 390 Teaching Nonnative and Culturally Diverse Students - 3 credits
    Field experiences (16 credits):
    ED 103 Field Experience I: K-12 and Secondary** - 1 credit
    ED 206 Field Experience II: Strategies and Techniques of Instruction - 1 credit
    ED 322 Field Experience III: K-12 and Secondary Instruction and Theory - 1 credit
    ED 400 Field Experience IV: Pre-Student Teaching Practicum - 2 credits
    ED 410 Field Experience V: Student Teaching Internship - 8 credits
    ED 411 Professional Seminar - 3 credits
    Education courses required specifically for secondary Social Studies
    ED 109 Physical and Cultural Geography* - 3 credits

    *Also fulfills Core Curriculum requirements.
    **ED 207 (Practicum in Education I) may be substituted for ED 103

    7-12 Certification Content Majors:

    Biology
    Chemistry
    English
    Mathematics
    Physics
    Social Studies


Program Highlights

Results

  • Candidates have opportunities to tutor and teach lessons in their expertise areas. Some candidates receive tutoring positions on campus, while other candidates choose to volunteer at local school districts. All candidates participate in required fieldwork that provides learning experiences working in their specific discipline.
  • Teaching a 10-week class for the STEP-UP Enrichment Program hosted by Saint Vincent College is one field experience required of secondary education candidates. Candidates create an electronic portfolio that documents content knowledge and experiences.
  • In order to graduate, candidates must also complete 14 weeks of student teaching and evaluation and pass all required praxis tests.
  • All methods courses have required field hours and micro-teaching experiences.

Internships and Careers

Teaching high school requires more than just theoretical knowledge about a subject. The classroom is a tricky place to navigate and manage, and the old adage that “practice makes perfect” remains true. Thus, the culminating activity of this certification is a 14-week student teaching assignment in a school and classroom appropriate to the certification area.

Following student teaching, graduates should be ideally prepared to seek jobs at schools or in family and youth services. Candidates can also apply for graduate school. 

Student teaching prepares our graduates for the life of a teacher. After graduation, recent education alumni have gone on to successful teaching careers with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, St. John's, Kiski Area, Woodgrove, Penn-Trafford, Norwin, St. Mary's and many other local and national school districts and institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students with a secondary education certification will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of content and pedagogical skills in planning and preparation.
  • Establish and maintain a purposeful and equitable environment for learning.
  • Recognize research trends, preferred teaching styles, and desired learning outcomes.
  • Use a variety of instructional strategies to engage 7-12 students.
  • Address instructional needs of ESL and special needs students within the regular classroom setting.
  • Show evidence of effective classroom management skills.
  • Employ effective instructional technologies.
  • Exhibit professionalism in all aspects that occur both in and beyond the classroom.
  • Abide by the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators. 

Undergraduate Programs
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