Teacher Education, BS

Return to: School of Education

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Teacher Education prepares undergraduate students to earn their Pennsylvania teaching certification. The curriculum is fully aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education certification standards for Instructional 1 certification.  Students will choose one of the content areas listed below to specialize in and that will determine their specific degree requirements.   

Grades 7-12: English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies Education 

Grades PreK-12: Special Education, World & Heritage Language Education 

Eligibility for Major:

Students must complete the School of Education Undergraduate Admissions application. To be considered for admission to the Teacher Education BS program, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, completed 48 credit hours, and fulfilled (or currently taking) the pre-requisite courses listed below with a grade of C or higher. 

• TLL 1580 - FOUNDATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUC    

• TLL 1581 - CRITICAL HISTORIES OF EDUCATION  

• TLL 1582 - CULTURES, KNOWLEDGE TRADITIONS, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS OF SCHOOLING I   or  EFOP 1001 - SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION  

• HHD 1003 - DEVELOPMENT: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE    or  PSY 0310 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY   or  PSY 1355 - ADOLESCENCE   

• HHD 1002 - DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPTION THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD   is an additional option for students focusing in Special Education or World & Heritage Language 

Course Requirements (Summary): 

• General Education courses from Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences  

• PA Department of Education Requirements (these can count towards general education requirements) 

• 6 credit hours in college-level mathematics 

• 6 credit hours in college-level English composition and literature 

• Major coursework in inclusive and culturally responsive teaching 

• Major coursework in pedagogy 

• Student teaching coursework 

• Content Area Coursework 

• See links below for major and content area coursework for each specific area 

GPA and Grade requirements:  

All students enrolled in the teacher education major are required to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Although the credits allowed for acceptable work completed elsewhere by transfer count toward the total number of credits required for teacher education study, the grades earned in such courses are not included in GPA computations. 

A student is automatically placed on academic warning if the cumulative GPA, exclusive of transfer credits, falls below 3.000. No student on academic warning is permitted to participate in student teaching, a teaching internship, or an advanced teaching practicum.  

Students must earn a minimum of a C in all teacher education coursework and content area coursework.  

Graduation Requirements:

Students must complete all required coursework, earn at least 120 credit hours, and meet the required GPA of 3.000 in order to meet graduation requirements 

Required Courses: 

The following required courses relate to the following content areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World & Heritage Language. Students pursuing the Special Education content area should look at that specific section for all required courses. 

Inclusive & Culturally Responsive Teaching - 12 credits 

• TLL 1257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS     

• TLL 1502 - SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS  

• TLL 1520 - SUPPORTING LITERACIES IN INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS   

• TLL 1595 - CULTURES, KNOWLEDGE TRADITIONS, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS OF SCHOOLING 2   

Pedagogy - 3 credits 

• TLL 1584 - CRITICAL PEDAGOGIES AND PRAXES   

Student Teaching - 12 credits 

• TLL 1596 - PRE-STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR  

• TLL 1597 - PRE-STUDENT TEACHING  

• TLL 1598 - STUDENT TEACHING   

• ​TLL 1599 - STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR  

Content Area Options: 

1. English Education (grades 7-12) 

2. Mathematics Education (grades 7-12) 

3. Science Education (grades 7-12)

4. Social Studies Education (grades 7-12) 

5. Special Education (grades PreK-12) 

6. World & Heritage Language Education  (PreK-12)

English Education Content Area

Major Coursework - Pedagogy: 

• ​TLL 1585 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY ENGLISH 1   

• TLL 1586 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY ENGLISH 2   

Content Area Specific Courses: 

• 12 credits of ENGLIT coursework 

• 3 credits of ENGCMP (0400-level or higher) coursework 

• 3 credits of ENGFLM coursework 

• 3 credits of ENGWRT coursework 

Mathematics Education Content Area 

Major Coursework - Pedagogy: 

• TLL 1587 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY MATH 1   

• TLL 1588 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY MATH 2 

   

Content Area Specific Courses: 

• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 

• MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 

• MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 

• MATH 0413 Intro to Theoretical Mathematics 

• MATH 0280 Intro to Matrices and Linear Algebra or MATH 1180 Linear Algebra 1 

• MATH 0430 Intro to Abstract Algebraic Systems 

• MATH 1119 Applied Probability for Actuarial Mathematics or STAT 1151 Intro to Probability or STAT 1000 Applied Statistical Methods 

Science Education Content Area

• Biology Track
• Chemistry Track
• General Science Track
• Physics Track

Major Coursework - Pedagogy (for all tracks): 

• TLL 1589 TLL 1589 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCIENCE 1  

• TLL 1590 TLL 1590 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCIENCE 2  

Science Education Content Area - Biology Track 

Content Area Specific Courses: 

Biology: 

• BIOSCI 0050 Foundations of Biology Lab 1

• BIOSCI 0060 Foundations of Biology Lab 2 OR

• BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research I 

• BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory II 

• BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1 

• BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2 

• BIOSC 0350 Genetics or BIOSC 0370 Ecology or any BIOSC 1000-level

Chemistry: 

• CHEM 0110 General Chemistry I 

• CHEM 0120 General Chemistry II 

• CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry I or CHEM 0350 Principles of Organic Chemistry

Mathematics: 

• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 

Science Education Content Area - Chemistry Track 

Content Area Specific Courses: 

Chemistry: 

• CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1 

• CHEM 0120 General Chemistry 2 

• CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1 

• CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2 

• CHEM 0345 Organic Laboratory

Mathematics: 

• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 

Physics: 

• PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering or PHYS 0110 Introduction to Physics 1 

Science Education Content Area - General Science Track 

Content Area Specific Courses: 

Biology: 

• BIOSCI 0050 Foundations of Biology Lab 1

• BIOSCI 0060 Foundations of Biology Lab 2 OR

• BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory I 

• BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory II 

• BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology I 

• BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology II

Chemistry: 

• CHEM 0100 Intro to General Chemistry OR 

• CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1

Mathematics: 

• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 

Physics: 

• PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering or PHYS 0110 Introduction to Physics 1 

Geology/Astronomy: 

• GEOL 0870 The Planets or ASTRON 0088 Stonehenge to Hubble or ASTRON 0089 Stars, Galaxies and the Cosmos 

Science Education Content Area - Physics Track 

Content Area Specific Courses: 

Physics: 

• PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering I or PHYS 0475 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering I   

• PHYS 0175 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering II or PHYS 0476 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering II 

• PHYS 0219 Basic Laboratory Physics Science and Engineering 

• PHYS 0477 Intro to Thermal Physics, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics 

• PHYS 1310 Undergraduate Seminar

Chemistry: 

• CHEM 0100 Intro to General Chemistry or CHEM 0110 General Chemistry I  

Mathematics: 

• MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 

• MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 

• MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 

**On 8/8/2024 the following information was updated in the published catalog in an effort to provide accurate information.**

Social Studies Education Content Area 

Major Coursework - Pedagogy: 

• TLL 1591 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES 1   

• TLL 1592 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES 2   

Content Area Specific Courses: 

• HIST 0600 United States to 1877 or HIST 0670 African American History to 1877 

• HIST 0601 United States 1865 to Present or HIST 0671 African American History Since 1865 

• CIVICS - 3 CREDITS Take one of the following courses:

  • HIST 0612 - Origins of American Capitalism
  • PS 0200 - American Political Process
  • PS 0200 - American Politics
  • PS 0500 - International Relations
  • PS 0500 - World Politics
  • PS 1202 - American Constitutional Law
  • PS 1292 - Race, Gender, and Politics

• ​ECON 0100 - Intro to Microeconomic Theory

• ECON 0110 - Intro to Macroeconomic Theory

• ECON 0120 - Introductory Economic Theory

• HIST 0612 Origins of American Capitalism (recommended)

• HIST 1145 Intellectual Foundations of Capitalism

• HIST 1645 American Economic History

12 credits of Social Studies electives from list below (no more than 1 course from each category) :

World History :

• HIST 0700 World History

• HIST 0100/0101

• HIST 0600/0601

• HIST 0670/0671

Western European History:

• HIST 0100 Western Civilization 1 

• HIST 0101 Western Civilization 2 

• HIST 0139 Viking Age Scandinavia 

• HIST 0200 Between Kafka and Hitler: How Central Europe Influenced the World 

• HIST 1115 West and the World 

• HIST 1776 Varieties of Early Christianity

Ancient History 

• ANTH 0534 Prehistoric Foundations of European Civilization 

• ANTH 0582 Intro to Archaeology 

• CLASS 0032 Athletics of the Ancient World 

• CLASS 0010 Greek Civilization 

• CLASS 0020 Roman Civilization 

• HIST 0788 Women and Men in Ancient Mediterranean Society 

• HIST 1775 Origins of Christianity 

• HIST 1781 Roman History 

• HIST 1783 Greek History 

Geography 

• ANTH 1737 Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology 

• ANTH 1786 Cultures of the Pacific 

• HIST 0200 Between Kafka and Hitler: How Central Europe Influenced the World 

• HIST 0302 Soviet Russia 

• HIST 0400 East Asian Civilization to 1800 

• HIST 0500 Colonial Latin America 

• HIST 0501 Modern Latin America 

• HIST 0521 Caribbean History 

• HIST 0795 History of Africa Before 1800 

• HIST 1115 The West and the World 

• HIST 1131 The Rise of the German Empire 

• HIST 1586 Latin American Revolutions 

• HIST 1720 West Africa in the Era of Slave Trade 

• PS 1351 Government and Politics - Middle East 

Other History Electives: 

• HIST 1001 Intro to History 

• HIST 1610 United States Colonial 

• HIST 1611 American Revolution 1763-1791 

• HIST 1619 United States Since 1945 

• HIST 1620 The Vietnam War 

• HIST 1621 History of the South Through the 1880s 

• HIST 1625 History of the American Frontier 

• HIST 1628 The Black West 

• HIST 1640 American Childhoods: Race, Gender, and Citizenship, 1865-Present 

• HIST 1655 American Workers 19th Century 

• HIST 1656 American Workers 20th Century 

• HIST 1660 Gender and Sexuality in the US to 1865 

• HIST 1661 Gender and Sexuality in the US since 1865 

• HIST 1683 North American Indians Traditional Cultures 

• HIST 1685 US Popular Culture  

• HIST 1691 Latino History 

• HIST 1695 Environmental History

Special Education Content Area (PreK-12) 

Major Coursework - Pedagogy: 

Culturally Responsive Teaching 

• TLL 1257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS  

• TLL 1595 - CULTURES, KNOWLEDGE TRADITIONS, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS OF SCHOOLING 2   

Positive Behavior Support 

• TLL 1509 - APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT   

• TLL 1521 - PROACTIVE STRATEGIES FOR A POSITIVE CLASSROOM    

Pedagogy: 

• TLL 1511 - CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES  

• TLL 1512 - ASSESSMENT AND INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE DISABILITIES   

• TLL 1513 - INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE DIS/ABILITIES    

• Choose one from the following reading courses: 
  • TLL 1203 - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGE SYSTEMS    
  • TLL 1208 - READING/WRITING METHODS 1: PRE-KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 1     
  • TLL 1209 - READING/WRITING METHODS 2: GRADES 2-4   

Student Teaching: 

• TLL 1596 - PRE-STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR    

• TLL 1597 - PRE-STUDENT TEACHING    

• TLL 1598 - STUDENT TEACHING   

• TLL 1599 - STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR    

World & Heritage Language Education Content Area (PreK-12)

Tracks:

• Chinese Track
• French Track
• German Track
• Japanese Track
• Spanish Track

Major Coursework - Pedagogy (for all tracks): 

• TLL 1593 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN WORLD HERITAGE LANGUAGES 1    

• TLL 1594 - TEACHING AND LEARNING IN WORLD HERITAGE LANGUAGES 2   

World & Heritage Language Education - Chinese  

Content Area Specific Courses: 

12 credits in Language and Linguistics: 

• CHIN 0083 Intercultural Communication Between Chinese & Other Cultures 

• CHIN 1009 Third-Year Chinese 1 

• CHIN 1010 Third-Year Chinese 2 

• CHIN 1025 Aspects of the Chinese Language 

• CHIN 1027 Chinese as a Second Language and Bilingualism 

• CHIN 1033 Special Topics: Advanced Chinese Across Genres 

• CHIN 1040 Literacy Chinese 1 Classical 

• CHIN 1050 Fourth Year Chinese 1 

• CHIN 1700 Translation Theory and Practice 

12 credits in Literature and Culture: 

• CHIN 0007 Intro to Chinese Civilization and Culture 

• CHIN 0081 East Asia in the World 

• CHIN 0085 Revolution, Involution, and Identity in Modern Chinese Culture 

• CHIN 1047 Chinese and Western Poetry 

• CHIN 1059 Adapted for the Screen: Chinese Literature and Film 

• CHIN 1083 Masterpieces of the Chinese Literature: Premodern 

• CHIN 1084 Masterpieces of the Chinese Literature: Modern 

• CHIN 1086 Love in China and Western Language 

• CHIN 1088 New Chinese Cinema 

• CHIN 1089 The World of China 

• CHIN 1090 Great Minds of China 

World & Heritage Language Education - French  

Content Area Specific Courses: 

12 credits in Language and Linguistics: 

• FR 0255 Speaking French: Atelier d’expression orale 

• FR 0256 Writing French: Atelier d’expression écrite 

• FR 0258 Advanced Conversation 

• FR 1031 French Phonetics 

• FR 1032 Advanced Grammar and Stylistics 

• FR 1039 Varieties of World French(es) 

• FR 1090 Translation 

12 credits in Literature and Culture: 

• FR 0220 France in the 21st Century 

• FR 0221 Reading French: Media and Culture 

• FR 0227 French Atlantic 

• FR 1023 French Theater Workshop 

• FR 1025 Idée de la France 

• FR 1053 Global French 

• FR 1065 Gender and Sexuality in French Thought 

World & Heritage Language Education - German  

Content Area Specific Courses: 

12 credits in Language and Linguistics: 

• GER 0201 Intermediate German 1 

• GER 0202 Intermediate German 2 

• GER 1001 German Writing (W) 

• GER 1003 Professional German 

• GER 1010 Coffee and the News: Advanced German Conversation 

12 credits in Literature and Culture: 

• GER 1000 Reading Literary Texts 

• GER 1001 German Writing (W) 

• GER 1003 Professional German 

• GER 1108 Green Germany 

• GER 1004 The German Business (Eco)System 

• GER 1101 German Media 2 

• GER 1103 Advanced German 2: Credit Laboratory 

• GER 1220 Literature and Culture 1750 - 1830 

• GER 1228 Literature and Culture 1830 - 1890 

• GER 1234 Literature and Culture 1890 - 1918 

• GER 1252 Current Literature and Culture 

• GER 1324 Special Topics in German Prose 

• GER 1350 German Drama 

• GER 1380 Topics in German Cinema 

• GER 1390 Minorities in Post-War Germany 

World & Heritage Language Education - Japanese  

Content Area Specific Courses: 

12 credits in Language and Linguistics: 

• JPNSE 1020 Third Year Japanese 1 

• JPNSE 1021 Third Year Japanese 2 

• JPNSE 1040 Intro to Classical Japanese 1 

• JPNSE 1050 Fourth Year Japanese 1 

• JPNSE 1800 Special Topics 

• JPNSE 1023 Aspects of the Japanese Language 

• JPNSE 1035 Pragmatics of Japanese 

• JPNSE 1700 Intro to Theory and Practice of Translation 

12 credits in Literature and Culture: 

• JPNSE 0007 Japanese Culture and Civilization 

• JPNSE 0081 East Asia in the World 

• JPNSE 0083 Intro to Japanese Literature 

• JPNSE 0085 Japanese Tales of the Supernatural 

• JPNSE 1057 Japanese Culture and Society Through Cinema 

• JPNSE 1058 Westerns and Samurai Films 

• JPNSE 1065 Detective and Mystery Fiction in Japan 

• JPNSE 1070 World of Japan 

• JPNSE 1071 The World of Japan 

• JPNSE 1080 Ghosts, Masks and Actors 

• JPNSE 1081 Forms of Japanese Theatre 

World & Heritage Language Education - Spanish  

Content Area Specific Courses: 

12 credits in Language and Linguistics: 

• SPAN 0120 Conversation 

• SPAN 0125 Grammar and Composition 

• SPAN 0126 Spanish Advanced Grammar and Composition for Heritage Speakers 

• SPAN 1304 Methods of Teaching Spanish 

• SPAN 1305 Spanish Applied Linguistics 

• SPAN 1312 Overview of Spanish Linguistics 

• SPAN 1315 Spanish for Professional Communication 

• SPAN 1320 Intro to Translation 

• SPAN 1323 Medical Spanish 

• Any SPAN 1300-level course 

12 credits in Literature and Culture: 

• SPAN 1055 Intro to Hispanic Literature 1 

• SPAN 1056 Reading, Writing, and Health in Spanish 

• SPAN 1250 Hispanic Civilizations 

• SPAN 1260 Overview of Spanish Literature 

• SPAN 1280 Overview of Latin American Literature 

• Any SPAN 1400-level course 

• SPAN 1707 African Presence in Latin American Literature and Culture 

• Any SPAN 1600-1899