Graduate Bulletin

Secondary Education/Science Education, Ed.M.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Application Deadline:

Fall: April 1

Spring: October 1

* * NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Visit http://education.temple.edu/gradteach
for available programs and certifications. * *

Complete applications received by the stated deadline are guaranteed a decision for the upcoming semester. Applications received after the deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2; see the Reference Report for Graduate Study.

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:

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.

Before being admitted to the Secondary Education Program with a specialization in Science, applicants must have completed a major or the equivalent (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics) with approximately 30 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in the subject area. For General Science majors, coursework must cover at least three science areas with a year course plus a concentration in any area. Interested students who are not sure if prerequisites have been fulfilled should meet with an advisor before completing an application.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Minimum Undergraduate GPA Requirement:

Applications of students that do not meet the 3.0 UGPA requirement may be considered for admission by the Graduate School if they meet one of the following exceptions:

1. Standard exceptions: 3.5 UGPA during the last two years AND a minimum of 3.25 Graduate GPA for nine semester hours (typically taken as a non-matriculated student in the program prior to application for admission).
2. Special exceptions: Applicants who do not meet regular admission criteria may be considered for a special exception if a compelling case can be made for admission. These special exceptions will only be rarely granted.

Minimum Testing Requirements:

In order to be admitted to the program, applicants must provide official score reports demonstrating a passing score on the Praxis II in the appropriate content area:

Please note that the information provided in the chart above is for general reference and is subject to change. Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website at www.pde.state.pa.us or call the PDE Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation at 717-787-3356 for the most current information about testing requirements for certification. Taking the wrong Praxis examinations will delay the certification process.

Non-native speakers of English must submit scores for the TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted is 88 iBT or 575 PBT. Students who score between 88 and 100 iBT or between 575 and 600 PBT must take an English refresher course.

Clearances and Background Checks

State and federal criminal background checks, a TB test, and a child abuse clearance are required to be eligible to complete the program. Applicants must complete and upload documentation of clearances prior to the start of their program. Visit Required Clearances for Working in Pennsylvania Schools for details.

Statement of Goals:

In the Statement of Goals, applicants should indicate their goals and objectives for obtaining teacher certification in their speciality area. 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.

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.

Coursework 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

The graduate Secondary Education Program with a concentration in Science Education may be completed for certification only or certification plus a master's degree. All applicants are initially admitted to the master's program. After successfully completing the minimum requirements for certification, students may choose to leave the program with certification only or may elect to continue in the program and complete the additional credit hours and requirements to receive the master’s degree. The program requires a minimum of 25 credits for certification only and 33 credits for certification plus a master's degree.

Required Courses:
Introductory Courses (6 credits):
EDUC 5402:  Child and Adolescent Development
EDUC 5605:  Models of Teaching

Pedagogy and Core Courses (19 credits):
EDUC 5888:  Supervised Teaching
SCES 5415:  Teaching Science for Secondary School Teachers
SCES 5713:  Learning and Teaching High School Biology, Physics, and Chemistry
SECE 5471:  Literacy and Differentiation in the Academic Areas, 7-12
SPED 5666:  Inclusive School Practices
TESL 8631:  Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners

Additional Courses for M.Ed. (6 credits):
EDUC 5255:  Tech in Classrooms: TPCK
EDUC 5409:  Capstone: Teaching Math/Science (must be taken after EDUC 5888)

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:

http://education.temple.edu/tl

http://education.temple.edu/gradteach/mathematics

Department Information:

College of Education
Department of Teaching and Learning
351 Ritter Hall (09-10)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
edcert@temple.edu
phone: 215-204-6387
fax: 215-204-1414

Department Contacts:

Graduate Teacher Certification Advisor
150 Ritter Hall Annex
215-204-6026

Chairperson:

Dr. Michael W. Smith

mwsmith@temple.edu

215-204-2296

About the Program

The Ed.M. program is uniquely designed so that teacher certification in Secondary Science 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 College of Education 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
Department of Teaching and Learning
351 Ritter Hall (09-10)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
edcert@temple.edu
phone: 215-204-6387
fax: 215-204-1414

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:

In 2012, the College of Education was ranked #47 by U.S. News & World Report.

Accreditation:

The program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and is approved as a teacher certification program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Areas of Specialization:

The Secondary Science Education concentration prepares students to teach Science 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.For a complete list of current specializations offered in the College of Education, visit http://education.temple.edu/gradteach/.

Job Placement:

Graduates typically pursue teaching positions in middle and secondary school settings in grades 7 to 12.

Licensure:

Intern Certificate:

Candidates may be eligible for a Pennsylvania Intern Certificate after completing supervised teaching and its prerequisites; passing required state licensure examinations; receiving a successful rating on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's 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 required licensure examinations, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate.

Visit Pennsylvania Department of Education for updated requirements for teacher certification in Pennsylvania. 

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing certification courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.

Financing Opportunities

Assistantships are available but limited, and are generally offered to doctoral-level students. Students who wish to apply should review requirements and application process available online at http://education.temple.edu/grad/fellowships-financial-aid

Updated by 11.19.13