Secondary Certification in Citizenship Education
The College offers a program for students seeking certification to teach Citizenship
Education in the secondary schools. The program includes three required
components: the Citizenship Education core, the secondary education core, and a
major in one of the following disciplines:
history or
political science. There is no major in citizenship education. Dr. James H. Broussard is the coordinator of the Citizenship Education Certification Program.
Required courses:
ECN 105 Essentials of Economics| This course examines economics from both the microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives. The course covers the basic principles of economics including the problem of scarcity, economics systems and models, supply and demand, market equilibrium, competition and monopoly, the banking system, monetary policy and inflation, fiscal policy, deficits, economic growth, and international trade. Does not equate to either ECN 101 or 102 where these courses are specifically required. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits. |
| A study of the development of civilizations from the development of human civilizations to the end of the first era of empire building in India, China, and the Mediterranean. Topics include the river valley civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China; the formation of great philosophies and religious traditions in Asia and Greece; and the first empires in the Mediterranean world, India, and China. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 1 (History). 3 credits. |
| This course is a survey of modern history, from ca. 1400 to the present. The course will focus on one of the most important aspects of modern history, the processes of colonization and decolonization. The course is framed by three main areas of inquiry. First students explore why it was the Europeans who expanded over the globe from 1500 to 1900. The second theme is the cultural encounter that resulted from European expansion. The final section of the course deals with the twentieth-century. The following themes are covered: colonial resistance, the three-world order, and globalization. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 1 (History). 3 credits. |
| The major events and developments in America from Columbus to the Civil War, with emphasis on the creation of a distinctive American society from the interaction of different cultures, ethnic groups, and ideas. Major themes include the transformation of European cultural ideas in colonial America and the impact of republican ideology, democratization, and the spread of the market economy between the Revolution and the Civil War. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 1 (History). 3 credits. |
| American history from 1865 until the present. Students learn about important themes in recent history such as the tension between property rights and human rights, pluralism and white supremacy, and ideological and political struggles over the regulation of capitalism, and the proper role of the federal government. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 1 (History). 3 credits. |
| An introduction to historical geography and to the concept of historical-geographic change over time in various parts of the world, focusing on prominent scholars and scholarly communities that examine key aspects of contemporary and human physical landscapes, especially with regard to agriculture, land use, urbanization, transportation, settlement, industry, migration, and disease. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. 3 credits. |
| This course provides a survey of key developments, institutions, and issues in American politics. Topics include the ideas that shaped the original American political system, the presidency; Congress and federal courts; the operation of political parties and interest groups; domestic and foreign policy debates; and contemporary issues such as civil rights and affirmative action. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits. |
| This is an introduction to the study of comparative politics: the comparison of political systems in order to understand how and why these systems function differently. The course is built around three fundamental questions: What is comparative politics? What kinds of phenomena do we compare? What are the major theoretical approaches that guide our studies? We also examine distinctions between the "developing" and the "developed" worlds, and between authoritarian and democratic political regimes. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits. |
| This course is designed to expose students to the study of concepts and theories of international relations. It will provide students with a conceptual approach to understanding the principal actors in the international system and a systematic analysis of advanced international relations theories, namely realism, liberalism, radicalism, constructivism, and feminism. Topics addressed include international relations theory, history of international relations, the global system, the state and the individual, global organizations, non-governmental organizations, international law, war and strife, international political economy, and transnational issues. Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. 3 credits. |
*
PSC 330 State & Local Government| Governmental institutions, characteristics of state and local political systems and the major inter-governmental problems in state and local relations with federal government. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science).Writing Process. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and PSC 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits. |
*Recommended; any upper division course in American government can be taken to meet this requirement.
Education courses:
SED 115 Intro to Teaching and Learning| This course is designed to provide an introduction to secondary education majors about how people learn and how to successfully use that information in the classroom. It will cover the characteristics of secondary schools and students and the management of teaching and learning resources. 2 hours a week of fieldwork is required. 3 credits. |
| This course will offer comprehensive preparation for teaching social studies in secondary schools through discussing, reading, writing, and completing projects. As part of this course, students will establish and practice appropriate classroom management strategies; design lessons/units of study that meaningfully integrate different and varied aspects of social studies; develop appropriate assessment strategies for all students including those with disabilities; explore and utilize materials, techniques and methods of classroom instruction for a variety of populations including those with disabilities; synthesize, reconfigure and connect what they have learned within the areas of social studies literacy, writing and education; evaluate student work by creating their own rubrics to assess learning; use technology effectively as an instructional tool. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: Social Studies major or permission 3 credits. |
| This course will guide preservice students to develop competencies in teaching literacy strategies in their content area subject(s) in middle and high school. Emphasis will be placed on teaching activities, specialized skills, technology skills and study strategies for learning substantive content. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: SED 115. 3 credits. |
| This course is designed to provide preservice secondary education students with the skills to develop an integrated approach to teaching and learning. Students will create lesson and unit plans and develop integrated curricula. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisites:SED 110, 430; secondary teacher certification candidate; junior or senior status; approval of the instructor; must be taken prior to SED 440. 3 credits. |
| Students spend an entire semester in an area school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Prerequisites: A cumulative grade point average of 2.8 and admission to teacher certification candidacy are required. (See Education Department III 1-7.) SED 110, 430, 431; open to seniors or students seeking certification only. 12 credits. |
Additional Certification Requirements
Students seeking teacher certification must also complete a number of additional processed and requirements outlined in the Steps to Pennsylvania Teacher Certification document on the Education Department web page. Along with other requirements, these include a minimum GPA and the following coursework:
1. Completion of one English composition course.
2. Completion of one English or American literature course.
3. Completion of two college-level mathematics courses.
4. Completion of required Special Education coursework:
SPE 250 Cog Devel of Diverse Learners| This course is designed to introduce all categories of disability. Specific attention will be given to the potential cognitive, physical, social, behavioral, and language differences in children with disabilities. Delivery approach will include, but not be limited to: lecture, case study discussions, and student presentations. Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. 3 credits. |
| This course will begin with a historical overview of the field of special education, including key legislation and litigation that drives current practice. Assessment tools for diagnosing disability will be introduced, as well as assessment tools for documenting student progress. In addition, collaboration and communication skills essential for working as a part of the special education team will be practiced and further developed. Delivery approach will include, but not be limited to: lecture, field experiences, and hands-on experience with various assessments. 3 credits. |
The following course is required for music education majors and may also be required for students transfering credits into any certification program from other institutions:
SPE 258 Instruct & Behav. Strategies| The focus of this course content will be on (a) behavioral principles and their application in the classroom, (b) literacy development and literacy interventions for students with disabilities, and (c) evidence-based instructional strategies in other content areas, such as mathematics, social studies, science, and the creative arts. Delivery approach will include, but not be limited to: lecture, case study applications, field experiences, hands-on experience with various literacy programs, and student presentations. Prerequisite: Restricted to Music majors and transfer students. 3 credits. |
5. Completion of one of the following ESL courses:
For early childhood/special education certification: EDU 240 Lang, Diversity, Achiev.: Pk-8
| This course is designed for the pre-service music, art, language, early childhood education, or middle school educator to gain an understanding of the complex factors impacting the education and language acquisition of the diverse language and cultural minority groups of the United States. This course is required under Act 49-2 and may be taken while student teaching. Fulfills general education requirement: American Social Diversity. 3 credits. |
For secondary education certification: EDU 245 Lang, Diversity, Achieve: 7-12
| This course is designed to allow the pre-service music, art, language, or grade 7 - grade 12 secondary teacher certification candidate to gain an understanding of the complex factors impacting the education and language acquisition of the diverse language and cultural minority groups of the United States. This course is required under Act 49-2 and may be taken while student teaching. Fulfills general education requirement: American Social Diversity. 3 credits. |
K-12 certification (art, languages, and music) candidates may take either course.