The Department of Professional and Secondary Education offers a non-degree program for post-baccalaureate students seeking secondary teaching certification. Students must apply through the Office of Graduate Studies for the certification program and meet admission requirements for the University. Students must have or complete the equivalent of the WCU undergraduate major in the area in which they seek certification and must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or greater.

The program consists of seven education courses, including a methods course offered by the academic area, plus a full semester of student teaching. Undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated by the content area department to assess any additional course work that may be needed in the academic discipline. (Note: Some graduate course work taken for certification may count for the M.Ed. in Secondary Education).

Secondary Areas of Certification

» Biology
» Chemistry
» Communication
» Earth and Space Science
» English
» Environmental Education (Endorsement Only)
» French
» General Science
» German
» Latin
» Mathematics
» Physics
» Russian
» Spanish

Required Courses
» EDF 589 Sociological Foundations of Education
» EDP 550 Advanced Educational Psychology
» EDT 500 Integrated Educational Technology
» EDP 569 Adolescent Development and Learning (required for foreign language students only)
» EDP 531 Principles of Educational Testing
» EDA/EDR 341 Inclusion and Reading in Content
» EDS 505 Secondary Field Experience and Methods
» Teaching Skills / Methods course taken in academic department of subject specialization
» EDS 411/412 Student Teaching

Policy for Teacher Certification only (Level 1)
Post Baccalaureate -- Secondary Education
For those persons who hold a baccalaureate degree but have not fulfilled initial (Level 1) certification requirements.

Admission Policy
» Applicant must submit a formal application for admission into an initial (Level I) certification only program.
» Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have a cumulative GPA of 2.8* or higher.**
» Applicant must obtain passing scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST):

• Reading (1710)
• Writing (20720)
• Math (10730)
  

» Applicant must be recommended for admission by appropriate school or department. Additionally, all foreign language students are required to take Elementary School (CK10014).

Admission Procedures

» Students must confer with the Department of Professional and Secondary Education and with the appropriate academic department.
» Degreed students have two options for pursuing Level I certification.

• Students taking only undergraduate coursework apply through adult and continuing studies in the registrar's office.
  
• Students taking graduate coursework to meet certification requirements apply through the Office of Graduate Studies.
  

» Applications are reviewed by the Department of Professional and Secondary Education to determine if the minimum requirements (e.g., a 2.8* or higher GPA**) are met.(*Students whose undergraduate GPA is below 2.8 and whose degree is more than five years old may request an exception to this requirement. **Some programs may require a higher GPA.)
» Prior to the end of the first semester of coursework, the applicant must submit to the certification office:

• Passing scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST):
  

     1) Reading (1710)
     2) Writing (20720)
     3) Math (1073)

• Copies of official transcript(s)
  
• Copy of approved program of study
  

» Additionally, all foreign language students are required to take Elementary School (CK10014).

» The Program of Study must include a list of all coursework required for completion of Level I certification and must be signed by the student, the academic advisor, the professional education adviser, and the certification officer.

Additional Requirements for Certification

» Apply for a formal admission upon passing the PPST tests and completing two college-level English as well as two college-level mathematics.
» Maintain a 2.8 GPA or higher in all courses completed at West Chester University.
» Receive a grade of "C" or higher in all required education courses including the subject -- specific methods course.
» Receive a grade of "C" or higher in student teaching.
» Pass the ETS Praxis II examinations: specific subject matter examinations (see your academic adviser) and Principles of Learning and Teaching (30524), which will not be required for the students who will have student teaching after September 1, 2003.
» Graduate students must meet the requirements set by the graduate office and listed in the Graduate Catalog. The requirements include maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.