Secondary 7-12 Education with Co-Majors
Students at the summit of Mount Afadjato!
Albright College Secondary Education Program has a history of preparing outstanding educators who
- learn critical tools to support the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of teenaged children;
- become facilitators of active learning in developmentally appropriate environments;
- implement research-based curriculum and instruction;
- make data-driven decisions through assessment;
- build relationships with families and communities;
- exude professionalism, including ethical decision-making.
Are you ready to inspire the next generation of students? Do you want to learn to be an effective teacher of our youth? If you have a passion for helping our leaders of tomorrow to learn and develop new skills, the Secondary 7-12 Education Program at Albright College may be a great fit for you.
- Combining classroom and practical experiences, the early childhood education major offers the strong foundation you need to understand the developmental and educational needs of young children.
- Emphasis is placed on working with young children and their families. You will apply classroom knowledge of child development, families and best teaching practices to a variety of educational settings including public middle school, high school, special education and STEM classrooms.
- Partnering with Muhlenberg, Fleetwood, Wilson, Boyertown and Governor Mifflin School Districts, Albright’s Secondary 7-12 Program provides field experiences in urban, suburban, and rural locations.
- At Albright, the 7-12 educator candidate combines a study of a liberal studies discipline with the study of early childhood education, earning the benefits of a liberal arts education. You can select from nine possible co-majors to enrich your teaching preparation.
Secondary 7-12 Education with Co-Majors – Advising Sheets
Advising Sheets are made available for a preview into a sample course sequences for prospective Education students. These are subject to change and work with our commitment to the Creativity and Innovation that is displayed through our unique co-majors at Albright College.
Advisers will work with you to individually plan your course selection and completion of requirements for PA teaching certification, licensing you to teach in pre-school childcare facilities as well as in public school from grades 7 to 12.
TESTING
Students are required to pass the PRAXIS exam for their content area in order to receive certification. More information on these exams can be found at the Pennsylvania Certification Testing Website
- PAPA Modules 1 Reading (001); 2 Math (002); and 3 Writing (003) OR Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests should be completed no later than the end of 1st Semester Sophomore year.
APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
- Submit “Formal Application for Admission to the Certification Program” This can be found on the Education Department website under “Resources” or by contacting the Manager of Education Department Programs
- A minimum of three semesters of study (12 course units or its equivalent of 48 credit hours)
- Passing Scores on PAPA or Praxis Core Academic Skills Tests (Reading, Writing, Math)
- Completion of two college math and three college English courses with a C or above
- Minimum GPA of 2.8.
APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO PROFESSIONAL SEMESTER
- Submit “Student Teaching Application.” This can be found on the Education Department website under “Resources” or by contacting the Manager of Education Department Programs
- C or higher on all education & content courses required for certification
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Letter of Admission to the Teacher Certification Program
CLEARANCES
Students are required to obtain and annually renew their clearances: Child Welfare, FBI Fingerprinting, and PA State Police. More information on this process can be found at the Pennsylvania Clearances Website. We recommend students obtain their clearances in July so they are valid for the entire academic year.
EDU 202: Middle Level and Secondary Education Theories and Practices
This course is designed to prepare students to teach in a Middle Level and/or Secondary Level environment. The course will be built around two philosophies: 1) a Middle Level structure for grades 4 through 8 and 2) a High School Level/ Secondary structure for grades 7-12. A strong focus of the course will be on the transition of elementary students into the Middle Level environment and the subsequent transition of Middle Level students into the High School/ Secondary Level environment. The types of teams and departmental organizations found in the school settings will be discussed. The role of adolescent development will be studied as it impacts student performance in both settings. An initial study of learning theory will be presented to lay a foundation for the study of instructional methodology in both levels of schooling.
EDU 230: Communications Skills for Teachers
Teacher certification candidates will develop and refine oral and written communications skills with a focus on delivering instruction, conducting parent-teacher conferences, and collaborating with peers. Teacher certification candidates will also develop proficiency in written English language usage with a focus on communication with parents, administrators, and community agencies or businesses. Clearances are required.
EDU 250: Children’s and Adolescent Literature for K-12 Educators
In this course, we will study authors, readers, illustrators and their illustrations, scholars and theories, awards, and reviewing media of Children’s and Adolescent’s literature. By the conclusion of our study, you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the history, traditions, and chief characteristics of literature written for and read by children and adolescents, the leading authors, illustrators, and scholars of the genre. You will know the primary facts and point of view for a variety of issues in children’s and adolescent’s literature including genre distinctions, academic status, gender politics and censorship. Throughout the course you will engage in critical thinking, analytical reading, discussion supported by research and textual evidence, and writing about children’s and adolescent’s literature. You will be knowledgeable regarding a wide variety of resources for the study and analysis of children’s and adolescent’s and be proficient at using these resources for writing a thesis driven research essay as well as classroom activities.
EDU 301: Adolescent Development and Learning
This course is designed for students who have a secondary education concentration, and it will focus on the transitionary period between childhood and adulthood which we call adolescence. We will examine the fundamental physical, cognitive, and social transitions of adolescence, the environmental contexts of adolescence, and the psychosocial development that occurs during this period. While doing so, we will also explore the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, information processing, Kohlberg, Dweck, and others as they relate to adolescent development, teaching, and learning. Enrollment in this course is limited to students who have been admitted to Albright’s Teacher Certification Program.
EDU 314: Field Experience
Field Experience II is a practicum designed to provide level 2 and 3 field experiences for secondary education, art education, and world language education candidates. Candidates will work in classrooms during the Interim under the guidance of a certified mentor teacher and a college supervisor. Following a co-planning and co-teaching model, certification candidates will develop pedagogical skills for engaging students in learning experiences in their content areas. Candidates will focus on developing classroom management leading to the production of positive learning environments with a high level of student engagement. Candidates will collaborate with mentor teachers to analyze student assessment data to plan and deliver student-centered instruction. Course will engage candidates in developing skills to differentiate instruction, flexibly group students and create adaptations for special needs students and English language learners.
EDU 346: Secondary Methods of Instruction
This course is required for students seeking Pennsylvania certification to teach biology, chemistry, physics, English, foreign language (Spanish or French), mathematics, and social studies at the secondary level. This course is divided into two segments. Segment 1 meets for seven 3-hour seminars to develop competency in research-based methods of instruction and assessment. Danielson’s Framework for Teaching guides the process of developing competencies in instructional planning, classroom management, assessment, instruction and professional responsibilities. Segment 2 is based on student observations in a classroom taught by highly qualified teachers (as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education) in specific-content areas. These classroom teachers will conduct professional seminars during this segment, building competencies guided by Danielson’s Framework for Teaching. Enrollment in this course is limited to students who have been admitted to Albright’s Teacher Certification Program. Clearances are required.
EDU 347: ELL Strategies for Adolescents
This course introduces secondary education certification candidates to instruction and assessment strategies for teaching English language learners, laying pedagogical foundations for teaching a diverse population. Within this broader context, historical, legal and policy issues will be examined to assess their impact on school practices and student performance. Candidates will examine and understand key concepts of first and second language acquisition, language proficiency, and comprehensible input, research-based instructional strategies for academic development and assessment, and parental involvement. When enrolled in this class, candidates will be co-teaching with a classroom teacher in an inclusive setting in their practicum semester. With this course, teacher candidates will be more knowledgeable and better prepared to teach in our ever- growing diverse society. Enrollment in this course is limited to students who have been admitted to Albright’s Teacher Certification Program. Clearances are required.
EDU 350: Instructional Technology
This course will prepare teacher certification candidates to use technology in the PK-12 environment and to reflect how technology impacts the teacher, the student and the classroom as a whole. Course objectives are developed in accordance with the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Performance Standards for Teachers as well as the PA Information Literacy Standards, which are located in the Academic Standards for Business, Computer, and Information Technology. The content of the course continually changes to meet the ongoing growth in this field. Enrollment in this course is limited to students who have been admitted to Albright’s Teacher Certification Program.
SPE 340: Secondary Inclusive Classroom Assessment & Adaptations
This course is designed to meet the needs of teachers in today’s secondary inclusive classrooms presenting a variety of teaching and assessment strategies that have been proven effective in educating both general and special education students. The goals of this course are to have participants develop an understanding of the special educational needs of students with mild-moderate disabilities; to have participants develop a practical understanding and demonstrate a proficiency in creating and implementing teaching approaches designed to accommodate the individual needs of all students, both with and without disabilities, and to assess the individuals with both teacher made and professionally made materials for better programming in their classrooms. Enrollment in this course is limited to students who have been admitted to Albright’s Teacher Certification Program.
Schedule your PRAXIS Tests
Study for your PRAXIS Tests – Practice Tests from ETS
Khan Academy Practice Materials