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Teacher Certification Program
Dickinson College offers programs in secondary education accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students completing these programs are eligible to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Level 1 (initial) teacher certification. Completion of the requirements for a Level 1 teaching certificate in Pennsylvania will meet the minimum requirements in most other states. Since there may be a few additional requirements in other states, it is important to check the websites of other states in which certification may be sought to determine the process for applying for teaching certification.
Click on a subject below to view the major(s) checklist of courses required for your selected area of certification. Certification can be obtained in:
Important Note: If you become certified in one area it is possible to add other certifications by passing Praxis or ACTFL tests in the additional areas. For example, if you completed certification in Spanish or English you could add Russian or Italian to your certificate by passing the required test. Should you have questions, please consult with your education advisor.
Education Department Certificate Sequence
The Education program follows the sequence of courses listed below.
EDUC 121 Social Foundations of Education 1 credit
EDUC 221 Educational Psychology 1 credit
This course requires a twenty clock-hour field experience in a local educational setting. Upon registering for this course, students must apply for PPD Tine Test, criminal background, child abuse, and FBI clearances. Clearance “results” must be on file in Education Department by end of semester or an “incomplete” will be given for the course.
Please Note: While in EDUC 221, or upon completion of the course, if you are planning to continue in the program, you should take the PAPA tests and meet with your Education minor advisor to further plan and update your progress in the program.
Addional Required Courses
EDUC 350 Teaching English Language Learners in an Inclusive Classroom .5 credit
(Fifteen clock-hour field experience required)
Students enrolling in EDUC 350 must submit the Education Minor Declaration form to the Education Department BEFORE registering for the course. The Education department Chair will approve the form and forward to the Registrar's office for final processing. You will be assigned an Education Department faculty advisor for the Education minor.
EDUC 352 Issues and Trends in Teaching English 1 credit
(Twenty clock-hour field experience required)
Offered Fall semester only
OR
EDUC 353 Issues and Trends in Teaching Foreign Languages 1 credit
(Twenty clock-hour field experience required)
Offered Fall semester only
OR
EDUC 354 Issues and Trends in Teaching Social Sciences 1 credit
(Twenty clock-hour field experience required)
Offered Fall semester only
OR
EDUC 355 Issues and Trends in Teaching Science 1 credit
(Twenty clock-hour field experience required)
Offered Fall semester only
OR
EDUC 356 Issues and Trends in Teaching Mathematics 1 credit
(Twenty clock-hour field experience required)
Offered Fall semester only
AND
EDUC 458 Curriculum Design 1 credit
Application for Admission to the Professional Semester must be submitted one year prior to enrolling in the Professional Semester. Please see 'Steps for Admission' section on our web page for application deadlines.
Courses to be Taken During Professional Semester
Transportation essential. Up-to-date PPD Tine test and clearances must be on file in the Education Department PRIOR to first day of class or you will be required to withdraw from the professional semester.
EDUC 459 Teaching Special Needs Students in an Inclusive Classroom 1 credit
AND
EDUC 460 Managing the Inclusive Classroom .5 credit
AND
EDUC 461 Student Teaching 3 credits
& 462
The Ninth Semester
Students may choose to complete their majors, graduate with their class, then return to Dickinson for the Professional Semester. This option allows more flexibility for a double major, for spending a year abroad, or as a viable way to complete certification for those who do not declare early enough to complete requirements along with degree completion.
NOTE: All Education courses beginning with EDUC 350 require a means of transportation and some combination of additional fees, health screening, and certificate applications.
To ensure a well-planned program, students are encouraged to meet with the Director of Teacher Certification during their first semester on campus.
Student Advising
When you meet with your Education Advisor you need to have updated copies of the following forms. Select the form and compete all of the requested information on each form. Bring printed copies to your advising meeting. You should save the forms and bring updated copies of them to subsequent advising meetings.
Students Studying Abroad
Students who have been abroad must complete the Enrollment in Another Institution Form available in the Center for Global Study and Engagement office, x1341, and have an “Official Transcript” from the foreign school sent to the Dickinson College Registrar’s office to have grades transferred. This must be done immediately on completion of study abroad to ensure that the Education Department has the most current information available on transcripts.
Those seeking certification and planning to go abroad during the junior year must submit all application materials before leaving campus for study abroad.
Required Exams
Students must submit qualifying scores on required PAPA assessments for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Please note that it is essential to take the PRAXIS II examination by the first half of your senior year. These are your content specialty exams. The Fundamental Subjects Content Knowledge exam, test #30511, is also required for foreign language certification. This requirement will ensure that we can provide you with the necessary support if you need to retake any of the exams. It will also ensure that you will have met all requirements for certification by the time you graduate and will be ready for the job market.
For further information on PAPA/PRAXIS exams and registration information, please see the 'Required Examinations' section on our web page.
Course Descriptions
For Education Department course descriptions please go to : http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/resources/bulletin/Education/
Requirements for Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania
All candidates for initial certification in Pennsylvania must have earned at least a baccalaureate degree, completed an approved program of teacher education and passed the PRAXIS series tests for their certification area. All candidates for certification must meet the qualifying scores for all applicable tests at the time their applications for certification are received by the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality. Students interested in seeking certification may pick up materials pertaining to these tests in the Education Department Office at 57 South College St. or may review and download the materials instantly from the PRAXIS Series web site at http://www.ets.org/praxis. Since the tests are given on specified dates, candidates are responsible for meeting deadlines for registration which are included in materials cited above. Information on performance of Dickinson College’s Teacher Education Program on PRAXIS series testing for licensure is available in HEA Title II Report.
Exit Criteria for Certification Recommendation
Exit criteria are published as part of the Dickinson College Education Department web site. They include:
A cumulative 3.0 grade point average
Completion of all courses specified on the Education Advising Sheet
Completion of all courses listed on the content area Advising Sheet
Completion of two mathematics or quantitative reasoning courses
Completion of a literature course with an ENGL prefix
Completion of an English composition or writing intensive course
Passing scores on required Praxis I and Praxis II tests
Graduation with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Dickinson College or other approved institution
Satisfactory evaluation on the end–of-semester PDE 430 Pennsylvania Statewide Evaluation Form for Student Professional Knowledge and Practice
Completion of all procedural requirements
Certification Outside Pennsylvania
Completion of the requirements for a Level I teaching certificate in Pennsylvania will meet the minimum requirements for gaining initial certification in most other states. Since you may need to complete a few additional requirements, including taking additional PRAXIS exams and/or achieving the passage scores set by other states, you should check the websites of other states in which you would like to obtain a teaching certificate to determine their application process.