Teacher Education Program

Introduction

Dickinson College offers certification in secondary education for the state of Pennsylvania. For a complete listing of the areas of certification, see the department’s website at www.dickinson.edu/departments/educ/certification.html. Students who are interested in enrolling should also refer to the sequence of courses required for teacher certification on this website.

Advice to Students New to the Program

Students who are certain about becoming certified as teachers or who wish to explore education as a career should register for EDUC 121, Social Foundations of Education, during their first year at Dickinson, preferably in the fall semester.

Students who wish to become biology teachers should register for BIOL 123, Animals, Plants and Fungi in the fall semester and BIOL 125, Understanding Cancer in the spring semester. CHEM 141, Foundations of Chemistry should be taken as early in a student’s preparation as possible.

Students who wish to become foreign language teachers should begin language studies during the first year. If a student is planning certification in Italian, Russian, or Greek, it will be wise to seek certification in a second language in order to enhance employment opportunities.

Additional Remarks

SPSEA and Kappa Delta Pi: First Year students who wish to become educators join the Benjamin Rush Chapter of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (SPSEA). It is the largest student pre-professional education organization in the United States through its affiliation with PSEA and NEA. The organization provides professional, leadership and service opportunities. An application for membership can be obtained from the Education Office.

Careers: Most students receiving certification pursue secondary school teaching as a career. Dickinson graduates enjoy a very good record of locating teaching positions in Pennsylvania and other states. Some students teach in other countries. Students receiving a Pennsylvania Teaching license are eligible for certification in many other states. A full list of states with reciprocal agreements is available as part of the Education Web site.

Further Information: For additional information about the program or to obtain application or clearance materials contact the Director of Teacher Education, Professor Lance Landauer at the Education Office located at 57 South College Street. The best way to make the contact is through Mrs. Betsy Miller, Education Department Staff Associate (717-245-1203 or millerb@dickinson.edu)

Back to main Advising Handbook page

Updated August 12, 2005