Science Education at ESU
ESU Department of Physics
The content requirements are specified as a list of courses in the certification subject and related areas (see below). These courses make up the bulk of the major courses in the undergraduate program corresponding to the certification you wish to get. For example, for physics, one needs to demonstrate proficiency in the courses listed as part of the undergraduate B.A. degree in physics. You may not need to take all of those courses if you pass the PRAXIS exam, for example.
In addition to the content courses, you also have to take a series of pedagogy (education) courses. There are nine all together plus a semester of student teaching. [note: Don't want to take all those education classes? See below]
The program you enroll under depends on the number of courses you need and your goal:
This option is sometimes chosen by those who have a degree in a non-science field and thus lack most of the science courses needed for certification. As a result, many of the courses to be taken are at the undergraduate level and wouldn't count towards a graduate degree.
Although most students choosing this program have already completed the bulk of their science courses before enrolling, students can enter this program without having much science background. The science content is taken at the undergraduate level, so it doesn't count toward the graduate degree. Still, the education coursework does count toward the graduate degree, and that may be desirable in terms of salary scales and such.
Note: As mentioned above, you don't need to get a degree to get certification. Certificition only requires that you demonstrate competency in the certification subject. In some cases, you may have satisfied the requirements for certification but not the degree, in which case you are free to leave with just your certification if that's all you want. In fact, many who choose this option never complete the degree.
As a graduate student in this program, you have some additional options. In the intern teaching program, after completing a portion of the educational requirements, you get a temporary certificate allowing you to teach while you finish the rest of your coursework. This temporary certificate is called an intern certificate. For more information on the intern certificate, see below. You can, in addition to the intern certification or as a replacement, enroll in the master's program (see the PSED department). You complete some additional coursework and end up with a master's degree along with the certification.
You can, of course, complete more but this are the minimum. There is also a minimum GPA requirement.
In the intern teaching program, after completing these requirements, you get a temporary certificate (called the intern certificate) allowing you to teach while you finish the rest of your coursework. The intern certificate is good for three years.
Note: As an intern, you do not get the benefit of having a cooperating teacher who can mentor you and allow you to slowly take on more and more of the teaching responsibilities (which consists of a lot more than just teaching) under their guidance. On the other hand, as an intern, you get to choose what school and position you ultimately end up in (you interview for an intern position the same way you would interview for any other teaching position). So, if you don't mind learning on your own and are prepared for days when nothing seems to work yet you have to make do on your own, the intern avenue may be what you are looking for.
For more information about Pennsylvania's intern certificate, see the PA Dept of Education's page on the intern teaching program. The relevant legislation is in the Chapter 49 regulations (scroll down to section 91).
Note: You can, in addition to the intern certification or as a replacement, enroll in the master's program (see the PSED department) so that, with some additional coursework, you'll end up with a master's degree along with the certification.
It is important to note that the emergency certificate (unlike the intern certificate) is obtained through the school that is hiring you, not ESU. It is up to you to find a school that is willing to fill out the appropriate form and argue that no properly certified applicant was available.
Note: A similar "emergency certificate" option is available in New Jersey, where schools can provide you with a one-year temporary provisional certificate or a one-year emergency certificate under certain circumstances.
For information about teaching at the middle school, see the question on middle school certification.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2004, there was a single CSPG for all of the secondary science disciplines (Science Certification and Assignment Scope 7-12). In secondary (grades 7-12) science, there were four basic certification areas: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science. Certification in a particular area permits you to teach that subject, and that subject only (or something similar), in the high school. The only exception was the general science certificate, which permitted you to teach all the science subjects at the middle level (as well as general science in grades 7-12). From September 22, 2003 to October 21, 2003, new/updated CSPGs were presented for public review and comment. The old CSPG is no longer available on the PDE website.
To teach such a course, one needs to obtain the K-12 certificate in Environmental Education, which is is K-12 (i.e., elementary and secondary). ESU does not offer that certification. However, a new Pennsylvania regulation allows you to add Environmental Education certification simply by passing the PRAXIS exam in Environmental Education (10830). For more information, see next question.
The environmental education certificate also qualifies you to teach environmental science in grades 7-12 and "science instruction, adjusted to the students' abilities when below proficient" at the middle level. For more information on the Environmental Education certificate, see CSPG No. 43: Environmental Education.
Note: Since the Environmental Education certificate is a K-12 certificate, you would normally have to take the "Fundamental Subjects" test (which is required of K-12 certificates, not 7-12). However, if you already have your secondary certificate, you don't need to take the "Fundamental Subjects" test when you add the Environmental Education certficate. You only need the PRAXIS exam in Environmental Education (10830).
Prior to January, 2003, Pennsylvania did not have a middle-level certificate. Those grades were taught by teachers holding secondary certificates or elementary certificates, since certification in elementary education was sufficient in some cases to teach any course at the middle-school level (including science).
Starting in January 2003, and continuing until December, 2012, Pennsylvania offered middle-level certificates for grades 7-9, in the various content disciplines. Candidates with elementary certification (K-8) were no longer allowed to teach content-specific courses in grades 7-9 but those with secondary certification (7-12) could because all of the secondary science certificates allow the holder to provide "science instruction, adjusted to the students' abilities when below proficient" at the middle level (this is stated in all of the relevant CSPG's, although it isn't clear why the biology guidelines state one can teach any science course at the middle level and then qualifies it for student abilities below proficient). Be aware, however, that some schools may desire a middle school certificate or a secondary science certificate in the subject area.
For those not holding a secondary science certificate, Pennsylvania offered a middle school certificate (see CSPG No. 54: Middle Level Science Grades 7-9) that qualifies you to teach science courses in grades 7-9 and science only at grade 6. This certificate can only be obtained by passing the Middle School Science Test #10439, with score 144 or better (150 with a 2.8 GPA), but only if you already possessed some other certificate (for mathematics, one needs to pass the
Starting January 1, 2013, the 6-9 middle school certificate is no longer obtainable as an add-on certificate via taking the PRAXIS exam as it is being dropped (the new 4-8 middle level certificate cannot be added via exam). According to the 2007 Chapter 49 regulations, to get the new 4-8 middle school certificate, you will have to complete an approved program in middle school certification (grades 4-8) and take the following exams:
Currently, you can add certain instructional areas to an existing Instructional certificate by taking, and passing (use regular cutoff, not "GPA-assisted" cutoff), the corresponding PRAXIS II exam (see which PRAXIS II exam should I take? for more information) and then completing the necessary form within the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS); see here for more information.
Note: As of June 2, 2014, people who hold a secondary 7-12 certification can add PreK-4 and 4-8 certificates by passing the required certification assessment (see here). To add special education, you need to complete a Special Education 7-12 program or add-on test (or, after Jan 1, 2022, a Special Education PK-12 certificate). Prior to June 2014 (as of August, 2013), this was not possible. You were only able to add additional instructional areas to your certificate if the new area was at the same instructional level (i.e., secondary or middle). Adding K-12 certificates (like the Environmental Education certificate) was unclear since the requirements at the time didn't say one way or another (see FAQ page on the new Chapter 49 regulations; bottom of page 34; question 7 of "Non-Traditional Programs" section).
Note: Before the online TIMS process, the add-on process required the completion of a form (338 G Add-on), along with a copy of your PA Instructional certificate and a copy of the PRAXIS score report (with the qualifying score; the PA Department of Education must be listed as a test recipient) and a money order for $100 (payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; this amount may have changed, as prior to July 1 2006 it was $15 and then it went up to $40 until July 2010). [reference]
Prior to January 2003, the requirements were the same regardless of whether you already held certification in another area or not. That meant that you needed to complete an approved program to add an instructional area.
Between January 2003 and June 2006, PA had Bridge Certificate Program for people who were already teaching middle school but who did not hold a middle school or secondary certificate in the subject area. It required the teacher to have taught at least 2 years in the content area. In the program, teachers had to obtain 28 "points" to receive their certification. Points were awarded for the following areas:
The first step toward this happened on November 14, 2002, when the Pennsylvania State Board of Education passed a resolution that allowed all current holders of teaching certificates to add secondary or middle-level certificates simply by passing the corresponding PRAXIS exam (the exact wording was "Resolved: That certified teachers in Pennsylvania might add instructional certificate areas by passing content area tests in the areas to be certified").
Unfortunately, the content area tests proved to be very difficult for those teaching in middle school. Consequently, this regulation was clarified in a January 10, 2003, memorandum that introduced the idea of "middle-level" certification and stated that to add middle-level science, you must pass the PRAXIS Middle School Science Test #10439 and to add middle-level math, you must pass the PRAXIS Middle School Math Test #20069. A second memorandum (dated January 14, 2003) stated that secondary math and science areas (physics, chemistry, biology, general science and earth/space science) can be added by taking the corresponding PRAXIS exam. For more information on the PRAXIS exams (such as cut-off scores, test numbers, etc.), see below.
In 2008, Pennsylvania instituted new regulations (see Chapter 49), which go into effect in January 2013. One piece of this was the creation of a new middle school certification program for grades 4-8. Another piece requires cousrework in "adaptations and accommodations" and "English Language Learners" (ELL).
If you already have certification in one area, you may be able to add the additional certification via a PRAXIS exam. See above.
Note: In addition to the pedagogy and content courses listed below, the state also requires undergraduates* two math courses and two English courses (one composition and one literature; see Memorandum 04,ch states that you must have "3 semester hours of English/American literature"; according to PDE, the literature must have an American/English focus, so French literature, for example, would not be acceptable). As of September 1, 2009, applicants have the option of demonstrating competency and fulfilling the Mathematics and/or English requirements by taking an exam or AP course even when no formal credit is awarded by ESU. For example, if you have taken and passed calculus, you may not need to take a second math course if you can demonstrate competency in a lower-level math course (like precalc) via an exam. *According to the new School Code adopted June 30, 2011, post-bacc candidates do not need to meet the requirements of 6 credits of math and 6 credits of English for their certification program (see end of the August 5, 2011 weekly update from PDE; a definition of "post-bacc candidate" has not been provided).
The pedagogy coursework consist of seven courses in education. The names of the courses depend on whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
For those getting certified prior to December of 2012, the following courses are required:
| Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
| PSED161 | Foundations of Education | PSED510 | The Teacher and the School Community |
| PSED242 | Educational Psychology | PSED516 | The Learner and the Learning Process |
| MCOM242 | Educational Communications | MCOM520 | Selection and Utilization of Instructional Media |
| REED321 | Teaching of Reading in the Secondary School | REED527 | Reading in the Content Area |
| PSED420 | Seminar in Secondary Education I | PSED520 | Seminar in Secondary Education I |
| PSED421 | Seminar in Secondary Education II | PSED521 | Seminar in Secondary Education II |
| PSED446 | Teaching of Science in Secondary Schools | PSED546 | Teaching of Science in Secondary Schools |
For those getting certified after December of 2012, the following courses are required:
| Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
| PSED150 | Introduction to Teaching All Students | PSED510 | The Teacher and the School Community |
| PSED524 | Teaching ELLs in the Diverse Classroom Setting | ||
| PSED250 | The Psychology of Learners in Diverse Communities | PSED516 | The Learner and the Learning Process |
| REED350 | Teaching Reading to Communities of Diverse Learners | REED528 | Teaching Content Area Reading to Diverse Learners |
| SPED350 | Assessment of Student Learning and Behavior | SPED550 | Nature and Needs of Exceptional Individuals |
| SPED551 | Inclusionary Practices | ||
| PSED420 | Seminar in Secondary Education I: Instructional Practice | PSED520 | Seminar in Secondary Education I |
| PSED421 | Seminar in Secondary Education II: Effective Practices for Students in Diverse Learning Communities | PSED521 | Seminar in Secondary Education II |
| PSED446 | Teaching of Science in Secondary Schools | PSED546 | Teaching of Science in Secondary Schools |
The content coursework consist of the science courses
and are usually somewhat equivalent to the coursework required for a B.A. in the content area.
For more information, see the appropriate sections of
the ESU catalog
under the following program names:
However, faster-track options may be available elsewhere. When choosing
a program, consider the following recommendations listed in
A Difficult Balance:
Incentives and Quality Control in Alternative Certification Programs.
Act 168 (as of August 1, 2015) requires a minimum of 48 credits for formal admission/screening
into the program, and students must screen in before taking any upper-level classes in education
(this would typically be Sem I for both undergraduate and graduate students). Consequently,
undergraduates don't screen in until their junior year while graduate students typically screen as early as possible.
See the secondary education department for more information.
To screen in, you must have at least a 2.8
overall grade point average (3.0 for graduate students) and current clearances.
Undergraduates (as of August 22, 2002) must also receive passing scores on the Reading, Writing and Math
portions of the Praxis CORE or Pearson PAPA, as well as complete two math courses
and two English courses (one composition and one literature; see
above for specifics).
Note:
Starting Fall, 2003, ESU students must have a 2.5 in order to take
the Educational Psychology (or Learner and the Learning Process) course. If you already have
an undergraduate degree or are a transfer student with coursework
elsewhere, you will need at least a 2.5 undergraduate GPA to be in
the teacher preparation program. If you don't have that GPA, you can
enter as a non-degree student or in another major, take content
coursework, pass Praxis I and pursue initial education courses. If
you attain a B or better in each course taken, you can then reapply
for the teacher education program (or change your major, if you are an undergraduate student).
To exit the program and get certified, you must have at least a
3.0
overall grade point average (before August 31, 2003, the requirement
was 2.8). Again, each certification area may have their own
requirements in addition to this.
Note: According to an October 5, 2009, memorandum, one can receive certification
with as low as a 2.8 grade point average if you have earned a score on the subject
area PRAXIS exam that is at least one standard error of measure above the established
qualifying score for that assessment (go to Certifying Tests and Qualifying Scores
For entrance into the program, the grade point average is obtained
via your ESU courses only (both in the major and outside the major),
unless you have more than 12 hours of coursework taken elsewhere. In
that case, the combined average will be used.
Note: If you already hold an advanced degree, you don't need to
include your undergraduate GPA in the entrance requirement (see Memorandum 07).
Note: It used to be that if you held an emergency permit, you could take up to nine credits
on a provisional basis and then use those credits for the GPA
requirement (see Memorandum 06, dated Nov 14, 2002)
but it now appears that PA is no longer issuing emergency certificates (Sep 2010).
Note: Students may appeal to request the use or non-use of transfer courses
to be used in calculating the QPA for admission, but if they are
used, all courses taken at other institutions must be used, not only
selected ones.
For exit from the program, the ESU average (all courses) will be
used, regardless of how many courses were taken elsewhere.
Note: individual majors may have separate content-specific GPA
requirements. Thus, you may meet the GPA requirement for one
certification but not another.
As a reference,
Memorandum 07
states that "Pennsylvania currently requires an overall GPA requirement of a 3.0 for entry...and
exit" so this is the current interpretation followed by ESU.
To provide some context and history, the legislation governing certification in
Pennsylvania (known as Chapter 354; see
section 24) specifies that candidates must maintain the following
"overall" GPA "in each certificate area":
Part of the problem associated with the latter interpretation is that the language
is applied to two sets of candidates.
One set consists of those "who plan to teach" in an academic discipline. The
other set consists of those "who plan to serve" in a certificate category.
Within this section, the latter are described as "noninstructional". Consequently,
the natural interpretation is to assume that the language used for "certificate
categories" does not apply to those seeking secondary science certification.
Instead, "certificate area" is interpreted to mean "academic discipline" (since
those two phrases seem to be used interchangeably), in keeping with the
emphasis later in this same section that "academic content area
courses" are to be the same set of core and elective courses in the
"bachelor of arts or bachelor of science major academic area the
candidates intend to teach."
The section applying to entrance criteria is in section 31.
In this section, there is quite a bit about other options, e.g., a
2.8 GPA (for undergraduates) is okay if a certain score is obtained on the SAT (1050
overall, minimum of 500 on verbal and math portions) or Praxis I exams (still to be
determined?).
In that section, it seems clear that the same GPA requirements are to be
applied to those entering a program. It is also clear that the GPA is the
overall GPA (see
comments on
Chapter 354).
Since chapter 354 was passed, PDE has issued several memoranda that
are meant to clarify the legislation (see their list of memorandums. Memorandum 7 (May
19, 2003) specified a 3.0 for both entry and exit (there was a three-year transition period from 2003-2005
where the GPA requirement was slowly raised from 2.6 to 3.0). Individuals with an advanced degree
can use the GPA corresponding to their advanced degree.
Memorandum 10 (Jan 24, 2006) states that if you don't meet the minimum as an undergraduate, you can
meet the minimum by taking 9 credits of master's level work and obtain a 3.0 in that work.
Relative to entrance criteria, PDE has issued two memoranda.
According to PDE memorandum-01,
a candidate entering a program must have the above GPA on the "accumulation of 48
credit hours or the full time equivalent of college level study", which seems to imply
an overall GPA (as inferred above). However, according to PDE memorandum-02,
for candidates entering a program, "the inclusion of elective
and transcripted courses is at the discretion of the institution."
This seems to imply that it is the content GPA but an
institution may choose to also apply the minimum to the
overall GPA.
I am transferring to ESU. Who decides
whether my courses will count toward the certification requirements?
What about the general university requirements?
Is there a minimum GPA I need to satisfy? What is it?
If I need a 3.0, will a 2.98 count?
How close to the cut-off can I be?
What courses count toward the GPA requirement?
I've heard different things about the GPA requirement
from different people and schools. What's the deal with that?
Since this section is about obtaining certification, I assume it
applies to exit criteria. There are two ways to interpret the
meaning of "in each certificate area." One way is to interpret it to mean
that each certificate area needs to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Another way
is to interpret it to mean that one needs to maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the courses
that make up each certificate area. ESU has followed the former interpretation.
In general, there are two types: a general series of exams covering general knowledge that all teachers must pass and a content-specific exam that only teachers in your subject area need to pass. For the latter, see the information below about the PRAXIS II (content or subject specialty) exams.
As for the general knowledge tests, starting April 2, 2012, undergraduate candidates (as of July 1, 2011, graduate students do not need to take PPSTs, PAPA or ETS Core, and as of September 1, 2013, students who get a total of 1550 on the SAT, prior to matriculating and with no individual part less than 500 - all parts taken the same day) must take the PAPA (Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment) test or the ETS Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) test (codes 5712, 5722, 5732), each of which has 3 modules:
Note: There is an option for those who do not meet the passing score in one or more of the three areas. To pass, you must have total composite score of at least 686. In addition, you must meet the following minimum scores for the three areas: reading (193), mathematics (197) and writing (192).
If you took any tests prior to April 2, 2012, see the question about what to do about changes. For reference, I provide the following inforamation about past requirements. Prior to April 2, 2012, candidates had to pass the following core battery of three exams (the first test code corresponds to the computer-delivered test; the second test code corresponds to the paper-delivered test):*1,*3,*4
The subject specialty exams are not required until you formally apply for certification. However, it is wise to take them earlier. For example, the earth science exam has a heavy emphasis on geology, so you should probably plan to take that exam immediately following the geomorphology course, if you happen to take that course. In addition, you might find that you don't pass it the first time. Taking it early will give you some time to identify your weaknesses and retake it.
If you are a graduate student, you might be eligible for intern certification if you pass the praxis exam. That will allow you to accept a choice position if it happens to come up before (or while) you student teach.
| Certification Area | Test title*1 | Test code*2,3 | PA qualifying score*4,5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Biology | 5236 | 154 (161) |
| Chemistry | Chemistry | 5246 | 146 (153) |
| Earth and Space Science | Earth and Space Sciences | 5572 | 154 (161) |
| General Science | General Science | 5436 | 141 (149) |
| Physics | Physics | 5265 | 145 (152) |
| Environmental Education | Environmental Education | 0831 | 156 (164) |
| Mathematics | Mathematics | 5165 | 159 (168) |
For other states, see:
|
Note:In the past, the initial steps for certification in New Jersey was handled through county offices, which oversee their local districts. So, once a position was obtained, candidates went through the county office or the school district (see appendix B of the Guide to Certification). Now it seems that out-of-state residents should apply through the state office (see page 5).
According to the PDE, "Applicants must meet the qualifying scores in effect at the time of application, regardless of the score in effect at the time the applicant takes the test." Thus, if a qualifying score is implemented before you apply for certification, then you must meet whatever qualifying score is in effect at the time of application.
As far as I know, they don't re-check your score if you already have certification. Nor do I think they re-check your score when you apply for Level II certification, but I'm not sure about that.
You will need to complete the education information for your institution, so you won't be able to complete the application until you graduate (technically, it is the first day of your graduation month, which is typically May 1st or December 1st).
Sign up for a email list. For example, there is a committee of AAPT called High School Physics that has an email list that is open to everybody who is interested. See
the physics in high schools link on the AAPT home page. Two other email lists recommended by physcis teachers are
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