DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Secondary Teaching Certification | Course Descriptions

Secondary Education Program

PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Charlene Crocker

The primary purpose of the Secondary Education Program is to prepare candidates to become exemplary teachers in secondary schools as well as both the elementary and secondary schools for those seeking all-level certification. The Secondary Education Program provides the course work necessary for candidates to receive certification for teaching grades 8 – 12 as well as those seeking all-level certification for teaching grades EC – 12.

Candidates for secondary level certification (8-12) and all level certification programs except Special Education must have an academic content major. Secondary education is a minor, or a second minor, for students seeking certification for secondary teaching.

Candidates are encouraged to file their official degree plans as soon as they determine their major field of study. Each candidate seeking secondary or all level certification is expected to consult with an academic content advisor to field a major declaration with degree plan. Certification candidates should also meet with an advisor in secondary education at the time the degree plan is formalized.

All candidates seeking teacher certification must satisfy the THEA Test standards and complete all requirements established by the State Board for Educator Certification. Candidates should consult an advisor regularly to determine the changes in their degree plans and certification requirements.

SECONDARY TEACHING CERTIFICATION

Professional Education Courses
SED 374, 383, 394, 464, 480, 496, 497, RDG 392 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Additional Degree Requirements

• English (ENG 164, 165 and ENG Literature [200 level or higher]) and Speech Communication 384 preferred or 161 [transfer only] (3 hrs.) (Core Curriculum Component Areas 1 and 4)
• Math and Computer Science (Core Curriculum Component Areas 2 and 6)
• Science (Core Curriculum Component Area 3) • Fine Arts (Core Curriculum Component Area 4)
• History and Political Science (Core Curriculum Component Area 5)
• Kinesiology or accepted substitutes (Core Curriculum Component Area 6)

All secondary certification minors are:

1. required to apply for admission to educator preparation (see Standards for Admission to Candidacy in the Educator Preparation Program).
2. required to apply for the secondary methods block (SED 394, 464, and RDG 392).
3. required to apply for student teaching (contact edu_ofe@shsu.edu for student teaching information).

NOTE: The above represents a sequence of checkpoints and candidates must be recommended at each checkpoint to progress through the program.

SECONDARY EDUCATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SED 374 HUMAN GROWTH AND LEARNING. This course examines growth and learning in elementary and secondary environments. Major theories of teaching-learning processes are studied. Human development related to education is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the cultural milieu. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Field experiences (10 hours) in 8-12 public schools included in this course. Credit 3.

SED 377 SECONDARY CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT. This course is designed to provide the prospective secondary teacher the opportunity to create educational objectives consistent with an aligned curriculum, instruction and assessment model. Student will learn how to construct and use teacher made tests and performance assessments that support the alignment process. Students will also study assessment, grading, portfolios, using cumulative folders, parent conferences, statistics and interpretations of standardized tests in the process of assessing of students. Credit 3.

SED 383 MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS. Study is made of educational objectives, construction and use of teacher-made tests, grading, cumulative folders, parent conferences, statistics and interpretations of standardized tests. Further, this course provides laboratory experiences in the selection, development and use of media and the integration of technology in instruction. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Credit 3.

SED 394 CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. This course provides a survey of classroom management and discipline approaches appropriate in a public school setting. A range of management approaches and models will be critiqued. Study will include the philosophical foundations and integration of these models. Students will observe or assist teachers in a secondary classroom for a minimum of fifteen hours. Prerequisites: Admission to Educator Preparation Program required and Departmental Approval. Field experiences in 8-12 public schools included in this course. This course is taken in block with RDG 392 and SED 464. Credit 3.

SED 464 METHODS OF TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. This course provides a study of the objectives and the selection, organization, and presentation of the subject matter of the various secondary school subjects, instruction in the organization of units of work, and demonstration teaching. A minimum of fifteen hours will be spent in field experiences in a public school classroom. To be taken the semester priorstudent teaching. Prerequisites: Admission to educator preparation program required and Departmental Approval. Field experiences in 8-12 public schools included in this course. This course is taken in block with RDG 392 and SED 394. Credit 3.

SED 475 PROBLEMS. This course is designed to permit individual students to study specific areas of interest and need. Prerequisite: Approval of Coordinator of Secondary Education. Credit 3.

SED 476 DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER PORTFOLIO. The purpose of this course is to provide the prospective secondary teacher the opportunity to organize artifacts on the development, exploration, integration, application, and teaching of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skill development in the development of a professional teacher portfolio. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in student teaching and Departmental Approval. Credit: 3.

SED 480 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR. This course is designed to assist future teachers in understanding the structure, organization, and management of public schools at the national, state, and local levels. Course content will include a study of the needs of the special learner and students from various cultures. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching Program. This course is taken during the student teaching semester. Credit 3.

SED 496 STUDENT TEACHING IN THE SECONDARY CLASSROOM. The student is assigned full-time student teaching responsibilities at the secondary level (Grades 8-12) for a period of six weeks. This course must be taken with SED 497. This time is divided among observation, participation, teaching and conference activities. Time will be spent in each of the student’s teaching fields. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching Program. Credit 3.

SED 497 STUDENT TEACHING IN THE SECONDARY CLASSROOM. The student is assigned full-time student teaching responsibilities at the secondary level (Grades 8-12) for a period of six weeks. This course must be taken with SED 496 or EED 491. This time is divided among observation, participation, teaching and conference activities. Time will be spent in each of the student’s teaching fields. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching Program. Credit 3.