COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Learn more about the Master of Education in Secondary Education.

About the Program

The Secondary Education graduate program's World/Foreign Languages Education specialization is devoted to providing students with a combination of fluency in the target language and the ability to implement best practices in foreign language pedagogy. This specialization emphasizes that learning a foreign language also means learning about another way of life and developing intercultural understanding in order to escape a narrow cultural perspective. Through the experiences in this program, students gain a deeper understanding of the nature of language and culture.

Although most graduates work in secondary school settings, the need for foreign language teachers in elementary schools, especially for teachers of Spanish, is increasing. In response to this, the World/Foreign Languages Education specialization offers K-12 certification, and the curriculum is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills they can apply in K-12 settings. Certification is offered in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Accreditation: The program is approved as a teacher certification program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Areas of Specialization: The World/Foreign Languages Education specialization of the Secondary Education graduate program offers certification in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish.

Job Prospects: Graduates typically pursue teaching positions in elementary, middle or secondary school settings in grades K to 12.

Licensure/Certification: The program is approved as a teacher certification preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing non-matriculated courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.

Financing Opportunities: Financial support opportunities may include scholarships, tuition remission, and other financial aid such as grants, loans and federal work study.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Summer II: March 1

Applicants should submit all required admissions documents by the application deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and financial support.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. References from college/university faculty are recommended.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Before being admitted, applicants must have completed an undergraduate major or the equivalent in a subject area (e.g., French, Spanish, etc.) with 36 credits of undergraduate coursework in the subject area:

  • Non-native speakers must have taken the first two elementary courses and 10 three-credit courses, with a minimum of 30 credits in the foreign language at the college level, for certification in one foreign language. Work should include courses in composition, contemporary literature, conversation, culture and civilization, and linguistics.
  • Native speakers must have taken eight university courses in the department of the language of certification (e.g., the Spanish Department) and be versed in language, linguistics, literature, and culture.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.

International applicants should also submit an official document that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to the World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.

Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, outline your interest in seeking a master’s degree with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.

Standardized Test Scores:
The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the Praxis® Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511) test and the appropriate language test:

  • Praxis® Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665) test
  • Praxis® French: World Language (5174) test
  • Praxis® German: World Language (5183) test
  • Praxis® Latin (5601) test
  • Praxis® Spanish: World Language (5195) test

Alternately, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) test in the appropriate language may substitute for the Praxis® language test. For the ACTFL, both the written and oral exams must be taken, if available. The minimum proficiency to qualify is Intermediate High: Code 120. Candidates may contact the ACTFL testing office at 914-963-7110.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5
  • PTE Academic: 53

Resume: Current resume required.

Transfer Credit: Courses may be transferred from an accredited institution provided they were completed less than five years ago and are relevant to the program. The academic advisor makes the decision about the relevancy of the courses that the student desires to transfer. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Clearances: All admitted students must submit copies of the required Pennsylvania criminal background check, FBI criminal history, Child Abuse check, and TB test to the College of Education and Human Development's Office of Field Placement prior to enrolling in their first term. These clearances are required by law prior to entering pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to complete field experience requirements, starting with the first term and continuing throughout the program.

Pennsylvania clearances are not required for application completion. All new students who possess required Pennsylvania clearances more than one year old must submit updated clearances to the Office of Field Placement. Please note that obtaining these clearances may take up to six weeks. For instructions, please visit the Office of Field Placement's website at https://education.temple.edu/ofp/clearances.

Other Requirement: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 31, or 37 with ESL Certification

Required Courses:

Core Courses
EDUC 5255Tech in Classrooms: TPCK3
EDUC 5402Child and Adol Develop3
MGSE 5796Literacy and Differentiation in the Academic Areas, 7-123
or TESL 5613 Multilingual Students' Literacy Development
SPED 5109Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support3
SPED 5666Introduction to Special Education3
TESL 5631Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners3
Concentration-Specific Pedagogy Courses
MGSE 5427Curriculum and Methods of Foreign Language Education3
MGSE 5428Innovations in Foreign Language Education3
Culminating Courses
Select either Residency or Non-Residency Student Teaching and Seminar:7
Residency Student Teaching and Seminar
Residency Practicum Capstone
Residency Student Teaching Capstone
Supervised Teaching
Non-Residency Student Teaching and Seminar
Research Methods and Induction Capstone
Supervised Teaching
Total Credit Hours31

ESL Certification

While completing the degree, MEd candidates may opt to pursue ESL Certification in teaching English as a second language. An additional 6 credits of coursework are required:

TESL 5616Designing Assessment and Curriculum for Multilingual Students3
TESL 5621Contexts for Teaching and Learning Language3
Total Credit Hours6

Language Examination: Test scores documenting language proficiency need not be provided as they cannot be substituted for academic coursework in the target language.

Culminating Events: Student teaching and its related seminar(s) constitute the culminating events for this MEd program.

Contacts

Program Web Address:

https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/secondary-education-med-ed-sece-med

Department Information:

Dept. of Teaching and Learning

College of Education and Human Development

1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091

educate@temple.edu

215-204-0999

Submission Address for Application Materials:

https://apply.temple.edu/CEHD

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Office of Enrollment Management

educate@temple.edu

215-204-0999

Graduate Advising:

College of Education and Human Development

gradcehd@temple.edu

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Tim Fukawa-Connelly

tim.fc@temple.edu

Teaching and Learning Department Chair:

Dr. Kristie Newton

KJNewton@temple.edu