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 Social Studies Education specialization aims to develop teachers with the skills necessary to create an informed citizenry with respect for diversity in a democratic society. The Social Studies Education specialization emphasizes critical thinking about social studies curriculum frameworks and materials; curriculum development grounded in teaching for understanding; and sensitivity around controversial areas such as race relations, gender, war and peace, equality of economic and social opportunities, and global interdependence.
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 preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Job Prospects: Graduates typically pursue teaching positions in middle and secondary school settings in grades 7 to 12.
Licensure/Certification: Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and passing all required licensure examinations, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate.
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: Significant coursework (i.e., the equivalent of a minor or better) and/or professional experience related to the intended certification area are preferred.
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.
Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.
International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to 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® Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5581) test.
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.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 31, or 37 with ESL Certification
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| SPED 5106 | Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| EDUC 5402 | Child and Adol Develop | 3 |
| MGSE 5796 | Literacy and Differentiation in the Academic Areas, 7-12 | 3 |
| or TESL 5613 | Multilingual Students' Literacy Development | |
| SPED 5109 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| SPED 5666 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| TESL 5631 | Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners | 3 |
| Concentration-Specific Pedagogy Classes | ||
| MGSE 5465 | Methods and Materials in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| MGSE 5466 | Teaching for Understanding in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| 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 Hours | 31 | |
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:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TESL 5616 | Designing Assessment and Curriculum for Multilingual Students | 3 |
| TESL 5621 | Contexts for Teaching and Learning Language | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Culminating Events: Student teaching and its related seminar(s) constitute the culminating events for this MEd program.
Accelerated Programs
Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The accelerated pathway for the Secondary Education MEd with a concentration in Social Studies Education is available to any qualified students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the following:
- Economics BA
- Geography and Urban Studies BA
- History BA
- Political Science BA
- Sociology BA
Cohort Code: XMEDSSOC
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.00
Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 5402 | Child and Adol Develop | 3 |
| MGSE 5465 | Methods and Materials in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| MGSE 5466 | Teaching for Understanding in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| SPED 5666 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
Suggested Academic Plan
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| EDUC 5402 | Child and Adol Develop | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 5666 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MGSE 5466 | Teaching for Understanding in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| MGSE 5465 | Methods and Materials in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Application: https://education.temple.edu/academics/accelerated-dual-degree-program-application
Contact Information
Tim Fukawa-Connelly, Program Coordinator for Secondary Education MEd
timfc@temple.edu
CEHD +1 Programs
plus1@temple.edu
Additional Information
Learn more about the +1 program in Economics BA and Secondary Education MEd
Learn more about the +1 program in Geography and Urban Studies BA and Secondary Education MEd.
Learn more about the +1 program in History BA and Secondary Education MEd.
Learn more about the +1 program in Political Science BA and Secondary Education MEd
Learn more about the +1 program in Sociology BA and Secondary Education MEd
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
215-204-0999