Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education / Social Studies Education is offered by the Department of Teaching and Learning.
Students must complete all coursework and fieldwork requirements needed to make them eligible for Pennsylvania certification in Secondary Education: Social Studies. Passing the required Praxis exam(s) as stipulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education is required to apply for Pennsylvania certification.
Students wishing to complete a second major in History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology or Geography and Urban Studies should meet with a College of Education and Human Development academic advisor to declare the desired second major; students may need to take additional courses as defined by the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: ED-SESS-BSED
GPA Requirements
In order to maintain good standing in Secondary Education, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the course work in their content area.
Accreditation
The program is approved as a teacher preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Licensure/Certification
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate. Please note, Pennsylvania requires assessment of candidates in General Knowledge, Professional Knowledge and/or Subject Area Knowledge prior to issuance of a certificate. Please refer to the PDE web site for testing requirements.
Contact Information
Undergraduate Advising, College of Education and Human Development
edadvising@temple.edu
Tim Patterson, Program Coordinator
tim.patterson@temple.edu
Wanda Brooks, Teaching and Learning Department Chair
wanda.brooks@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
University Requirements
All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
All students (including transfer students) must take a minimum of two writing-intensive (WI) courses at Temple University. Writing intensive course numbers end in 96, 97 and 98.
College Requirements
Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Education degree by meeting the following minimum College requirements:
- Completion of program requirements as detailed on the academic plan.
- Earn a "C-" or above in all required Education Courses.
- Earn a "C-" or above in all required University General Education Courses.
- Students in Secondary Education must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.0 GPA in their second program (major) courses.
For additional college and certification requirements, refer to the College Requirements page.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 2109 | Adolescent Development for Educators 1 | 3 |
| or ECED 2105 | Cognition and Learning in the Classroom | |
| SPED 2231 | Introduction to Special Education 1 | 3 |
| SPED 3187 | Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum | 3 |
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners | 3 |
| MGSE 3796 | Differentiated Literacy Instruction in the Disciplines (grades 7-12) (WI) | 3 |
| SPED 3211 | Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 4103 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| MGSE 4801 | Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education | 3 |
| or MGSE 4896 | ||
| MGSE 4888 | Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits (Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG (literature, but not children's literature) course). No 0700 or pre-college level course can count.
Program Requirements for Secondary Education / Social Studies Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 1016 | Mathematics for Educators 1 | 4 |
| or MATH 1021 | College Algebra | |
| MGSE 3466 | Methods and Materials in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| MGSE 4465 | Teaching for Understanding in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 10 | |
- 1
These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits (Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG (literature, but not children's literature) course). No 0700 or pre-college level course can count.
Academic Content Areas - History, Political Science, Economics, Geography, Sociology and Urban Studies
Content area (second major) courses should be chosen in accordance with major requirements as specified by the relevant department in the College of Liberal Arts. One writing intensive course within the academic content area is required for degree completion.
If a student elects to complete all necessary course work and wishes to graduate with a double major, they must complete two writing intensive courses in the College of Education and Human Development and two writing intensive courses in their second major college in the College of Liberal Arts. Course selections must be approved by an academic advisor.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education / Social Studies Education
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
(Certain courses require that a student secure clearances as per the College of Education and Human Development policy; students should check the current list of courses that require clearances on the College of Education and Human Development web site.)
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] 3 or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] 3 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] 3 or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 3, 4 | 4 | |
| Mathematics for Educators | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 3 | 3 |
| SPED 2231 | Introduction to Special Education 2,3 | 3 |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] 3 or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| EDUC 2109 or ECED 2105 | Adolescent Development for Educators 2,3 or Cognition and Learning in the Classroom | 3 |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| MGSE 3466 | Methods and Materials in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| SPED 3187 | Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum | 3 |
| MGSE 3796 | Differentiated Literacy Instruction in the Disciplines (grades 7-12) [WI] | 3 |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 3211 | Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| MGSE 4465 | Teaching for Understanding in Secondary Social Studies | 3 |
| SPED 4103 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners 2 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Second Program (Major) Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MGSE 4801 or MGSE 4896 | Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education or | 3 |
| MGSE 4888 | Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 | 9 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Content area (second major) course selection must be aligned with the degree requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified by the College of Liberal Arts; courses selected in the second major must include one writing intensive course ending in 96, 97, or 98.
- 2
Completion of 1) SPED 2231, 2) EDUC 2109 and 3) TESL 3631 constitute a waiver for the GenEd Human Behavior (GB) category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 3
These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits (Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG (literature, but not children's literature) course). No 0700 or pre-college level course can count.
- 4
Students selecting MATH 1021 should do so in consultation with a CEHD academic advisor.