Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)

Professional Educator Program (PEP) Track in Secondary Education

Students can earn secondary teacher certification for teaching grades 7-12 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in conjunction with academic majors. Students begin the program in the pre-professional phase of the program, confirming their commitment to teaching. See courses listed above. Afterward, students pursue the professional educator program of STEP as they fulfill the requirements of an academic major. DeSales University is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to prepare teachers in:

Biology (Major: biology)
Chemistry (Major: chemistry)
Communication (Major: theatre)
English (Major: English or theater)
Mathematics (Major: mathematics)
Social Sciences (Major: psychology)
Social Studies (Major: criminal justice or history)
Spanish (Major or minor: Spanish)

All certification areas are for grades 7-12, except Spanish, which is K-12. A program is offered for those preparing to teach theology but no Pennsylvania Department of Education certification is available. Please see the academic major for course requirements.

Four Plus One in STEP

Students seeking Secondary Certification 7-12 take five required courses in their undergraduate program in addition to their major requirements. The required Education courses include:

1. ED109 The Educative Process
2. ED209 Cognition and Learning
3. ED218 Introduction to Exceptionality
4. ED366 Literacy Interventions
5. ED373 Teaching English Learners

Students graduate with their undergraduate degree and transition into the graduate M.Ed. program for their 5th year. Fifth year course progression includes:

• SC518 Middle and Secondary Learner and Curriculum 
• SC519 Secondary Education Principles and Pedagogy 
• SC524 Secondary Education in Subject Area 
• SC522 Secondary Education Clinical Field Experience 1  
• SC525 Secondary Education Clinical Field 2 (while employed) 
• SE522 Remedial Techniques in Reading and Writing  
• SC551 Student Teaching (while employed) 
• ED600 Research Capstone 

Students in the fifth year are eligible for the Intern Certification from PDE when they have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have passed the PRAXIS exam in their content area, and have passed with satisfactory or above in all 4 domain areas of the PDE430 in SC522 Clinical Field Experience 1. With the Intern Certificate, students are eligible to apply for full-time teaching positions in a school in order to be a paid employee while completing SC525 Clinical Field 2 and SC551 Student Teaching. Once all coursework is complete, the student is eligible for full Instructional I certification and the M.Ed. degree. See the graduate catalog for further details.