1. A minimum 3.0 GPA at 30 credits is required to attain official Secondary Education major status. This will be designated by the Registrar’s Office on Banner.
2. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required at 60 credits to remain in the Education program.  Candidates not maintaining the minimum GPA will be placed into the BA/BS content area major and will need to apply for readmission to the BS Secondary Education program during junior year once the cumulative GPA threshold has been met.
3. In the spring semester of junior year (April 1 deadline), candidates are to apply online for the Professional Development Semester (PDS).  The application process includes an interview with content area faculty.  Students must have a 3.0 GPA, have taken the Praxis Core Exam (formerly Praxis I) as well as remediation for any components not assigned a passing score, and passed the Praxis Subject Assessment Exam (formerly Praxis II).
4. In the fall semester of senior year (November 1 deadline), candidates are to apply online for student teaching placement.  Student teaching is performed during the spring semester of senior year.  All secondary education majors must present at least a 3.0 cumulative average for all courses taken in their academic and professional education course work.  The student teaching requirement for secondary education majors consists of one full semester (70 contact days) of supervised teaching.
5. During the student teaching semester, students must concurrently register for ED 340 and no other courses.  Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the school to which they are assigned for student teaching.  Students earning less than a “P” grade in student teaching may be required to complete additional student teaching and/or course work before receiving a recommendation for graduation and certification. Students must present at least a 3.0 cumulative average in academic and professional required courses to graduate in the secondary education programs.
6. All general education course requirements, arts and sciences departmental major course requirements and free electives must be completed prior to the student teaching semester (as prescribed via advisement, the course catalog and departmental program sheets).
7. All professional education coursework must be completed (see recommended sequence below).
8. All students enrolled in secondary education curricula (grades 7-12 certification) must fulfill the foreign language requirement.
9. All students must have a LiveText account and fingerprint clearance.
10. In order to become certified as a public school teacher, the Praxis Subject Assessment examination specific to each candidate’s subject area must be passed. The exam, which is offered by the Educational Testing Service, tests the essential subject area knowledge unique to each certification teaching area. Although not a graduation requirement, passing scores on appropriate Praxis subject exams are necessary for admission to PDS and for program completion and subsequent recommendation for certification. Copies of the Praxis exam scores must be sent to the university’s education certification officer located in the Education & Educational Psychology Department (WS 129) in order to gain acceptance into the Professional Development Semester.
11. Students are strongly urged to maintain an updated and signed copy of their program sheet. All requirements for this degree are listed on this sheet, which may be obtained from the student’s academic advisor or department chair.

Program Disclaimer: Please note that Connecticut teacher certification regulations are subject to change due to legislative proposals and mandates; the information contained herein may not reflect the most recent modifications in the WCSU Education program.  Therefore, it is imperative that students check often with their advisors and attend Education Department information sessions for updates and new requirements.

Recommended Professional Education Course Work Sequence

Freshman Year/Pre-Professional Course Work and General Education Requirements

* Writing Intensive Course (W)
* PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
***HIS 148 American History to 1877 or
***HIS 149 American History Since 1877
* COM 160 Public Speaking or
* COM 161 Decision Making in Groups or
* COM 162 Interpersonal Communication or
* COM 163 Introduction to Communication Skills

Sophomore Year/Pre-Professional Education Course Work

** ED 206 Introduction to Education
** ED 212 Educational Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence II
** HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools

Junior Year/Content Area and General Education Course Work

Proceed with content area and general education course requirements as prescribed through advisement and departmental program sheets.

Fall of Senior Year/Professional Development Semester Education Course Work

**ED 385 Methods of Teaching in the Secondary Schools
**ED 386 Secondary Education Professional Development School Experience
** EPY 405 Introduction to Special Education
** ED 440 Integrating Language

plus one of the courses below, depending on content area:

**ED/HIS/SS 441 Teaching History and Social Studies in Secondary Schools
**ED/BIO/CHE/ES 442 Teaching Science in Secondary Schools
**ED/ENG 447 Teaching English in Secondary Schools
**ED/SPA 448 Teaching Spanish in Secondary Schools
**ED/MAT 449 Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools

Spring of Senior Year/Student Teaching and Required Education Course Work

ED/MED 340 Assessment of Teaching Strategies
ED 342 Student Teaching for Secondary Education Majors

Please note: Students should not be registered for any other courses during the student teaching semester; Field experience components require that students provide their own transportation to and from their assigned schools.

*     A minimum of “C” grade is required
**   A minimum of “B” grade is required
*** Excluding history and social sciences programs