B.S.Ed. Secondary Education

The Secondary Education program prepares teacher candidates to teach in Grades 7-12 in Pennsylvania. The programs combine professional education with an academic content area in English, Mathematics or Social Studies. Dual degree options in each content area are available. Dual certification in Special Education with Secondary Education is also an available option.

Students pursuing a degree in English, science, mathematics or history may consider the Early Start program to earn a Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree in their content area. Students can speak to their student success coach about this possibility.  

The Secondary Education program is guided by Pennsylvania state standards and by standards of national professional organizations. Teacher candidates address professional standards in their respective content areas through coursework and projects and implement the standards in their fieldwork. All of the experiences in the Secondary Education Program reflect the themes of Leadership, Diversity and Technology.

Teacher candidates in Secondary Education program complete a minimum of 121-133 credit hours (depending on content area).  Teacher candidates enrolled in a Secondary certification program build the academic content required for certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Students take courses in their specific content area, in the University’s Bridges/Common Learning Experience, in the Foundations of the Leading Teacher Program (LTP) and in Professional preparation. Students complete 12 credits of student teaching in semester 8.

The Secondary Education Programs at Duquesne University are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and have been reviewed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

English: The Secondary English Education program at Duquesne University is approved by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). As a teacher candidate in Secondary English, you are provided with opportunities to explore issues regarding the theory and practice of teaching English at the secondary level and to engage in teaching adolescents the skills of writing, reading, responding to literature, listening, speaking, and exploring new media while considering student and community contexts. Through a strongly oriented social justice framework, the focus of the program will be to facilitate candidates as more knowledgeable, insightful, creative, and compassionate teachers upon entry into the secondary English classroom.

Mathematics: The purpose of the program is to engage teaching candidates in developing the fundamental knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teaching middle school and high school mathematics in ways that promote all students' learning and understanding.

Social Studies: The Secondary Social Studies Education program at Duquesne University is approved by the National Council for Teachers of Social Studies (NCSS). As a teaching candidate in the Secondary Social Studies, you will have the opportunity to develop ideas and practices that support this imperative of democratic citizenship as well as develop the fundamental knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teaching middle school and high school social studies.

Curriculum

Curriculum variations are dependent on content area specializations which may result in different number of courses. State regulations supersede University policies for establishing minimum program requirements. It is possible that the requirements for graduation, the degree, and/or certification may change during the student's tenure at the University. The state policies adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Secretary of Education and/or the state legislature at the time of graduation are the requirements that must be met. Candidates are responsible for knowing and fulfilling their program requirements.

Secondary English

121 credits - minimum total credits

Bridges Common Learning Experience / General Education / PA Department of Education Requirements
  • BRDG 100 Research and Information Skills, 1 cr
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis, 3 cr
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature, 3 cr
  • BRDG 105 Into to Ethical Reasoning, 3 cr
  • EQ Essential Questions, 3 cr
  • Philosophy Elective, 3 cr
  • Theology Elective, 3 cr
  • MATH 102 Problem Solving with Creative Math, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3-4 cr) of:
    • MATH 101 College Algebra, 3 cr
    • MATH 105 College Algebra and Trigonometry, 4 cr
    • MATH 111 Calculus for Non-Science Students, 3 cr
    • MATH 115 Calculus 1, 4 cr
    • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
    • MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • BIOL 120 Core Science - Biology, 3 cr
    • CHEM 107 Chemistry in Today's World, 3 cr
    • ENVI 126 Foundations of Energy and the Environment, 3 cr
    •  ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr
    •  PHYS 123 Core Science - Physics, 3 cr
    • PHYS 125 Astronomy, 3 cr
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
English Content Area Courses
  • ENGL 101 Multi-Genre Creative Writing, 3 cr
  • ENGL elective, 3 cr
  • ENGL Media or Film course, 3 cr
  • ENGL 300W Critical Issues in Literacy Studies, 3 cr
  • ENGL 317 Survey of British Literature I, 3 cr
  • ENGL 322 World Literatures, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • ENGL 319 Survey of American Literature I, 3 cr
    • ENGL 320 Survey of American Literature II, 3 cr
  • ENGL 433 Spst: Language and Linguistics, 3 cr
  • Four 3-credit English Distribution courses at the 400 level (12 total credits) that fulfill the Early, Late, and Diversity requirements
  • ENGL 467 English Capstone, 0-3 cr
Foundations of the Leading Teacher Program Courses
  • EDLT ### Instructional Technology for PreK-12 Educators, 3 cr
  • EDUC 181 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 2, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 3, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 4, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Fundamentals of Assessment for Single Certification, 3 cr
  • LTFL ### Stage 2 Field: Resources for Teaching, 0 cr
  • LTFL 105 Ethics, Teaching, and Critical Education, 3 cr
  • LTFL 203 Social Justice in Community-Engaged Settings, 3 cr
  • LTFL 209 Educational Psychology: Development, Learning, and Motivation, 3 cr
  • LTFL 293 Community-Engaged Learning Experience, 0 cr
  • LTSP 203 Foundations of Inclusive Educational Practices in Special Education, 3 cr
  • LTSP 293 Inclusive Field Experience Stage I, 0 cr
Professional Preparation Courses
  • EDLS ### Secondary Capstone Experience 1, 0 cr
  • EDLS ### Secondary English Writing Methods, 3 cr
  • EDLS 301W Content Area Reading, 3 cr
  • EDLS 340 Adolescent Literature, 3 cr
  • EDLS 343 Teaching English and Communication in Secondary Schools, 3 cr
  • EDLS 397 Secondary Field Seminar, 0 cr
  • EDLS 398 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 1, 3 cr
  • EDLS 399 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 2, 3 cr
  • EDLS 421 Secondary Capstone Experience, 3 cr
  • EDLS 492 Student Teaching - Secondary or K-12, 12 cr
  • LTEL 201 Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners, 3 cr
  • LTIL ### Critical Classroom Management, 3 cr
  • LTSP 401 Implementing Inclusive Education, 3 cr

Secondary Mathematics

121 credits - minimum total credits

Bridges Common Learning Experience / General Education / PA Department of Education Requirements
  • BRDG 100 Research and Information Skills, 1 cr
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis, 3 cr
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature, 3 cr
  • BRDG 105 Into to Ethical Reasoning, 3 cr
  • EQ Essential Questions, 3 cr
  • Philosophy Elective, 3 cr
  • Theology Elective, 3 cr
  • Social and Historical Reasoning Elective, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • BIOL 120 Core Science - Biology, 3 cr
    • CHEM 107 Chemistry in Today's World, 3 cr
    • ENVI 126 Foundations of Energy and the Environment, 3 cr
    • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr
    •  PHYS 123 Core Science - Physics, 3 cr
    • PHYS 125 Astronomy, 3 cr
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
Computer Science Courses
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • COSC 160 + 160L Scientific Program: Java w/ Lab, 3 cr
    • COSC 170 Intro to Python Programming, 3 cr
Mathematics Content Area Courses
  • MATH 115 Calculus 1, 4 cr
  • MATH 116 Calculus II, 4 cr
  • MATH 215 Calculus III, 4 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 or 6 cr) of:
    • MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics, 3 cr
       or
    • MATH 301 Intro to Probability and Statistics I, 3 cr
      and
    • MATH 302W Intro to Probability and Statistics II, 3 cr
  • MATH 250 Foundations of Higher Mathematics, 3 cr
  • MATH 310 Linear Algebra, 3 cr
  • MATH 330W Fundamentals of Geometry, 3 cr
  • MATH 311 Number Theory, 3 cr
  • MATH 350W History of Mathematics, 3 cr
  • MATH 411W Abstract Algebra I, 3 cr
Electives
  • Minimum one required (3 cr); two (6 cr) if MATH 225 selected
Foundations of the Leading Teacher Program Courses
  • EDLT ### Instructional Technology for PreK-12 Educators, 3 cr
  • EDUC 181 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 2, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 3, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 4, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Fundamentals of Assessment for Single Certification, 3 cr
  • LTFL ### Stage 2 Field: Resources for Teaching, 0 cr
  • LTFL 105 Ethics, Teaching, and Critical Education, 3 cr
  • LTFL 203 Social Justice in Community-Engaged Settings, 3 cr
  • LTFL 209 Educational Psychology: Development, Learning, and Motivation, 3 cr
  • LTFL 293 Community-Engaged Learning Experience, 0 cr
  • LTSP 203 Foundations of Inclusive Educational Practices in Special Education, 3 cr
  • LTSP 293 Inclusive Field Experience Stage I, 0 cr
Professional Preparation Courses
  • EDLS ### Secondary Capstone Experience 1, 0 cr
  • EDLS 301W Content Area Reading, 3 cr
  • EDLS 336 Teaching Mathematics in Grades 7-8 and Algebra, 3 cr
  • EDLS 341 Teaching Secondary School Mathematics, 3 cr
  • EDLS 397 Secondary Field Seminar, 0 cr
  • EDLS 398 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 1, 3 cr
  • EDLS 399 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 2, 3 cr
  • EDLS 421 Secondary Capstone Experience, 3 cr
  • EDLS 492 Student Teaching - Secondary or K-12, 12 cr
  • LTEL 201 Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners, 3 cr
  • LTIL ### Critical Classroom Management, 3 cr
  • LTSP 401 Implementing Inclusive Education, 3 cr

Secondary Social Studies

133 credits - minimum total credits

Bridges Common Learning Experience / General Education / PA Department of Education Requirements
  • BRDG 100 Research and Information Skills, 1 cr
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis, 3 cr
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature, 3 cr
  • BRDG 105 Into to Ethical Reasoning, 3 cr
  • EQ Essential Questions, 3 cr
  • Philosophy Elective, 3 cr
  • Theology Elective, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3-4 cr) of:
    •  MATH 101 College Algebra, 3 cr
    • MATH 105 College Algebra and Trigonometry, 4 cr
    • MATH 111 Calculus for Non-Science Students, 3 cr
    •  MATH 115 Calculus I, 4 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    •  MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
    • MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    •  BIOL 120 Core Science - Biology, 3 cr
    • CHEM 107 Chemistry in Today's World, 3 cr
    • ENVI 126 Foundations of Energy and the Environment, 3 cr
    • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr
    • PHYS 123 Core Science - Physics, 3 cr
    • PHYS 125 Astronomy, 3 cr
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
Social Studies Content Area Courses
Civics and Government
  • POSC 105 American National Government, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • POSC 110 Current Problems in International Politics, 3 cr
    • POSC 245 International Relations, 3 cr
Economics
  • ECON 201 Principles of Micro Economics, 3 cr
  • ECON 202 Principles of Macro Economics, 3 cr
Psychology
  • PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr
Sociology/Anthropology
  • Choose 2 (3 cr each) of:
    • SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology, 3 cr
    • SOCl 104 Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr
    • SOCI 106 Social Problems and Social Politics, 3 cr
    • SOCI 124 Global Sociology, 3 cr
History Content Area Courses
  • HIST 204 U.S. Since 1877, 3 cr
  • HIST 214 Western Civilization II, 3 cr
  • HIST 311W Writing History, 3 cr
  • HIST 394 Historical Geography, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • ARHY 111 Ancient Medieval World, 3 cr
    • ARHY 161 Arts and the Human Experience, 3 cr
    •  HIST Elective, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    •  HIST 203 U.S. to 1877, 3 cr
    •  HIST 213 Western Civilization I, 3 cr
  • Choose 2 (3 cr each) of:
    • Any African, Latin American, Asian or Middle Eastern History course, 3 cr
  • PHST Elective, 3 cr
  • Writing Intensive Elective (400W level), 3 cr
Foundations of the Leading Teacher Program Courses
  • EDLT ### Instructional Technology for PreK-12 Educators, 3 cr
  • EDUC 181 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 2, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 3, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Cohort Experience 4, 0 cr
  • LTFL ### Fundamentals of Assessment for Single Certification, 3 cr
  • LTFL ### Stage 2 Field: Resources for Teaching, 0 cr
  • LTFL 105 Ethics, Teaching, and Critical Education, 3 cr
  • LTFL 203 Social Justice in Community-Engaged Settings, 3 cr
  • LTFL 209 Educational Psychology: Development, Learning, and Motivation, 3 cr
  • LTFL 293 Community-Engaged Learning Experience, 0 cr
  • LTSP 203 Foundations of Inclusive Educational Practices in Special Education, 3 cr
  • LTSP 293 Inclusive Field Experience Stage I, 0 cr
Professional Preparation Courses
  • EDLS ### Secondary Capstone Experience 1, 0 cr
  • EDLS ### Secondary Social Studies Methods Geography, 3 cr
  • EDLS 301W Content Area Reading, 3 cr
  • EDLS 346 Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary Schools, 3 cr
  • EDLS 397 Secondary Field Seminar, 0 cr
  • EDLS 398 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 1, 3 cr
  • EDLS 399 Secondary Stage 3 Practicum 2, 3 cr
  • EDLS 421 Secondary Capstone Experience, 3 cr
  • EDLS 492 Student Teaching - Secondary or K-12, 12 cr
  • LTEL 201 Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners, 3 cr
  • LTIL ### Critical Classroom Management, 3 cr
  • LTSP 401 Implementing Inclusive Education, 3 cr

Learning Outcomes

  • Exhibits exemplary content knowledge in the subject area of certification.
  • Plans content-area instruction aligned to state and national standards and discipline expectations.
  • Utilizes resources from professional organizations specific to the content area and for education in general.
  • Demonstrates the ability to apply, analyze and evaluate a variety of research-based instructional techniques at the secondary level.
  • Implements instruction that: a) supports the development of students' critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills; b) fosters conceptual understanding of the content; c) incorporates worthwhile tasks in the content area; d) utilizes questioning techniques, and e) engages students in discourse appropriate to the discipline.
  • Plans and implements equitable instruction that attends to students' developmental level, diverse backgrounds, and academic needs.
  • Designs and uses assessment of student learning to guide improvement.
  • Locates and uses resources, including technological resources, to plan and implement instruction.
  • Demonstrates characteristics of professional ethics, respect, relational trust, and cultural competence in interactions with students, colleagues, families, and communities.
  • Understands the professional role of a secondary teacher in supporting students' transition from high school to college and/or to the workforce, including ways to work with students, families, and communities in ethical and responsive ways.