Middle-Level Education
The Pitt-Johnstown Middle-Level Education (Grades 4-8)听certification encompasses the broad subject matter necessary for teaching and specific content in the three main areas of the middle school curriculum:听mathematics,听science, and听social studies. Middle-level educators have the opportunity for employment in a field that dramatically shapes and influences the lives of young people. They work in both public and private schools around the country, and can pursue further education to teach at the college level or become school administrators.听
- English
禄听触 听禄听 |听听Faculty听禄听 The Pitt-Johnstown Middle-Level Mathematics Certification Program Prepares our Students to Become听Certified graduates of Middle-Level English Education who are eligible to teach all subjects in grades 4-6 and English and Language Arts听courses in grades 7-8.
- Mathematics
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- Science
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- Social Studies
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Please click the above links to access the Programs of Study, and to gain more information!
Information for Pre-Service Educators
- Applying to the Upper-Level
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Teacher candidates must complete and submit the听Application for Upper-Level Studies听to the education division office in order to enroll in听Upper-Level courses. Applications for Upper-Level must be听received, reviewed, and accepted听prior to听entry into Upper-Level coursework. The Basic skills tests听are temporarily waived by the Department of Education.
For detailed information on upper-level听requirements, please see the,听Upper-Level听section (p.18 - 20).
Applications must be complete and submitted by:听
- January -or- May 15th听to enroll in Upper-Level coursework听for the听FALL听term
- September 15th听to enroll in Upper-Level coursework听for the听SPRING听term
Upper-Level Requirements:
Students may submit their applications when they will have met the following requirements听for the term in which they plan to听enroll in Upper-Level courses:
听 听听鈽�听听Minimum of 32听earned credits (including transfer, 15 must be from Pitt-Johnstown)
听 听听鈽愄�Earned at least a C (not C-) in each of the following:
听 听 听 听 听 听鈫捥鼸DPSY 0006听and听FDED 0001
听 听 听 听 听 听鈫捥� 听at least one听ENG LIT听course required for his/her program
听 听 听 听 听 听鈫捥� 听at least one听ENG COMP听course required for his/her program
听 听 听 听 听 听鈫捥� 听TWO math courses听required for his/her听program
听听听 鈽�听听Passing Scores in the Three Basic Skills Examinations
听 听 听 听 听 听鈫捥� 听The Basic Skills Tests听are temporarily waived by the PA Department of Education
听 听听鈽�听 Three Completed Recommendation Forms
听 听听鈽�听听Evidence of Early Field Experience (i.e. volunteer work with children)
听 听听鈽�听听Successful Completion of Key Program Assessments听
听 听 听 听 听 鈫捥� 听听History and Philosophy of Education: Oral Screening
听 听 听 听 听 鈫捥� 听听History and Philosophy of Education:听Philosophy of Education Paper
听 听听鈽愄� Minimum Pitt-Johnstown cumulative GPA of 3.000
Helpful Links to Complete听Your Application:
听 听 听 鉁吿� 听50 hours of documented volunteer work ()
听 听 听听鉁吿� 听3 letters of professional recommendation ()
Information for Teacher Candidates
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- Student Teaching
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For detailed information on student teaching requirements, please see the听,听Student Teaching听section (p.23 - 26).
Application Steps and Policies:
听 听听鈽愄�Secure an Application for Student Teaching
- 鈥�Where:听Office of Field Practicum in 149 Biddle in the first week of the term prior to the one in which you听will student teach.
听 听听鈽愄�Schedule to Meet with Your Advisor
- When:听No later than one week before the application deadline to verify that all requirements have been met.
听 听听鈽愄�Submit the Completed Application
- 鈥�Must be signed by their advisor and submitted to the Division Office by the deadline established for each term
- January 30 for fall student teaching. 听
听 听听鈽愄�Review Clearances (renew if necessary)
- Current through at least one week after the final day of scheduled student teaching.
听 听听鈽愄�Submit Evidence of Liability Insurance
- 鈥�May be purchased through . Educator鈥檚 Employment Liability (EEL) coverage is processed as part of Student PSEA membership.
听 听听鈽愄�Submit TB Test Results
听 听听鈽愄�Register for the Appropriate Student Teaching/Seminar Courses
- The Student Teaching Seminar is a co-requisite to student teaching and meets once a week. All candidates will receive a Student Teaching Handbook before starting student teaching.
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Important Documents:
- Graduation Requirements
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Education students apply for graduation two times and in two places.听For detailed information on graduation requirements, please see the听,听Graduation听section (p.26-27).
First, they apply for graduation online, in PeopleSoft, three terms prior to their intended graduation date.
鈽� Apply for graduation听early in the first term of their junior year online (PeopleSoft)
- For the online graduation application instructions,听click here.
- Students contact听Registrar to ensure any course substitutions/waivers are complete and on file.
- Schedule a meeting to review with your advisor
Second, students apply for graduation with the Education Division during their student teaching term in order for the Division to verify that students have met all Division requirements for graduation.
鈽� Apply for graduation with the Education Division during student teaching
- Application for Graduation provided while enrolled in the Student Teaching Seminar
- Requires an听appointment with their听advisor听for review
- Applications submitted to Division鈥檚 Administrative Assistant, Biddle 153
听 听 听 听听听 听There are additional requirements for graduation, such as:
- 鈽愄�Cumulative Pitt-Johnstown GPA of at least 3.000听
- 鈽愄�Cumulative CORE GPA of at least 2.80 for Middle-Level Ed.
- The Professional Education Portfolio (PEP)
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*IMPORTANT*
No candidate will be recommended for certification until s/he has scored a satisfactory rating for the professional portfolio.
Education candidates must assemble and maintain a portfolio related to activities and projects developed and accomplished before graduation and evidence of their growth and development in each domain of the Candidate Learning Framework throughout their program of study. During the Student Teaching Seminar, the instructor will distribute a scoring rubric for indicating necessary PEP evidence and organization.听For detailed information on the PEP requirements, please refer to听the,听Professional Education Portfolio听section (p.52)
Sample items that will be included in the PEP:
- lesson plans
- analytical reflections
- research papers
- classroom photos (non-identifying)
- videos
- Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania
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TIMS Application
Upon successful completion of the program, the student听must submit their application for certification directly to PDE (online) through the .
Please refer to the听听for detailed information on Teaching Certificates in PA.
听 听 听 听鈽� The student must submit听a printed copy of the cover sheet (completed application)听 to the Division Office, 153 Biddle.
*Important*听Program completers who do not successfully submit their TIMS application will not receive state certification until completed and verified online by the Division.
PECT and Praxis Examinations for Certification
Students may repeat the tests as many times as necessary to pass. Students may graduate without passing all tests but will not be certified to teach in Pennsylvania until they have passed all tests
鈽愄� 听Middle-Level听Students are required to听take the following Praxis听Exams:听
- 鈥婸edagogy Subtest Module 1 (5153)
- English Language Arts and Social Studies Subtest Module 2 (5154)
- Mathematics and Science Subtest Module 3 (5155)
- Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies (5157)
- Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156)
- Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics (5158)
- Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Science (5159)
Instructional I Certificate Requirements
As a service to students during their student teaching term, the Division鈥檚 Administrative Assistant will assist them in processing the Instructional I Certificate application.听
Fees are paid to PDE:听the Education Division charges听no fee听for this service.
Items required to apply for Instructional I Certificate:听- passing scores听(certification exams) and;
- evidence of program completion
The Bureau of Teacher Certification of the Pennsylvania Department of Education will process the Instructional I Certificate online in approximately 4-6 weeks after all applications have been verified.
Certificates can be printed听from the TIMS portal.