Thiel College

Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education - Mathematics Specialization

A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in English, History, Mathematics, Biology, or Chemistry and a secondary education certificate will:

• Teacher candidates will demonstrate oral, written, and presentation communication skills appropriate to the field.
• Teacher candidates will demonstrate mastery of major content knowledge areas and pedagogical strategies to design engaging and meaningful instruction and learning activities.
• Teacher candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of diversity by addressing learners’ commonalities and individual differences to design inclusive learning experiences.
• Secondary education teacher candidates will apply the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) standards to their discipline in the Secondary Education course of study, as assessed by the content field department.
• Teacher candidates will understand and demonstrate effectiveness by designing rigorous and effective lessons and learning experiences.

Major Requirements

• EDUC 111 Foundations of American Education
• EDUC 112 Psychological Foundations of Education
• EDUC 215 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Note: EDUC 215 is a prerequisite for all other Phase II methodology courses.

• EDUC 220 Integrated Instructional Systems
• EDUC 255 Mentoring I
• SECED 268 Mentoring, Part II: On-Site Secondary Methodology
• SECED 325 Teaching Reading/Writing in the Content Areas
• SECED 340/350/360/370 Teaching in Secondary Schools
• SECED 444 Student Teaching

All students must also take:

• CIS 111 Word Processing Applications
• AH 105 Taking Care of Your Health

The nine credits for special education will come from the following courses:

• SPED 356 Special Education Processes, Procedures, Screening, Assessment, IEP Development, and Evaluation
• SPED 357 Effective Instructional Practices and Delivery Methods in Subject Area Content for All Levels of Special Education Support
• SPED 358 Intensive Reading, Writing, and Math Intervention Approaches

The three credits for ELL will be from:

• EDUC 400 Educating English Language Learners

Courses Required for a Major in Mathematics

The requirements for a major in mathematics are designed to provide the students with breadth (32 CH in math plus a course in computer science and physics), depth (completion of a two-course sequence*), and flexibility (opportunity to choose from a number of upper-division courses). Linear Algebra (MATH 291) is required because the theory taught in this course is widely applicable to contemporary issues, such as sustainability and information security. Courses have also been included that emphasize technology (PHYS 174 or 184 and CSCI 159).

Requirements for secondary certification—The major is designed to provide students with a basic knowledge of foundational mathematics courses, as well as in-depth study within a specific branch of mathematics. All courses that are applied to the major must be completed with a grade of C minus or higher.

Required courses:

• MATH 181 Calculus I
• MATH 182 Calculus II
• MATH 281 Calculus III
• MATH 291 Linear Algebra
• MATH 302 Differential Equations
• MATH 371 Real Analysis

Complete one of the following sequences (required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education):

• MATH 311 Non-Euclidean Geometry
• MATH 331 Abstract Algebra

OR

• MATH 451 Probability
• MATH 461 Statistics

OR

• MATH 432 Numerical Methods
• MATH 433 Mathematical Modeling

Complete one additional three-or four-credit mathematics course numbered 220 or above. (MATH 341, 342 or 481 may not be used for this requirement, but PHYS 363 may be used here. MATH 221— Discrete Mathematics is recommended for secondary education majors).

Student teaching will fulfill the capstone requirement.

Complete the following support courses; one from each group:

• PHYS 174 Intro to Physics I (calculus-based)

or

• PHYS 184 Intro to Physics II (calculus-based)

And

• CSCI 159 Introduction to Programming

or

• CSCI 189 Java Programming

At Thiel College, education majors not only receive an outstanding liberal arts education and in-depth training in the classroom skills they need, but they also get the hands-on experience they need to be successful on Day 1. You’ll also have the opportunity to earn multiple endorsements with one program so that you’ll have the credentials to get the job you want. By law, teachers are required to be certified to teach in public schools. So, you’ll also receive the preparation you need to sit for state certification exams.