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The Secondary Education Major for double majors provides students the opportunity to complete a primary major in Secondary Education and a secondary major in the disciplinary area for which students will be licensed (Art, Design & Media, Biology, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, History, Mathematics, or Physics). As double majors, students are required to complete both majors and to fulfill all state licensure requirements to be licenses to teach.

The double major is designed to provide future Secondary Education teachers with a Secondary Education degree and a disciplinary area degree that reflects disciplinary area expertise. Like the Secondary Education major with disciplinary content courses attached to the major (e.g., Secondary Education Biology, Secondary Education English, et cetera), the Secondary Education Major for double majors draws on the expertise of faculty in the COE’s Secondary Education Program and Educational Policy Studies and Research Department to immerse students into essential issues and themes of education and theories and practices of teaching and learning. Such issues as educational inequality, politics of schooling, identity politics, social justice, identity development inside and beyond formal school settings, historical, cognitive, sociocultural, and sociopolitical nature of human development and society are integrated with issues of pedagogical content knowledge, critical pedagogy, constructivist teaching practices, theories of teaching and learning, curriculum development, and professional practice. Ensuring that students understand all these issues is integral to the Program design and delivery and to the preparation of teachers. 

The measure of the academic quality of the Program relies on clearly articulated features of exemplary teacher-education programs. These include: 

  • a “common, clear vision of good teaching that permeates all coursework and clinical experiences…”;
  • a “well-defined standard of professional practice and performance…”;
  • a “strong core curriculum taught in the context of practice” and including understanding of human development and learning, social and cultural contexts, curriculum assessment, and subject-matter pedagogy;
  • an “extended clinical experience” that supports ideas presented in coursework;
  • an “extensive use of case methods, teacher research, performance assessments, and portfolio evaluation…”; 
  • “explicit strategies” to help students confront their own beliefs and assumptions about learning and students and to learn about the experiences of diverse people; and
  • “strong relationships, common knowledge, and shared beliefs among school- and university-based faculty.” (Darling-Hammond, L. [2006]. Constructing Teacher Education. Journal of Teacher Education, 57, 300-314.) 

Students who are interested in the Secondary Education Major for double majors should contact their academic advisor. The Secondary Education Major must be selected as the primary major to ensure that licensure requirements attached to the Liberal Studies Program are completed. Disciplinary major requirements are determined by the academic department in which the major is housed.

Licensure

Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in the specified disciplinary area:

  • Middle and Secondary Education Science-Biology (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.​ 
  • Middle and Secondary Education Science-Chemistry (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.​
  • Middle and Secondary Education English Language Arts (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.​
  • Middle and Secondary Education Science-Environmental Science (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.​
  • Middle and Secondary Education Social Science-History (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.
  • Middle and Secondary Education Mathematics (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.
  • Middle and Secondary Education Science-Physics (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.
  • Middle and Secondary Education Visual Art (grades 5-12), an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program.
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 74-78
Major Requirements 58
Discipline Area Major 56-100
Open Electives 0-4
Total hours required 192-236

The total number of hours for the degree are determined by the concentration/discipline area chosen for the double major.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Use knowledge of adolescent learners to create safe, equitable, and meaningful learning environments and collaborative classrooms.
  • Demonstrate and apply disciplinary content and pedagogical content knowledge with an emphasis on developing students' conceptual understanding and disciplinary literacy.
  • Plan and deliver instruction that demonstrates knowledge of adolescent learners and content.
  • Implement assessment practices to evaluate student learning and inform instruction.
  • Exhibit professionalism, pursue professional growth, and advocate for adolescent learners and their communities.

College Core Requirements

Dispositions

The academic programs within the College of Education have set forth these dispositions as educational and professional expectations for all students. Students should be aware that failing to abide by DePaul University or College of Education policies including, under certain circumstances, these dispositions, could result in adverse consequences for the student, including removal from his or her program, the College of Education, or the University.

The following dispositions apply to Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Exercise Science, Middle Grades, Physical Education, Secondary Education, and World Language Education majors only:

  • Reflects on progress and identifies strengths and weaknesses, including evaluating strategies for success, finding alternatives for inappropriate strategies, and modifying future practices
  • Is receptive to faculty feedback and acts meaningfully and professionally upon suggestions
  • Values critical thinking, including engaging theoretical and philosophical frameworks and shows evidence of critical thinking through discussion and writing (e.g., journals, response to prompts)
  • Understands the importance of and is committed to communicating clearly orally and in writing both in traditional and in new and emerging digital formats
  • Values and is committed to continually developing strong content area knowledge and/or knowledge of the professional field, including pedagogical content knowledge
  • Takes initiative, uses imagination and creativity, and seeks out information using a variety of human and material resources and technology to inform his or her teaching
  • Is aware of the role of classroom environment and uses management procedures that reflect respect and care for learners and concern for their emotional and physical well being
  • Takes the time and effort needed to understand how students learn, including discovering their interests and experiences and determining how to shape teaching acts (using technology as appropriate) that engage learners meaningfully and actively
  • Values and is committed to using assessment to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of the learner
  • Respects and considers cultural contexts in order to determine how to be responsive to learners and to proactively promote all students' learning
  • Values and is responsive to diverse learners' academic, emotional, and social needs through teaching acts (including careful instructional planning, implementation, and differentiation) and through everyday interactions with students
  • Is committed to collaboration with colleagues, families, and communities in order to promote all students' learning and development
  • Recognizes and fulfills professional responsibilities and habits of conduct (e.g., dress, language, preparedness, attendance, punctuality, etc.)
  • Demonstrates collegiality, honesty, good judgment, courtesy, respect, and diplomacy
  • Balances self-confidence and assertiveness with respect for others' perspectives
  • Respects the requirements, expectations, and procedures of both the College of Education and of our field partners and appreciates the issues of trust, fairness, and professionalism involved

The following dispositions apply to Special Education majors only:

  • Is receptive to faculty feedback and acts meaningfully and professionally upon suggestions
  • Reflects on his or her own progress, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and evaluates strategies for success and professional growth
  • Takes initiative
  • Is open to new ideas and engagement in learning
  • Respects diversity and cultural contexts to determine how to be responsive to learners and to proactively promote all students' learning
  • Expresses positive attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and a willingness to advocate on their behalf
  • Is committed to collaboration with colleagues, families, and communities in order to promote all students' learning and development
  • Demonstrates professional ethical and legal behavior as defined by the respective codes of ethics and laws
  • Demonstrates consistent professional behavior across all academic settings
  • Maintains appropriate interpersonal and professional boundaries
  • Accepts personal responsibility for one's behavior
  • Expresses feelings and opinions effectively and appropriately
  • Upholds confidentiality

Skill Building Courses

Before taking any math or English courses, students must take the DePaul placement tests to determine if skill level is at the college level. If placement indicates skill level in these courses, the courses become part of degree requirements. Consult with your advisor regarding placement test results and any required classes.

Modern Language Competence Requirement

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Education will be required to demonstrate a measure of competence in a modern language, as defined by the college. Such competence may be demonstrated in one of several ways:

  • completing two years of a language sequence in high school
  • completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
  • completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
  • achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
  • achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
  • achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language
  • achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
  • achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination

Please note: The Modern Language Competence Requirement is not required for students in the Early Childhood Education: SCPS Joint Program (BAECE) program. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

For further information regarding satisfactory scores and possible credit from the DePaul placement, AP, CLEP, or IB examinations, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.

Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College of Education will abide by the COE Modern Language Requirement in place on the effective date of the ICT.

B.A. students who meet College requirements and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” of the Liberal Studies Program. While B.S. students are not required to demonstrate competency in a modern language, the “Modern Language Option” is available to them for language study at any level. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

Licensure Tests

All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their teaching license. The Academic Success Center can provide help through tutoring, workshops, and online resources to help each student succeed.

Field Experiences

Each student seeking licensure from the College of Education/Professional Education Unit must complete supervised field experiences in appropriate settings in conjunction with education courses. The field experiences must include a variety of grade levels, multicultural experiences, and a minimum of 10 hours in special education settings. All field experiences must be completed prior to final approval for student teaching. Field experience hours should be entered by the student into the FEDS system when completing courses with field experience requirements.

Endorsements

An endorsement is a statement appearing on a license that identifies the specific subjects or grade level that the license holder is authorized to teach.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issues endorsements in various subject areas. To view the full list and requirements, visit the ISBE website.

Please note that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) may change the state licensure and endorsement requirements at any time and without prior notice. Individuals are bound by the requirements in place when applying for the license or endorsement, not the requirements in place when beginning the program.

Student Teaching Requirements

Student Teaching is the culminating clinical experience in the student's program. All students in teacher preparation programs must meet the following requirements before applying for student teaching:

Academic Requirements

  • Completion of all Liberal Studies, Introductory, Advanced and concentration/content area courses
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 or better
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in all education courses
  • Meet all other program requirements  (e.g., modern language and residency requirements) 
  • Meet designated program standards
  • Pass the required Illinois licensure content area test(s)

Clinical Requirements

  • Completion of all required field experiences
  • Three satisfactory evaluations in field experiences
  • Three satisfactory faculty recommendations
  • Attendance at mandatory meeting for student teaching
  • Application for student teaching, resume, transcripts, and writing sample (check deadlines)
  • Review and approval by Student Teaching Committee of the College of Education

Student Teaching Timeline and Deadlines

  • Attend a Mandatory Meeting approximately 1 year prior to expected quarter of student teaching.
  • Submit application for student teaching after attending Mandatory Meeting, approximately 1 year prior to student teaching. 
  • Academic requirements are due one quarter before expected quarter of student teaching.
  • Content ares tests must be passed prior to Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
  • Clinical requirements are completed as course requirements. Field experience hours are entered by the student as coursework is completed. 

Online Faculty Evaluations are entered by the instructor of relevant courses. All data must be entered in the Field Experience Documentation System (FEDS) due one month prior to student teaching.

Individual childcare agencies and public and private school districts may have additional requirements (application, training, background check, etc.). 

Degree Conferral and Graduation

The awarding of a degree is not automatic. You must submit an application to be considered for the degree. DePaul awards and posts degrees at the end of each regular academic term (autumn, winter, spring, summer).

It is your responsibility to initiate the degree conferral application process by submitting an online application. Submitting an application means you intend to finish your degree requirements by the end of the term for which you have applied.

Undergraduate students must be approved for student teaching and complete student teaching and capstone to be cleared for the degree. Student must submit graduation application for the quarter that matches the quarter you are student teaching.

After you submit the application, you cannot register for any term after the one selected in the application.

To apply for degree conferral, log on to Campus Connection. Select STUDENT CENTER, then MY ACADEMICS. On screen instructions will take you through the application process.

Provided that all requirements and financial obligations are met, degrees are posted 30 days after the official end of the term. Official dates are listed on the Academic Calendar.

DePaul holds one commencement ceremony each year in June. If you intend to participate, you must first apply for degree conferral for the current academic year and then submit a cap and gown order. Honors announced at the ceremony for undergraduates are based on winter quarter GPAs because a final GPA is not available at the time of the ceremony. Eligibility for the June Commencement ceremony is limited to individuals that complete the entirety of their program (including student teaching) within the same academic year (prior to the ceremony).

Additional information about degree conferral and graduation can be found on the College of Education website at: http://education.depaul.edu/.

Licensure

Requirements for licensure include completion of full bachelor’s degree program, all licensure tests (including OPI for world language majors), and awarding of bachelor’s degree. A bachelor's degree is required to qualify for licensure and must be awarded before applying for the license.

Individuals must submit an application directly to the Illinois State Board of Education after completion of requirements and after DePaul has submitted notification to ISBE. Application requirements include application form, application fee, official transcripts, and registration fee.

All individuals must meet ISBE requirements in place at the time of application for the license. Requirements are subject to change per the discretion of ISBE. All coursework and requirements pertaining to licensure requirements must be completed before DePaul University can recommend an individual for the license.

Individuals seeking additional endorsements after applying for the licensure must contact ISBE directly for an evaluation request.

All coursework and requirements must be completed before DePaul University can recommend an individual for the license.​

Teacher Licensure

Sept 1, 2015 begins the implementation of a new requirement for any individual seeking teaching licensure in the State of Illinois. The new requirement is the Teacher Performance Assessment (“edTPA”), which is mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for anyone that completes student teaching in Fall 2015 and beyond. EdTPA is an assessment conducted during the student teaching experience. For this assessment, teacher candidates are required to create video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analyses of student learning, and teacher candidate reflective commentaries for a learning segment and submit these components using an electronic portfolio to Evaluation Systems an outside agency that is a group of Pearson Publishing. The portfolio will be independently evaluated by a panel of trained reviewers hired by Pearson. For this service a fee is charged. The panel of scorers of edTPA are selected and trained by Evaluation Systems. DePaul University is neither affiliated with Evaluation Systems nor Pearson Publishing and by ISBE regulation cannot be involved in edTPA registration, submission of portfolios, or scoring of individual teacher candidate portfolios. Institutions of higher education are required by the Illinois State Board of Education to provide teacher candidates with information to prepare for edTPA; however, the process of edTPA is external to DePaul University and is not monitored by DePaul University’s College of Education.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
LSP 112 FOCAL POINT SEMINAR 4
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING ( (not required for students whose second major is Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Mathematical Sciences or Physics)) 2
 Hours16
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
 Hours4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Met by successful completion of required field experience hours
 Hours0
Senior Year
Capstone
SEC 387 CAPSTONE SEMINAR IN SECONDARY EDUCATION 2
 Hours2
 Total Hours22

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  • 3 courses required for students whose second major is Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Science, History or Physics
  • 2 courses required for students whose second major is Mathematical Sciences
  • 1 course required for students whose second major is Art Media and Design (cannot be an ART or HAA course) or English (cannot be an ENG course)

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 courses required for students whose second major is Art Media and Design, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, Mathematical Sciences, Physics. Note one must be United States history.
  • 1 course required for students whose second major is History. Must be United States History

Math and Computing (MC)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 2 Courses Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 2 courses for students whose second major is Art Media and Design, English, History, Mathematical Sciences:  

    ​1 Science as a Way of Knowing Course
    1 Lab Course

    [Note : At least one course must be from Biological Sciences and one from Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics.]
     
  • 1 course required for students whose second major is Biological Sciences (cannot be a BIO course), Chemistry (must be a BIO course), Environmental Science (must be  STEM 230) or Physics (must be a BIO course)​ 

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 3 courses required for students whose second major is Art Media and Design, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, Physics. Note: PSC 120 must be one of these classes
  • 2 courses required for students whose second major is History, Mathematical Sciences. Note: PSC 120 must be one of these classes

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements 

Introductory Courses: 12 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
SCU 207SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION4
TCH 302INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE GRADES AND SECONDARY EDUCATION4
TCH 303CONCEPTIONS OF HEALTHY ADOLESCENCE4

Advanced Courses: 20 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
SER 346STRATEGIES FOR MAINSTREAMING AND INCLUSION4
TCH 325LITERACY IN THE CONTENT AREAS4
TCH 380THE TEACHER AS PROFESSIONAL 1
TCH 395ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND SECONDARY EDUCATION4
BBE 301TEACHING ADOLESCENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND DIALECT SPEAKERS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM4

Taken in conjunction with TCH 381 /TCH 382 /TCH 383 /TCH 385 .

Concentrations

The proposed major in Secondary Education concentration requirements reflect the disciplinary area content-specific courses that are part of Secondary Education—[Disciplinary Area] majors.

Concentration Areas: 16 quarter hours required, grade C or better required

Biology/Chemistry/Environmental Science/Physics
Course Title Quarter Hours
THE NATURE OF SCIENCE
INQUIRY & APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING SCIENCE PEDAGOGY
TEACHING THE SCIENCES IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 1
TEACHING THE SCIENCES IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 2
English
Course Title Quarter Hours
THE NATURE OF ENGLISH
INQUIRY & APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING ENGLISH PEDAGOGY
TEACHING ENGLISH IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 1
TEACHING ENGLISH IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 2
History/Social Sciences
Course Title Quarter Hours
THE NATURE OF HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
INQUIRY & APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PEDAGOGY
TEACHING HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 1
TEACHING HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 2
Mathematics
Course Title Quarter Hours
THE NATURE OF MATHEMATICS
INQUIRY & APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING MATHEMATICS PEDAGOGY
TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 1
TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL 2
Visual Arts
Course Title Quarter Hours
ART AND PEDAGOGY
SEC 366
Select one EDUCATION ELECTIVE (approval of advisor required)
Select one EDUCATION ELECTIVE (approval of advisor required)

Discipline Area Major

Open electives that fill out the credit hour requirements for a degree in the proposed Secondary Education major can be/should be used to complete coursework toward the disciplinary area major. The following table identifies the number of open electives required/necessary for each concentration (disciplinary area) within the Secondary Education major based on current disciplinary area major requirements. These hours equal the credit hours required for each identified disciplinary area major:

  • Biology = 100 credit hours
  • Chemistry:
    • BA = 68 credit hours
    • BS = 92 credit hours
  • English = 56 credit hours
  • Environmental Science:
    • BA = 66 credit hours
    • BS = 96 credit hours
  • History = 60
  • Mathematics:
    • ​BA/BS = 60-64 credit hours
  • Physics = 88-96 credit hours
  • Visual Arts = 76 credit hours

These credit hour requirements are subject to revision based on disciplinary area major coursework revisions.  ​

Open Electives

Depending on the disciplinary area major, additional open elective credit may be required to reach the minimum number of hours for an undergraduate degree. 

Student Teaching

Student Teaching: 10 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required

Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures in the college core section. EDU 95 indicates to the Illinois State Board of Education that all field experience hours are complete. All students also take SEC 387 , Capstone Seminar with student teaching (listed in the Liberal Studies section).

Course Title Quarter Hours
TCH 392MIDDLE GRADES AND SECONDARY STUDENT TEACHING10
EDU 95CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH0

Licensure Test

All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their teaching license. Secondary Education Major for double major students must complete the following tests:

  • Content Area Test for the disciplinary area for which the student will be licensed – assesses knowledge of disciplinary content. Test is required before Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
  • EdTPA - assessment conducted during the student teaching experience including video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries. Students will submit an electronic portfolio to an outside agency for independent evaluation and a fee will be imposed by that agency as part of the assessment.