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Certificate Program in Secondary Education-Social Studies Education

°Õ³ó±ðÌýCertificate Program in Secondary Education-Social Studies Education in the College of Education and Human Development at 51¶¯Âþ provides a focused pathway to initial teacher certification for individuals who want to teach history, civics, geography, economics or related disciplines in grades seven through 12. This 19-credit, non-degree certificate program is designed for career changers or recent graduates with strong backgrounds in the social sciences.

Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to engage adolescents in meaningful social studies learning through pedagogy courses, inclusive teaching strategies and subject-specific methods. The program emphasizes curriculum development for diverse classrooms; culturally responsive teaching; and critical thinking about democracy, equity and global interdependence.

Students also complete a supervised student teaching placement in a secondary social studies classroom. Courses are offered in the evening at 51¶¯Âþ’s Main Campus, and the program can be completed part time to accommodate working professionals or those currently teaching on emergency permits.

Why study Secondary Education-Social Studies Education in the College of Education and Human Development?

Graduates of the Secondary Education-Social Studies Education Certificate program are well-prepared to teach social studies content in upper middle and high school settings, and to foster inclusive classroom dialogue that supports democracy, diversity and critical inquiry. Through the curriculum, you will

• explore how to teach for civic responsibility, historical thinking and social awareness;
• learn to navigate sensitive topics such as race, gender, conflict, economic inequality and global interdependence; and
• design engaging and equitable curricula aligned with Pennsylvania academic standards.

Program Outcomes

The certificate program prepares you to

• teach history, civics, geography and economics through inquiry-based, standards-aligned instruction;

• create inclusive classrooms that honor cultural and social diversity;

• promote civic engagement and critical thinking about equity, democracy and global interdependence;

• design and adapt curriculum to address complex societal topics such as race, gender and social justice; and

• demonstrate professionalism and readiness for Pennsylvania teacher certification in social studies (grades seven through 12).

Program Format & Curriculum

The  Secondary Education-Social Studies Education Graduate Certificate program comprises 19 credits. Courses are held on 51¶¯Âþ’s Main Campus in Philadelphia, though some online and hybrid options are available. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. You can attend full time or part time, and you have up to four years to complete the program. .

You will complete the following courses in the program.

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In addition to state certification exams and student teaching, you must complete field experiences as part of your coursework. Field placements are designed to give you teaching experience working with children in educational settings. Students must complete required clearances and prerequisite coursework before beginning fieldwork. The majority of field experiences require students to spend seven full days over the course of a semester in the classroom. The Supervised Teaching course involves a full-time teaching placement in a secondary classroom under the guidance of a mentor teacher and university supervisor. During the student teaching semester, students are required to spend every day in the classroom for 14 weeks.