Education — Middle and Secondary Level

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Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Total Credit Hours: 61

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About This Program

Education: Middle and Secondary Level provides two opportunities for students. It offers a pathway for students to earn an associate of arts degree in education, which is now required for many entry-level jobs in Pennsylvania K-12 schools. It also serves as a first step for those students who wish to transfer to four-year schools so that they may earn their baccalaureate degrees in education. The program offers two levels (Middle and Secondary) with two areas of concentration for each level (Math/Science and Humanities).

The Education: Middle and Secondary Level program prepares students for transfer to baccalaureate-degree granting institutions by introducing them to the field of education while guiding them through a coherent and well-rounded sequence of courses. Within each concentration, there are several possible subject areas in which to specialize; therefore, students choose from a list of content electives in those subjects.

After successful completion of this curriculum, students receive an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. Most graduates then transfer to a four-year institution where they earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Education and are eligible for certification to teach at the middle or secondary levels, in areas related to their concentration.

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Semester 1

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)		3 credits	Writing, Research, Info Lit 1
CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology		3 credits	Technological Competency
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or PSYC 101H - 101H Introduction to Psychology (Honors)		3 credits	Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
Middle Level (any concentration) or Secondary Level, Humanities & Special Education Concentration: MATH 161 - Pre-Calculus I^* Secondary Level, Math/Science Concentration: MATH 171 - Calculus I	MATH 161: FNMT 118 with a grade of "C" or better or placement in MATH 161 or higher MATH 171: MATH 162 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement in MATH 171 or higher	3 or 4 credits	Quantitative Reasoning
ED 201 - Foundations of Education for Middle and Secondary Years^****	ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better, which may be taken concurrently	3 credits

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better	3 credits	Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking	ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently	3 credits	Oral Communication/ Creative Expression
PSYC 209 - Adolescent Psychology	PSYC 101	3 credits
ED 214 - Cognition and Learning in the Classroom^****	(ED 105 or ED 201, either with a grade of "C" or better) and PSYC 101	3 credits
Middle Level (any concentration) or Secondary Level, Humanities & Special Education Concentration: MATH 162 - Precalculus II^* Secondary Level, Math/Science Concentration: MATH 172 - Calculus II	MATH 162: MATH 161 with a grade of C or better, or placement in MATH 162 or higher MATH 172: MATH 171 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement in MATH 172 or higher	3 or 4 credits

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits	Gen Ed Req.
ED 265 - Introduction to Special Education and Inclusive Practices^****	(ED 105 or ED 201, either with a grade of "C" or better) and (ED 204 or ED 214, either with a grade of "C" or better) and (PSYC 201 or PSYC 209 or PSYC 215)	3 credits
Middle Level or Secondary Level, Humanities & Special Education Concentration: BIOL 106 - General Biology I Middle Level and Secondary Level, Math/Science Concentration: CHEM 110 - Introductory Chemistry or PHYS 111 - General Physics I or PHYS 140 - Mechanics, Heat and Sound or BIOL 123 - Principles of Biology I	PHYS 111: MATH 162 or MATH 171 or MATH 171 placement PHYS 140: MATH 171 BIOL 123: CHEM 121 or CHEM 110 with a grade of "C" or better and high school biology or permission of the department head	4 or 5 credits	Scientific Reasoning
History Course (choose one): HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or HIST 102 - United States History: The Civil War and the 19th Century or HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond ^or HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) ^		3 credits
Content Elective (see chart below for choice of content electives) ***		3 to 5 credits
Content Elective (see chart below for choice of content electives) ***		3 to 5 credits

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Prerequisites and Corequisites	Credits
ED 255 - Teaching English Language Learners^****	(ED 105 or ED 201, either with a grade of "C" or better) and (ED 204 or ED 214, either with a grade of "C" or better) and (ED 222 with a grade of "C" or better or PSYC 209) and ENGL 102	3 credits
Middle Level (any concentration) or Secondary Level, Humanities & Special Education Concentration: BIOL 107 - General Biology II or EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation or EASC 111H - Environmental Conservation (Honors) Secondary Level, Math/Science Concentration: ART 103 - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance or ART 103H - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance (Honors) or ART 104 - History of Art II: Renaissance to Modern or ART 104H - History of Art: Renaissance to Modern (Honors) MUS 103 - Introduction to Music or PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy or PHIL 101H - Introduction to Philosophy (Honors) or Any 100 or 200-level World Language course or Any Religious Studies course (RS)		3 or 4 credits
Content Elective (see chart below for choice of content electives) ***		3 to 5 credits
Content Elective (see chart below for choice of content electives) ***		3 to 5 credits
Content Elective (see chart below for choice of content electives) ***		3 to 5 credits

Notes:

^*Students should choose math courses according to transfer institution. It is recommended that students consult with their program coordinator regarding optimal math course selection.
^**Students planning to transfer to Temple University should take HIST 101 or HIST 103, not HIST 102.
^*** Students selecting their content electives must receive approval from their education faculty advisor before they can register for their content electives. Banner will prevent students from registering without their advisor's approval.
^****Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all ED courses.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) only certifies baccalaureate programs in education; PDE does not certify Associate programs. Therefore, the College cannot guarantee that the content electives listed below will count towards the PDE requirement. Acceptance will be determined by the four-year college to which the student transfers, and courses accepted vary by institution.

Middle Level (4th-8th) Content Electives

In consultation with an advisor, students should choose FIVE content electives from the chart below based on 1) their concentration (Math/Science or Humanities) and 2) the subject they plan to teach.

CONCENTRATION: MATH/SCIENCE

SUBJECT: Mathematics
- MATH 162, MATH 171, MATH 172, MATH 251, MATH 270 and/or MATH 271
SUBJECT: Science
- BIOL 106 and BIOL 107 or BIOL 123 and BIOL 124
- CHEM 105, CHEM 110, CHEM 121, and/or CHEM 122
- EASC 111
- PHYS 111 and 112 or PHYS 141 and PHYS 240

CONCENTRATION: HUMANITIES

SUBJECT: English/Language Arts/Reading
- Any 200-level ENGL course, except 214 (includes Creative Writing courses)
SUBJECT: Social Studies
- ANTH 112, POLS 111, SOC 101, SOC 233, RS 101, RS 151¹
- ECON 181 or ECON 182
- GEOG 101, GEOG 103, GEOG 180, and/or GEOG 222
- HIST 121, HIST 122, HIST 220, and/or HIST 221

Secondary Level Content Electives

In consultation with an advisor, students should choose FIVE courses from the chart below based on 1) their concentration (Math/Science or Humanities) and 2) the subject they plan to teach.

CONCENTRATION: MATH/SCIENCE

SUBJECT: Math or Physics
- MATH 270 and MATH 271
- PHYS 111 and PHYS 112 or PHYS 140 and PHYS 241
SUBJECT: Chemistry
- CHEM 121, CHEM 122, CHEM 221, and CHEM 222
SUBJECT: Biology or General Science
- CHEM 121 and CHEM 122
- BIOL 123 and BIOL 124

CONCENTRATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION

SUBJECT: EDUCATION
- ED XXX: Introduction to Trauma Informed Teaching
- ED XXX: Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild, Moderate, & Severe Intellectual Disability
- ED XXX: Assistive Technology for Assessment for Special Education
- ED 245
- PSYCH 215 or BHHS 103

CONCENTRATION: HUMANITIES

SUBJECT: Art ²
- ART 103 or ART 103H
- ART 104 or ART 104H
- ART 105
- ART 109
- ART 115
SUBJECT: English
- Any 200-level ENGL course, except ENGL 214 (includes Creative Writing courses)
SUBJECT: Music ³
- MUS 105
- MUS 106
- MUS 116
- MUS 118
- MUS 120
- MUS 121
SUBJECT: Social Studies
- ANTH 112
- POLS 111 or POLS 111H
- SOC 101 or SOC 101H
- SOC 233
- ECON 181 ECON 182
- GEOG 101 GEOG 103 GEOG 180 GEOG 222
- HIST 121
- HIST 122
- HIST 220
- HIST 221
- RS 101
- RS 151
SUBJECT: World Languages ⁴
- Students should take a minimum of two courses in the language they plan to teach and three additional courses in the Secondary Humanities content elective list.

¹ Students who plan to attend a religiously-affiliated college or university should take Religious Studies (RS) courses.
² Students who intend to teach art at the secondary level should also prepare a portfolio.
³ Most baccalaureate programs in music education require testing and/or auditions for incoming transfer students. CCP students who intend to teach music should contact their intended transfer institutions for details.
⁴ Students who are already fluent in the language they intend to teach should take five of the other courses in the Secondary Humanities concentration content electives list instead.

Launch Your Career Middle and Secondary Level Education

Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School – est. salary $130,439
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary – est. salary $64,510*
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education – est. salary $75,800

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**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Career Outlook

$64,510

Median Salary of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

8,031

Number of Jobs in the Region

+7.7%

10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Featured Career

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach students in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies at the secondary level in public or private schools. May be designated according to subject matter specialty.

Starting Pay: $64,510

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Typical Tasks

Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.

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