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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2016-2017 
    
American University Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Secondary Education (Second Major Only)


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Admission to Candidacy in Teacher Education


The undergraduate program in Secondary Education is designed for students who wish to obtain teaching credentials in secondary education while completing their majors in the humanities, arts, natural and social sciences. To do so, students complete a second major in Secondary Education designed to meet certification requirements in the District of Columbia and make them eligible for certification in over 40 states. Students should consult with the director of Teacher Education to coordinate their general and subject-area certification requirements with other university and major requirements.

Undergraduates seeking teacher certification in secondary education should contact an advisor in the School of Education as early as possible. Admission to the university and declaration of a major does not constitute admission to candidacy in teacher education, which is based on academic and related performance criteria. To be admitted to candidacy, students must earn a passing score (as set by the District of Columbia teacher licensing agency) on the Praxis CORE; earn an average grade of 2.70 or higher in EDU-205 Schools and Society FA4 (3)  and EDU-420 Psychology of Education (3) , pass EDU-321 Field Experience: Observation and Analysis (1) , receive satisfactory recommendations from faculty, and have an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher. Secondary Education majors must also have a 3.00 grade point average in their primary major. The Teacher Education Committee reviews student applications and makes decisions regarding admission to candidacy.

Liberal Arts and Science Requirements for Teacher Certification: Secondary


To qualify for teacher certification, students must complete subject-area certification standards. These requirements may overlap with General Education requirements.

Major Requirements


  • 38 credit hours with grades of C or better
  • Completion of the major requirements with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in one of the following: American Studies; Anthropology; Biology; CLEG (Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government); Chemistry; Economics; Environmental Studies; Justice; Health Promotion; History; International Studies; Law and Society; Literature; Mathematics; Multimedia; Statistics; Physics; Political Science; Sociology; or an equivalent minor with approval from the Director of the Office of Teacher Education.
  • An overall grade point average of 2.70 with 3.00 or higher in their primary major.
  • All students must complete the Praxis II Exam prior to graduation.

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