The Teacher Education program prepares candidates for certification in grades K-12. The Secondary Education program requires 27 credits of Education course work in professional foundations and studies and 13 credits during internship. Students apply for admission to the program after successfully completing nine credits of Education course work in professional foundations. During the course of the studies, candidates may be asked to reapply to the program if their GPA falls below 3.0.

Teaching endorsement areas are attached to a Standard Instructional Certificate (grades K-12), according to Idaho Teacher Certification standards.  All single content area endorsements require a minimum of 45 semester credits. Certification with multiple content area endorsements require 30 semester credits for a primary endorsement area, and 20 semester credits for each subsequent endorsement area. The following LC State areas are approved for teaching field majors: Biology, Chemistry, Communication Arts, Earth Science, English; Kinesiology-Physical Education K-12 and Health 6-12; Mathematics; Natural Sciences; Psychology; and Social Science with a History emphasis (see degree requirements for each major). Teacher candidates must successfully pass the related Praxis II exam in their teaching content area(s).

Graduates from other colleges or universities seeking secondary teacher certification must fulfill all Secondary Education professional course work requirements in addition to meeting all academic major or minor teaching field requirements for subject area endorsement.

Students in the Teacher Education Certification program are expected to provide evidence through performance that they have met Idaho's requirements for certification before being recommended for teacher certification.

Advising

Secondary Teacher Education candidates must have two advisors: one for their academic major and one for teacher certification.

Program Outcomes

1.  The program completer understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.

2.  The program completer uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.

3.  The program completer works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

4.  The program completer understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.

5.  The program completer understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

6.  The program completer understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.

7.  The program completer plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.

8.  The program completer understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

9.  The program completer engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.

10. The program completer seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

11. The program completer should be able to distinguish between each of the federally recognized tribes with respect to the retention of their ancestral lands in Idaho: Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, New Perce Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. Program completes build capacity in learners to utilize the assets that each learner brings to the learning community based on their backgrounds and experiences. 

12. The program completer understands the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and its place in supporting the integrity of the profession. 

13. The program completer knows how to use digital technology to create lessons and facilitate instruction and assessment in face-to-face, blended, and online learning environments to engage students and enhance learning.

14.  The program completer understands the importance of automatic word recognition, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and motivation to read; the impact of vocabulary knowledge in oral and written language comprehension; and factors that contribute to deep listening and reading comprehension.

15.  The program completer understands the benefit of incorporating writing in the content areas.

16.  The program completer understands how reading and writing difficulties vary in presentation and degree.

General Education Requirements

Program Requirements

Secondary certification candidates must meet the graduation requirements for their major and the Secondary Teacher Education Program and must have two advisors. (see below)

Secondary Education Certificate Requirements

Application for admission to the Teacher Education Program is required after successful completion of the first three Phase I courses.

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Additional requirements must be met for teacher certification. See your Teacher Education Division advisor for details.

No grade lower than a “C-” will be accepted in any General Education core, Content Major, or 200-level Professional Foundations course. No grade lower than a “B-” will be accepted in any 300- or 400-level courses in Secondary Education.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into the Secondary Teacher Education Program. Candidates must also maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their content area classes.

Secondary Education Certificate Requirements

Graduates with a BA/BS in Social Science-History: Secondary Education go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:

• Secondary History Teacher (6-12)
• Adult and Continuing Education
• Training Specialist
• Business and Industry
• Research
• Human Services
• Instructional Coach
• Historian
• Politics