Communications Secondary Education Masters

Gain applicable real-word experience and launch a rewarding teaching career.

Teach secondary education students skills that will last a lifetime with Level I teaching certification and a master's degree in communications education from California University of Pennsylvania.

Intended for communications professionals, but open to bachelor's degree holders in any field, this master's program combines core pedagogy courses, communications classes, and hands-on fieldwork. You'll graduate prepared to teach grades 7-12 in Pennsylvania.

Cal U's quality teaching program has top accreditation.

Complete secondary education certification and your master's degree in four semesters of classes and one semester of student teaching.

Cal U's teaching programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954. We are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: COMMUNICATIONS CERTIFICATE

Flexible Schedule: Keep your day job while earning your degree. Online graduate communications education courses and on-site field experiences accommodate your busy schedule. A two-day on-campus summer residency provides face-to face instruction, interactions with peers and opportunities to teach sample lessons.

Top Accreditation: This graduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cal U's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). See CAEP reporting measures of program impact and outcomes.

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$64K

Average annual salary for secondary education teachers in Pennsylvania Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

15

weeks of full-time student teaching in a real classroom.

Degree Benefits

Graduate degree courses will give you mastery of the latest practices and theories in communications education while deepening your content-area expertise.

Study communications curriculum development techniques and how to use the Standards Aligned System (SAS).

Learn top strategies in classroom management.
Master classroom technology for teaching communications.
Deepen your knowledge of video production, debate, acting, language arts, theater production, literacy and other related topics.
Gain extensive real-world teaching experience.

Graduate Outcomes

Graduates of this program are prepared to teach secondary education communications and theater at public or private schools. They also thrive as communications program coordinators, drama coaches and curriculum specialists. Cal U secondary education alumni have rewarding careers in teaching positions at dozens of schools across the country.

Curriculum, Admission Requirements and Related Programs

Founded as a teacher's college, Cal U has a 160-year reputation of producing top-quality educators. Our rigorous, discipline-specific courses will deepen your communications knowledge base while equipping you with the latest theories and practices in communications education. All students are required to have current school clearances to participate in field experience and sign up for courses.

Curriculum

Course	Credits
Required Courses
MSE 641 Orientation to 7-12 Education	3
MSE 642 Standards-Based Instruction in 7-12 Education	3
MSE 643 Content Area Literacy	3
MSE 644 Instructional Strategies in 7-12	3
MSE 645 Technology Integration in 7-12 Education	3
MSE 646 Assessments and Interventions	3
MSE 647 Classroom Management in 7-12 Education	3
MSE 651 Methods of English Teaching 7-12	3
MSE 661 Student Teaching	9

Total Credits	33

Undergraduate Content Course Requirements

Certification requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education include appropriate certification testing. A minimum of 30 credits of content area coursework is required. These courses may be taken at the undergraduate level. Students must demonstrate college coursework with a grade of C or higher in:

English composition
Writing theory
Language (e.g., grammar, linguistics)
Literature
Drama in literature
Communication theory
Oral communication
Video or media messaging
Argument or debate
Acting
Directing
Theatrical design
Theater elective

Note: Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements are subject to change.

Chapter 49-2

Chapter 49-2 requirements (12 credits) mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education must be met in order to receive certification. Courses may be satisfied with previously taken undergraduate or graduate courses, subject to approval of the program coordinator. Undergraduate 49-2 courses cannot be accepted for the graduate special education add-on certification program for students who later complete that program. If not already completed, the following courses are needed in addition to the requirements above:

ESP 610 Special Education Foundations and Collaboration
ESP 701 Introduction to Behavior Analysis
ESP 613 Evidence-based Practices in Secondary Inclusion
EDU 650 Supporting the English Language Learner

Student Teaching

Applications for spring student teaching are due October 1. Applications for fall student teaching are due April 1.

Student teaching requirements include:

A GPA of 3.0 or higher for all courses, including undergraduate content course requirements
A grade of C or higher for all required courses
Completion of all required courses prior to student teaching
Required clearances
No incomplete (I) grades
Passing of required Praxis tests
TB tests
Liability insurance
Education requirements, such as seminars and portfolios

Program Notes

The summer courses require a two-day residency in July.
Clearances are required at all times throughout the program and must be updated every July.
LiveText Watermark software is required for this program.

VIEW COHORT SEQUENCES

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission Requirements

Bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.80 or higher (Students with a GPA below 2.80 may apply for conditional admission)
Official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate institution

Conditional Admission Requirements

Conditional Admission may be granted with the following modifications of the Regular Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor's degree with a GPA under 2.80 will be reviewed for a decision

Provisional Admission:
Applicants who have provided unofficial documentation of test scores, prerequisite courses, transcripts or lack of letter(s) of recommendation may be admitted provisionally.

This policy also applies to undergraduate students who apply for graduate admission pending bachelor degree completion. Upon receipt of all official documents, a student will be changed from Provisional Admission to either Regular Admission or Conditional Admission. Provisional Admission students may take classes for one term but will not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Program Requirements

Depending on the area of certification chosen, the department will provide guidance if any foundation undergraduate courses need to be completed before applying for student teaching

Clearances: Students are responsible for updating clearances annually through the Office of Field Experience. In addition, clearances must be on file before applying for student teaching - Acts 24, 34, 114, and 151

How to Apply:

Complete the Graduate School Application
Submit the nonrefundable $35 Application Fee
Mail official transcript to:

School of Graduate Studies and Research
California University of Pennsylvania
Box 91
250 University Ave.
California, PA 15419

Submit unofficial transcripts and other documents by mail (using the address above), email (gradschool@calu.edu) or fax (724-938-5712)

For additional information:
Email: gradschool@calu.edu
Phone: 724-938-4187

Out of State Students:
All students who will be seeking certification outside of Pennsylvania are responsible for securing and following the certification requirements in the state in which they intend to apply for certification.

Related Programs

Professors with Real-World Experience

Learn best practices in education from experienced professors. All core secondary education faculty have doctorate degrees and most have taught in public schools at the middle or high school level.

Course Spotlight: Assessment in English/Communication

Gain insight into the design, implementation and analysis of assessment instruments used in communications education. Study the trends and results of English/communications standards according to recent research.

Land a Job Before Graduation

If offered a teaching job while enrolled in the secondary education master's degree program, Cal U communications education students can apply for the Teacher Intern Certification program. This enables you to work full-time as a teacher before certification, and use your job to fulfill field placement requirements.