Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

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Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University

United States of America

United States of America, University Park

University Rank:#82

Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

International students can study the Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University across its Any Penn State Campus, Erie, and University Park campuses in United States of America. This Bachelor degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 4 years and is offered across its Any Penn State Campus, Erie, and University Park campuses. Students can apply for the next intake starting on June 1, 2027.

About Bachelor of Secondary Education

The Secondary Education (SECED) major prepares graduates to teach at the middle school or high school level (grades 7-12) in English, Mathematics, Social Studies (which includes history, geography, government, and the social sciences), or a science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, or Physics). The program combines on-campus course work with clinical experiences in schools; graduates are eligible to apply for teacher licensure through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

You Might Like This Program If...

You are committed to public service and working with young people, and you appreciate that effective teaching demands both mastery of subject matter knowledge and understanding learners and communities.
In your subject-matter studies, you tend to find yourself asking: How do we know that? Is there a better way to describe it? What are we overlooking? How could I help others understand this too?

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SECONDARY EDUCATION

The following teaching options are available for majors in Secondary Education: Biological Science, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, English, Environmental Education, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies/Citizenship Education.

The Secondary Education major helps prepare students for middle school and/or high school teaching positions and for other employment in fields related to their content specialties.

Biological Science Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Chemistry Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Earth and Space Science Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

English Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A comparable program is also open to student outside the College of Education who desire certification.

Environmental Education Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for a Pennsylvania teacher certification in Environmental Education when completed in conjunction with another secondary education teaching option (i.e., Biological Science Teaching option). The total number of credits required will depend primarily on that other option.

General Science Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching General Science at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This option may only be completed in conjunction with another secondary education option (e.g., Biology); the total number of credits required will depend primarily on that other option.

Mathematics Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: Erie, University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Physics Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Social Studies Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option enables the graduate to meet all of the academic requirements for the Instructional I certificate for teaching social studies at the secondary-school level, which is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Disciplines

Penn State Erie The Behrend College

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

Entry Requirements

Penn State requires the submission of specific academic credentials to complete your application. Review the secondary and post-secondary requirements for your country below.

If you are a first year student applying to Penn State:

Click Apply to start your Penn State application. Before starting, you can also review the Applying Online Worksheet for more details and helpful hints about the application.

Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the Save and Continue button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). As you begin the SRAR process, a new window will open allowing you to complete your SRAR. SRAR will focus on your high school coursework. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. Therefore, have a copy of your secondary school records available as you complete your SRAR. You will need to enter every class and every grade earned for the last three years, as well as those classes in progress.

After completing your SRAR, you will be directed back to the Penn State application in order to complete the Program of Study portion of the application. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for first-year students.

After completing this section of the application, you will provide some additional information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

If you are a transfer student applying to Penn State:

All international transfer students will be required to submit official high school transcripts in order to complete the application. International transfer students will not complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) for either their high school or college coursework.

If you have accepted your offer of admission to Penn State:

If you completed SRAR and are accepted to Penn State, please provide the following for grade verification:

Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, and 12. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.
Official copy of the Tawjihi, accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Secondary Education

Our graduates teach in public and private schools in Pennsylvania, elsewhere in the U.S., and around the world. Education is a profession, and all teachers are expected to continue studying and developing new skills throughout their careers. In most U.S. states, teacher certification is a multi-stage process, with graduate study beyond a bachelor's degree expected early in a teacher's career. Graduates of this program who work in public schools usually go on to earn a master's degree. Alumni who wish to continue educational studies at the graduate level through Penn State can do so at University Park and through the University's World Campus.

In addition to resources like the College's Advising and Certification Center and Penn State Career Services, the University hosts large education career fairs in both the fall and spring semesters, which bring recruiters to campus from throughout Pennsylvania and the United States.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

Pennsylvania State Education Association
Occupational Outlook for High School Teachers (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

Step 1: Choose Your Application Method

Apply through MyPennState

The first step of the application process is to create a Penn State account, if you do not have one already. MyPennState is where future students can access the online application.

If you are new to MyPennState, you will need to establish a Penn State User ID and password, which you will access during the MyPennState profile creation process. Once you have your log in information, you can sign in to begin work on your application.

When creating the profile, please use the name that is on your passport. Because materials are filed alphabetically under the family name on the application, it is important that all correspondence and records consistently use the same name (family and given) and spelling. If this name does not match your academic records, please notify us of the difference. Please note: In the U.S., the family name is usually referred to as the last name, and the given name is referred to as the first name.

Additionally, Penn State requires a current, valid email address, as that is our primary means of communication with international students. To ensure deliverability, please make Penn State (psu.edu) an eligible sender to the account.

Applying through the Common App

Applying to Penn State via the Common App is available to first-year (freshman) international students. If applying through the Common App, Penn State will create a MyPennState profile when the application is submitted and you will receive instructions on how to access your profile. If you intend to apply with the Common App, you do not need create a MyPennState profile prior to submitting your application.

Step 2: Access the Application and Review Important Dates

While you can create a MyPennState profile at any time, the application for admission becomes available on the following dates:

Fall/Summer Admission: August 1

Spring Admission: June 1

The application submission dates vary by applicant type and intended program of study. Some programs have specific deadlines or admissions requirements. Please refer to our Dates & Deadlines for more information about application deadlines, as well as our Admissions Requirements to review information about any additional materials required for your intended program of study.

Step 3: Start Your Penn State Application

If applying through MyPennState:

Click Apply Online to start your Penn State application.

Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the "Save and Continue" button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), unless otherwise directed. You will be directed to enter information about your secondary school coursework. Please have a copy of your secondary school records as you complete SRAR. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. You will need to enter every grade for every course you have taken in the last three years, as well as your current schedule of classes.

Students educated in South Korea will not complete SRAR. The document requirements for South Korea can be found by reviewing our International Credential Requirements.

After this section, you will be directed back to the Penn State application to complete the Program of Study portion. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for either first-year students or transfer students.

After this portion, you will provide some additional application information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

If applying through the Common App:

Complete the Common App, which will then direct you to MyPennState to complete SRAR. Applicants using the Common App may feel that they provided their high school record via the Common App, but Penn State requires the completion of SRAR via MyPennState. We strongly encourage you to obtain an official copy of your high school transcript to ensure accurate entry of your coursework completed and grades earned. The SRAR will include all of your high school coursework from your last three years of work and your current year schedule. If your final year grades are available when you enter SRAR, you can enter them at that time.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

The application requires a nonrefundable application fee of $75 for international students. Be sure to complete the last step after Summary and Review, which finalizes payment of your fee, and be certain it is successfully submitted. Once the application is submitted, you can verify its completion by accessing your MyPennState profile.

Step 5: Submit Required Application Materials

In order to complete your Penn State application, we need the following materials:

Application
Secondary school record
Post-secondary school records (if applicable)
First-year applicants only: Official test scores: SAT (code #2660) or ACT (code #3656)
Writing Component and Subject Tests

Please note: The writing component of standardized tests (SAT or ACT) is not required. The writing component will not be used as part of our evaluation. If your test scores include the writing component, by all means, have those scores sent to Penn State. Additionally, we do not require SAT Subject Tests.
English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

Please see the admissions requirements for international students to review the details about the required application materials. Some programs require additional items to complete your application. Please review our Admissions Requirements for those details.

Penn State does not require letters of recommendation, nor are they used in a student’s evaluation (unless required for a specific program).

Step 6: Check Your Application Status in MyPennState

You can always check the status of your application in MyPennState. We will communicate with you via MyPennState and through a series of emails regarding the missing items for your application. When everything has arrived, you will see a status in MyPennState confirming the completion of your application.

Please note: It is your responsibility to check on the status of your application and send us any missing materials.

Step 7: Receive Your Admission Decision

Once we have reached a decision regarding your application, we will update your status in MyPennState and provide a printable PDF of your decision letter. Review our Dates & Deadlines to see when you should expect your decision.

If accepted, you can accept your offer of admission in MyPennState to begin the process of becoming a Penn State student. Visit our Accepted Students section to review the next steps in this process. Once you accept your offer of admission to Penn State, those students completing SRAR will submit their official records for validation purposes as soon as possible.

Bachelor of Secondary Education at Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University

United States of America

United States of America, University Park

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