Secondary Teacher Certification Sequence

Scott Hewit, Ed.D., Director

Rollins College offers courses of study for teacher certification and recertification, and the following graduate degree programs: the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education/ESOL (K-6) with the Reading endorsement, the Master of Arts in Teaching in Education, the Master of Education (M.Ed.). The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is designed for students pursuing initial teacher certification. The Master of Education (M.Ed.), with an emphasis in Elementary Education, is designed for professionally certified teachers who desire the professional enrichment represented by a master’s degree. For specifics regarding these programs, see the appropriate program descriptions.

Students who complete the required academic course and field work, maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have their Expanded Teacher Education Portfolio (ETEP) approved before AND during Student Teaching will meet the requirements for the M.A.T in Elementary Education/ESOL (K-6) or Music. The M.A.T. in Education provides the Education coursework required for Florida teacher certification in secondary education.

The M.A.T. in Elementary Education/ESOL (K-6) with the Reading endorsement at Rollins College is approved by the Florida Department of Education. Florida requires that students have a passing score on the General Knowledge test (GK) of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) to be admitted to any state-approved program. Students who meet the requirements for the M.A.T in Elementary Education/ESOL/Reading (K-6) or Music (K-12) AND submit passing scores on the General Knowledge (GK) test, Professional Education (PED) test, and Subject Area Exam (SAE) prior to graduation will be Florida State Approved Program completers, and immediately eligible for Professional Teacher Certification in Elementary Education/ESOL (K-6) with the Reading endorsement in the state of Florida.

Nondegree Programs

Graduate Studies offers coursework that meets the Florida Department of Education certification requirements for Reading, Elementary Education, and selected areas of secondary teacher certification, coursework for experienced teachers seeking recertification, and coursework for special students who wish to take only one or two courses in education.

Professional Education Requirements

Undergraduate and graduate courses (or their equivalents) may include the following:

EDU 501 - Sociological Foundations of Education Credit(s): 3
EDU 504 - Psychological Foundations of Education Credit(s): 3
EDU 513 - Curriculum and Assessment with Diverse Learners Credit(s): 3
EDU 517 - Teaching (Particular Subject) in Secondary Schools Credit(s): 3 (Prerequisite: EDU 522 )
EDU 517L - Field Experience in Secondary Education Credit(s): 1 (1.5)
EDU 522 - Strategies for Instruction, Learning, and Classroom Management with Diverse Secondary Learners Credit(s): 3
EDU 534 - Student Teaching: Secondary Credit(s): 6
EDU 535 - Content Area Reading in Secondary Schools Credit(s): 3
EDU 540 - Seminar in Classroom Management Credit(s): 3

Secondary Content Specialization Requirements

An undergraduate major in a content area (math, biology, English, etc.) from a regionally accredited school will meet the specialization requirements for secondary school teaching. When seeking certification in a secondary subject (grades 6-12), a student needs to have either a major in the subject or a minimum of 30 semester hours in the content area that meets the specific Florida Department of Education subject area requirements. An advisor may review a student’s Statement of Eligibility to help determine whether the content courses meet state requirements. Rollins College does not have a program specific to the middle grades.

Clinical Education Experience

Student Teaching (EDU 533 or EDU 534 ) consists of a one-semester field experience in an approved classroom setting. Six (6) semester hours of supervised student teaching are required. For current teachers with two or more years of teaching experience in a public school, the clinical requirement may be adapted to meet state requirements and program standards on a case-by-case basis. Passing scores on the General Knowledge Test and either the Professional Education (PED) or Subject Area Exam (SAE) section of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) must be submitted prior to Student Teaching.

A teaching internship experience in the area in which the student is to be certified is recommended for elementary or secondary certification. One term prior to Student Teaching, students must show evidence that all subject prerequisites have been met by completing Student Teaching Forms 3S and 4S in addition to the Application Form 1S. All forms are available at the office of the Department of Education and on the department website. These forms are filed with and reviewed by the Director of Field Experiences. To ensure placement, the Student Teaching Forms 3S and 4S must be completed and submitted to the Director of Field Experiences by the following dates:

February 20: fall placement
September 20: spring placement

Any student not approved for Student Teaching has the right of appeal to the Education Review Committee.

During the student teaching semester, the student must enroll in EDU 533 , Student Teaching: Elementary, or EDU 534 , Student Teaching: Secondary. The course is six (6) semester hours and is graded on a credit/no-credit basis. The student teaching experience consists of placement as a full-time teacher for a full semester in an approved area public school. A weekly seminar, EDU 540 , is required as a part of the student teaching experience. Student Teaching represents the culminating experience in the professional preparation of teachers.

Recertification and/or Special Students

Graduate courses are available for teachers seeking recertification and professional development. Such students are considered special students. Special students who are not in an advisor-approved certification track and who wish to exceed six (6) semester hours must reapply for admission. (No additional admission fee will be required.)

Additional Information

Secondary Teacher Certification Sequence Additional Information