Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education

Become an excellent teacher who inspires students and changes the world.

Our Bachelor of Science (BS) in Teacher Education prepares undergraduate students to earn their Pennsylvania teaching certification. Our curriculum is fully aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education certification standards for Instructional 1 certification.

Students can major in:

For Grades 7-12 — English Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Social Studies Education
Grades PreK-12 — Special Education, or World and Heritage Language Education (Foreign Languages)

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Program Facts

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education

Enrollment Term

Fall and Spring

Format

In-Person

Credits

Minimum of 120 credits

Application Deadline

Rolling Admissions
November 1 for spring start term
March 1 for fall start term

Duration

Four years
(Students apply to School of Education after earning 48 credits)

Program Overview

Our Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education prepares undergraduate students for teacher certification. Our goal is to help you be the spark that ignites learning in schools and across communities. We want you to become an effective teacher who can make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.

Teacher Certification Options

Grades 7-12 | Secondary Education in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies
Grades PreK-12 | Special Education or World and Heritage Languages

Specializations Available

Students in the World and Heritage Languages area can become certified to teach Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, or Spanish.
Students in the Science Education area can specialize in either Biology, Chemistry, General Science, or Physics.

Additional Programs

For students who are interested in becoming certified to teach in elementary schools we recommend you explore our Combined Applied Studies in Education 4+1 program (for undergraduates) or the Primary Plus program (for master’s students).

Admissions Requirements

Completed Pitt School of Education Undergraduate Admissions Application
Official college transcripts
Overall GPA of 3.0
A goal statement in which the applicant reflects on their goals as a teacher and the role of teachers as it relates to the mission-vision of the School of Education.
Fulfillment of all prerequisite coursework

“My experience here has impacted my future as an educator and given me invaluable memories inside and outside the classroom. From professional development to tangible curriculum, the Pitt School of Education has given me something I have found nowhere else."
Robert Revenis, Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education student

“The Pitt School of Education has opened my eyes to the importance of educational equity. They have provided me with a wide array of tools to bring justice to the classroom.”
Emily Janosko, Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education student

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Prerequisites

All students are required to take 12 credits of School of Education prerequisites.

TLL 1580 Foundations of Special Education (3 credits)
TLL 1581 Critical Histories of Education (3 credits)
TLL 1582 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling (3 credits) OR EFOP 1001 Social Foundations of Education (3 credits)
HHD 1003 Development: Middle Childhood through Adolescence (3 credits) OR PSY 0310 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- *HHD 1002 Development: Conception through Early Childhood (3 credits) is an option for students on Special Education or World Language tracks.

While we prefer the prerequisites to be completed prior to beginning the program, we will admit students without them if they can fit the prerequisites into their studies.

Curriculum

Major Courses

The required major courses in the School of Education are designed to prepare students to become teachers who are ready to effectively lead classrooms. Your courses include pedagogy, student support, and student teaching experiences.

The Special Education track has 36 credits required, while all the other tracks are 33 credits.

The major area courses will be completed after declaring your major in the School of Education.

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Students pursuing the English Education track are required to complete 33 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1502 Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1584 Critical Pedagogies and Praxes (3 credits)
TLL 1520 Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1585 Teaching and Learning in Secondary English 1 (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1586 Teaching and Learning in Secondary English 2 (3 credits)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Students pursuing the Mathematics Education track are required to complete 33 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1502 Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1584 Critical Pedagogies and Praxes (3 credits)
TLL 1520 Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1587 Teaching and Learning in Secondary Mathematics 1 (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1588 Teaching and Learning in Secondary Mathematics 2 (3 credits)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Students pursuing the Science Education track are required to complete 33 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1502 Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1584 Critical Pedagogies and Praxes (3 credits)
TLL 1520 Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1589 Science Education Methods I (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1590 Science Education Methods II (3 credits)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Students pursuing the Social Studies Education track are required to complete 33 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1502 Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1584 Critical Pedagogies and Praxes (3 credits)
TLL 1520 Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1591 Teaching and Learning in Secondary Social Studies 1 (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1592 Teaching and Learning in Secondary Social Studies 2 (3 credits)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Students pursuing the Special Education track are required to complete 36 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1509 Applied Behavior Analysis/Positive Behavior Support (3 credits)
TLL 1521 Proactive Strategies for a Positive Classroom (3 credits)
TLL 1511 Curriculum and Program Development for Students with IDD (3 credits)
TLL 1513 Instruction Methods for Students with High Incidence Dis/abilities (3 credits)
TLL 1512 Assessment and Instruction for Students with Dis/abilities (3 credits)
Choose one of the following reading coursework courses (3 credits):
- TLL 1208 Reading/Writing Methods I PK-Grade 1
- TLL 1209 Reading/Writing Methods II Grades 2-4
- TLL 1203 Language and Language Systems (Online)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Special Education Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Students pursuing the World and Heritage Language Education track are required to complete 33 credits as part of the School of Education major requirements:

TLL 1257 Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
TLL 1502 Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1584 Critical Pedagogies and Praxes (3 credits)
TLL 1520 Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
TLL 1593 Teaching and Learning in World Heritage Languages 1 (3 credits)
TLL 1597 Pre-Student Teaching (2 credits)
TLL 1596 Pre-Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
TLL 1594 Teaching and Learning in World Heritage Languages 2 (3 credits)
TLL 1595 Cultures, Knowledge Traditions, and Social Systems of Schooling II (3 credits)
TLL 1598 Student Teaching (8 credits)
TLL 1599 Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)

Content Area Courses

Students are required to complete coursework through Pitt’s Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences based on the content area in which they are earning their teacher certification. This provides students with the opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary education that will make them content experts in the subject areas that they will teach in school. The required credits vary based on the program.

The courses are between 21 – 39 credits depending on your content area track.

Students are advised to begin completing these courses prior to entering the School of Education so that there is sufficient time to dedicate to the Teacher Education Major Courses in the final two years of study.

Students pursuing the English Education track are required to complete 21 credits as part of the English Content Coursework requirements. Below are suggested courses for future English teachers.

12 CREDITS IN LITERATURE – CHOOSE AT LEAST 4 COURSES WITH AN “ENGLIT” PREFIX
- ENGLIT 0300 Introduction to Literature
- ENGLIT 0315 Reading Poetry
- ENGLIT 0325 The Short Story
- ENGLIT 0365 Imagining Social Justice
- ENGLIT 0506 Literary Field Studies
- ENGLIT 0560 Children and Culture
- ENGLIT 0562 Childhood’s Books
- ENGLIT 0570 American Literature
- ENGLIT 0580 Intro to Shakespeare
- ENGLIT 0610 Women and Literature
- ENGLIT 0655 Representing Adolescence
- ENGLIT 0880 Shakespeare and Social Justice
- ENGLIT 1175 19^th C. British Literature
- ENGLIT 1200 American Lit to 1860
- ENGLIT 1220 Civil War to WWI in Am. Lit.
- ENGLIT 1225 19^th C. African American Lit.
- ENGLIT 1230 Twentieth C. African American Literature
- ENGLIT 1252 Twentieth C. American Lit.
- ENGLIT 1380 World Lit in English
- ENGLIT 1382 Prized Books
- ENGLIT 1635 Children in Pittsburgh
- *ENGLIT 1645 Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature [check pre-reqs]
3 CREDITS IN COMPOSITION/WRITING – CHOOSE AT LEAST 1 COURSE WITH AN “ENGCP” PREFIX AT 400 LEVEL OR HIGHER
- ENGCMP 1210 Tutoring Peer Writers
- ENGCMP 0620 Theories of Writing and Teaching
- ENGCMP 1551 History & Pol. of English Language
- ENGCMP 1552 Language, Literacy, and Learning
6 CREDITS IN ENGLISH ELECTIVES – CHOOSE AT LEAST 2 COURSES (ONE EACH FROM ENGFLM and ENGWRT)
- ENGFLM 0355 Visual Literacy
- ENGFLM 0400 Intro to Film
- ENGFLM 0401 Intro to Visual Culture
- ENGFLM 1790 Film and Literature
- ENGWRT 0400 Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENGWRT 0520 Introduction to Fiction Writing
- ENGWRT 0530 Introduction to Poetry Writing
- ENGWRT 0610 Introduction to Journalism and Nonfiction Writing

Students pursuing the Mathematics Education track are required to complete 25 credits as part of the Mathematics Education Content Coursework requirements:

Calculus Series (12 credits)
- Math 0220, Math 0230, Math 0240
Introductory Theoretical Mathematics (4 credits)
- Math 0413
Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- Take one of the following: Math 0280 or Math 1180
Number Theory/Abstract Algebra (3 credits)
- Take Math 0430
Statistics/Probability (3 credits)
- Math 1119 or STAT 1151 or STAT 1000

Students pursing the Science Education track can pursue areas of specialization in Biology, Chemistry, General Science, and Physics. The required credits range from 21-30 credits based on specialization.

Biology (26 credits)

BIOSCI 0050 Foundations of Biology Lab 1 or BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research I
BIOSCI 0060 Foundations of Biology Lab 2 or BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory II
BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1
BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2
BIOSC 0350 Genetics or BIOSC 0370 Ecology or any BIOSC 1000-level
CHEM 0110 General Chemistry I
CHEM 0120 General Chemistry II
CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry I or CHEM 0350 Principles of Organic Chemistry
MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1

Chemistry (22 credits)

CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1
CHEM 0120 General Chemistry 2
CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1
CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2
CHEM 0345 Organic Laboratory
MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering or PHYS 0110 Introduction to Physics 1

General Science (21 credits)

BIOSCI 0050 Foundations of Biology Lab 1
BIOSCI 0060 Foundations of Biology Lab 2 OR
BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory I
BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Laboratory II
BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology I
BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology II
CHEM 0100 Intro to General Chemistry OR
CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1
MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering or PHYS 0110 Introduction to Physics 1
GEOL 0870 The Planets or ASTRON 0088 Stonehenge to Hubble or ASTRON 0089 Stars, Galaxies and the Cosmos

Physics (30 credits)

PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering I or PHYS 0475 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering I
PHYS 0175 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering II or PHYS 0476 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering II
PHYS 0219 Basic Laboratory Physics Science and Engineering
PHYS 0477 Intro to Thermal Physics, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 1310 Undergraduate Seminar
CHEM 0100 Intro to General Chemistry or CHEM 0110 General Chemistry I
MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3

Students pursuing the Social Studies Education track are required to complete 24 credits as part of the Social Studies Content Coursework requirements:

CIVICS – 3 CREDITS
Take one of the following courses:

HIST 0612 – Origins of American Capitalism
PS 0200 – American Political Process
PS 0200 – American Politics
PS 0500 – International Relations
PS 0500 – World Politics
PS 1202 – American Constitutional Law
PS 1292 – Race, Gender, and Politics

ECONOMICS – 3 CREDITS
Take one of the following courses:

ECON 0100 – Intro to Microeconomic Theory
ECON 0110 – Intro to Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 0120 – Introductory Economic Theory
HIST 0612 Origins of American Capitalism (recommended)
HIST 1145 Intellectual Foundations of Capitalism
HIST 1645 American Economic History

CONTENT AREA – 18 CREDITS
(1.) Take 6 credits from one of the combinations of course bullets below:

U.S. History (6 credits)
- HIST 0600 United States to 1877 AND HIST 0601 United States 1865 to Present
- HIST 0670 African American History to 1877 AND HIST 0671 African American History Since 1865

(2.) Take 12 credits from the categories below. No more than 1 course is allowed from each category.

World History/World Cultures (3 credits)
- HIST 0700 World History
- HIST 600/601 or HIST 670/671
- HIST 0100 and HIST 0101 Western Civilization
Western European History (3 credits)
- HIST 0100 Western Civilization 1
- HIST 0101 Western Civilization 2
- HIST 0200 Between Kafka and Hitler: How Central Europe Influenced the World
- HIST 1115 West and the World (W)
- HIST 0139 Viking Age Scandinavia
- HIST 1776 Varieties of Early Christianity
Ancient History (3 credits)
- ANTH 0534 Prehistoric Foundations of European Civilization
- ANTH 0582 Introduction to Archaeology
- CLASS 0032 Athletics of the Ancient World
- HIST 0788 Women and Men in Ancient Mediterranean Society
- HIST 1775 Origins of Christianity
- CLASS 0010 Greek Civilization
- CLASS 0020 Roman Civilization
- HIST 1781 Roman History
- HIST 1783 Greek History
Geography (3 credits)
- ANTH 1737 Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology
- HIST 0302 Soviet Russia
- PS 1351 Government and Politics – Middle East
- HIST 0200 Between Kafka and Hitler: How Central Europe Shaped the Modern World * (also counts as Western European)
- ANTH 1786 Cultures of the Pacific
- HIST 0521 Caribbean History
- HIST 0500 Colonial Latin America
- HIST 0501 Modern Latin America
- HIST 0400 East Asian Civilization to 1800
- HIST 0795 History of Africa Before 1800
- HIST 1115 The West and the World *(also counts as Western European)
- HIST 1131 The Rise of the German Empire
- HIST 1586 Latin American Revolutions
- HIST 1720 West Africa in the Era of Slave Trade
Other History Electives (3 credits)
- HIST 1610 United States Colonial
- HIST 1621 History of the South through the 1880s
- HIST 1619 United States Since 1945
- HIST 1628 The Black West
- HIST 1655 American Workers 19th Century
- HIST 1656 American Workers 20th Century
- HIST 1660 Gender and Sexuality in the US to 1865
- HIST 1661 Gender and Sexuality in the US since 1865
- HIST 1683 North American Indians Traditional Cultures
- HIST 1691 Latino History
- HIST 1611 American Revolution 1763-1791
- HIST 1620 The Vietnam War
- HIST 1625 History of the American Frontier
- HIST 1640 American Childhoods: Race, Gender, and Citizenship, 1865-Present
- HIST 1655 American Workers 19^th Century
- HIST 1685 US Popular Culture (W)
- HIST 1695 Environmental History

No additional coursework is required.

Students are required to complete 24 credits as part of the coursework requirements. Prior to student-teaching, candidates must take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and demonstrate an Intermediate-High Rating or above. Latin students must take the Praxis Exam.

For Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish Language Students (24 credits):

Area 1: Students must take at least 12 Credits in Language and Linguistics

Area 2: Students must take at least 12 Credits in Literature and Culture

For Latin Students (24 credits):

Area 1: Students must take LATIN 1700 Latin Prose Composition (3 credits) and have the option of taking either CLASS 0020 Roman Civilization or CLASS 1220 Roman History (both of which are 3 credits)

Area 2: Students must take at least 18 credits of Latin courses at Intermediate level and beyond (3 credits of Linguistics in English may count toward the 18 credits)

General Education Requirements

All students are required to take the University of Pittsburgh’s required general education courses for undergraduates from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. The credit hours will vary.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education specifically requires that the following courses must be completed. These can count towards the student’s General Education Requirements.

(1) At least 6 semester hour credits (or the equivalent) in college-level mathematics.

(2) At least 6 semester hour credits (or the equivalent) in college-level English composition and literature.

Students should begin completing these courses prior to starting the Teacher Education Major courses. General Education requirements must be completed prior to graduation.

Career Pathways

The certifications offered by the program provide students with an entry point into the teaching profession, including positions as: