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2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Secondary Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Major: 5-12 and PK-12 Emphases

Secondary Education Major for Grades 5-12 Emphasis

To earn Secondary Teacher Certification, middle school (grades 5-9) and/or high school (grades 7-12), all GVSU students must complete the Secondary Education Major: 5-12 emphasis through the College of Education and Community Innovation and a disciplinary content major from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Courses in this program meet Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requirements for Secondary Education grades 5-9 and 7-12.

Requirements for the Secondary Education Major: 5-12 (42 credits)

The Michigan State Board of Education sets standards for the preparation of teachers of middle school (grades 5-9) and high school (grade 7-12) education. These standards ensure that novice teachers are prepared to enact high quality instruction in one or more content areas; address the needs of the whole child; use relevant, research-based criteria to establish a supportive, engaging environment that fosters learning; and use practices that meet individual adolescent's needs. As such, standards include Learner-Centered Supports, Ethics and Professional Growth, and Strategic Partnerships, that are related to professional knowledge and skills and describe what beginning teachers should know and be able to do regardless of the specific discipline area of specialization or instruction. Students complete several field experiences embedded throughout the program.

Secondary Education Major: 5-12 Candidates must stake each of the following core courses (15 credits)

Application Required for the Clinical Apprenticeship (15 credits)


Choose the apprenticeship field experience that aligns with your content area major grade level(s)

Application Required for the Clinical Internship (12 credits)

All secondary 5-12 candidates take

Choose the internship field experience that aligns with your content area major grade level(s)-

** B- or better required in EDI 331, EDI 433, or EDI 434

Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

In addition to the Secondary Education Major: 5-12 candidates must complete a secondary disciplinary content major in one of the following.

  • Major in English - Secondary English Education Emphasis
  • Major in Mathematics - Secondary Certification Emphasis, Dual Band 5-12
  • Major in Mathematics - Secondary Certification Emphasis, Single Band 5-9
  • Integrated Science - Secondary Education
  • Major in Social Studies - Secondary Emphasis

B.S. Course Requirements

The B.S. requirements are satisfied through completion of a secondary disciplinary content major.

B.A. Course Requirements

Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in the secondary education 5-12 major must demonstrate third-semester proficiency in a foreign language by successfully completing a 201-level language course, passing a proficiency exam in the language chosen, or through AP credit.

Requirements for the Secondary Education Major Program PK-12 Emphasis (42 credits)

The Michigan State Board of Education sets standards for the preparation of teachers of PK-12 education. These standards ensure that PK-12 novice teachers have a strong understanding of the developmental stages of the students as well as sufficient depth and breadth of discipline specific knowledge and skills. The standards also ensure that novice teachers are prepared to enact high quality instruction in one or more content areas; address the needs of the whole child; use relevant, research-based criteria to establish a supportive, engaging environment that fosters learning; and use practices that meet individual adolescents needs. As such, standards include Learner-Centered Supports, Ethics and Professional Growth, and Strategic Partnerships, that are related to professional knowledge and skills and describe what beginning teachers should know and be able to do regardless of the specific discipline area of specialization or instruction. Students complete several field experiences embedded throughout the program.

Requirements for the Secondary Education Major: PK-12 (15 credits)

All PK-12 Candidates must take (15 credits)

Application Required for the Clinical Apprenticeship (15 credits)

Choose one from the following:

Choose one from the following:

*Must be taken concurrently with the clinical apprenticeship course

Application Required for the Clinical Internship (12 credits)

All secondary PK-12 candidates take

*** B- or better required in EDI 435

Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

In addition to the Secondary Education Major PK-12 Emphasis candidates must complete a PK-12 disciplinary content major in one of the following.

  • Art Education
  • Health and Physical Education
  • French Education
  • German Education
  • Latin Education
  • Music Education
  • Spanish Education

B.S. Course Requirements

The B.S. requirements are satisfied through completion of a PK-12 content area major.

B.A. Course Requirements

Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in the Secondary Education major PK-12 emphasis must demonstrate third-semester proficiency in a foreign language by successfully completing a 201-level language course, passing a proficiency exam in the language chosen, or through AP credit.

Secondary Education Major Suggested Course Sequence 5-12

Year One:

Year Two:

Year Three:

Year Four - Fall:

Year Four - Winter:

Secondary Education Major Suggested Course Sequence PK-12

Year One:

Year Two:

Year Three:

Year Four - Fall:

Year Four - Winter:


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