Child and Family Studies Major

503-725-8241, Child and Family Studies Program, 306 Helen Gordon Child Development Center

Adviser: M. Penners

Early childhood and elementary education

Students who want to be elementary teachers choose from a wide range of majors to complete their undergraduate degrees. Some traditional choices include an interdisciplinary major (such as arts and letters, science, social sciences, or liberal studies); specific disciplinary majors such as English or History (especially those wishing to teach at the upper elementary level); or Child and Family Studies. In addition to meeting with the departmental adviser, students should meet with the elementary education adviser by visiting the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center, SMSU M305, (503)725-3822.

Middle school education

Prospective middle school teachers who have a preference for teaching multiple subjects (as in elementary education) should follow advice from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (503-725-3822). Those who prefer to get a content area specialization that may also apply to teaching at the high school should contact the pre-education academic adviser in the academic department of choice.

High school education

Prospective high school teachers should contact the pre-education academic adviser within their major department. Academic majors and their respective secondary endorsements are as follows: biology (biology and general science); physical education (physical education); history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, political science, geography, and economics (social studies); health (health); mathematics (mathematics); English (English language arts); art (art); world languages and literatures (foreign language); music (music); chemistry (chemistry); physics (physics); business and economics (business); drama (drama); speech (speech). Note: A current adviser list is available from the GTEP admissions secretary, 602 School of Education Building, and on the GTEP Web site.

Graduate Teacher Education Program

Students considering application to the PSU GTEP should make an appointment to attend an advising session for prospective applicants by calling 503-725-4619 or stop by the information desk on the second floor of the School of Education Building.

Preparatory coursework

Early childhood and elementary educators:

Required:

Recommended:

Middle, junior, and high school educators:

In addition to a strong liberal arts education, all students should complete the requirements for their major in the endorsement area of their choice.

Required:

Recommended:

Integrated Science

Advisers: Dr. Nancy Price, Geology

The integrated science endorsement is valid for teaching middle school, intermediate school, high school integrated science, or high school earth science. See the other secondary endorsements for a high school biology, chemistry, or physics content focus. Coursework highlighted here is beneficial preparation for those intending to teach in states that have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (Oregon included). Students who wish to obtain the integrated science endorsement under a general studies major should be aware that the integrated science endorsement requires additional science courses beyond the coursework required for a major in general studies. Courses pertaining to all of the Earth/Space, Life, and Physical Science Content Standards are required. Guidelines for a course of study for the integrated science endorsement include the following.

Science Requirements

Earth/Space Content Area: (20 credits)

Life Science Content Area: (15 credits)

Physical Science Content Area: (15 credits)

Upper Division Science Electives (20 credits)

Mathematics and Statistics Content Area: (12 credits)

Eight credits from:

Total Credit Hours: 82

Basic Social Studies

Advisers: J. Rousseau

Students who major in social science (or in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, or sociology) and wish to teach social studies in secondary schools are recommended to include the following courses in their undergraduate program:

Student must complete a minimum of 12 credits each in History and Geography and 8 credits each in Economics and Political Science to receive a departmental recommendation to the GTEP. For further guidance please contact the adviser listed above.

Courses are to be taken for differentiated grades. Students must have at least a 3.00 GPA in the recommended courses and must earn at least a B- in each course.

Equivalent courses sometimes are accepted in substitution for certain of those specified, upon prior approval of the social studies secondary adviser.