Master of Education - Secondary Education - Physics

Program Description

The Department of Teacher Education prepares Urban Professional Multicultural Educators through an integrated program of courses and field experiences. Programs offered are designed for the preparation of future educators. The programs of study center around the commitment to excellence in teaching in today’s diverse society through the investigation of significant educational issues, inquiry into student learning and effective teaching practices, and the use of technology in teaching and learning. DePaul engages teacher candidates in critical reflection upon their practice throughout the program. DePaul fosters engagement in schools through the Partnership Schools and other school and agency affiliations. Upon completion of the program, teacher candidates measure themselves against the values of the guiding conceptual framework through the completion of professional portfolios. Values that are part of this framework include: commitment to social justice, critical pedagogy, and positive educational transformation within the context of a Vincentian personalism that honors the dignity of each person.   

In addition to completing the requirements for licensure in Illinois, and in aligning with a commitment to preparing students with a global mindset, teacher candidates will also complete the requirements to gain a certificate in Teaching and Learning from the International Baccalaureate Organization. The IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning for the Middle Years Program (MYP) and the Diploma Program (DP) provides teacher candidates the background and expertise to teach in an IB school. The IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning expands the opportunities for teacher candidates and training in IB open expands the vision of inquiry and reflective practice.

Students entering the program must be able and willing to devote themselves to a program requiring a minimum of 100-110 hours of daytime field experiences in schools. These school-based clinical hours are completed in conjunction with methodology courses that require students to spend daytime hours in schools. As students will be completing requirements to earn the IB Certificate, a majority of the 100-110 hours will be completed in International Baccalaureate Schools. In addition, the student must spend a minimum of 10 weeks in full-time student teaching. 

The program includes five distinctive features:

• Becoming a teacher is viewed as a developmental process continuing at least through the first year of teaching
• Multiculturalism is infused throughout the curriculum
• Field experiences are an integral part of the curriculum
• Students are exposed to a variety of educational theories
• The program includes a research component as a basis for further professional development.  

Students lacking undergraduate requirements in the content area they will be teaching will have to complete those requirements prior to student teaching. Both a content area advisor and an academic advisor will guide candidates in planning their coursework.

The program in secondary education prepares students to teach children in a variety of urban and suburban educational settings, including public and private middle and high schools. Students follow a general pattern of study for middle school and high school levels. In all cases, appropriate field experience plays an integral role. The program combines theoretical principles of education and field work with the student's choice of major. Graduates earn the Master of Arts or Master of Education degree and are qualified for middle and secondary school licensure. Yet, not all graduates follow a career in teaching. A number of DePaul graduates in secondary education work in diverse settings such as museums, corporations, media, and the arts.