DIGITAL ADVISING SYLLABUS:
FIRST YEAR & SOPHOMORE
STUDENTS
Major: Secondary Education
Social Studies Teaching Option
Your First Semester:
Expectations of Students in the College of Education
How to Schedule an Appointment with Your Advisor
Student Support Services on Campus
Entrance to Major Requirements
Scheduling Courses for Next Semester
Academic Adjustment
Expectations of Students in the
College of Education
Maintain a Clean Record
• Background checks and clearances are required of you throughout your
collegiate career. It is important that you maintain a clean record in order to be
able to participate in the field experiences required by your major. Failure to do
so, can affect your ability to gain certification.
Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence
• School administrators, parents and your students may have access to the same
social media sites you use. It is important that you are mindful of the things you
post to your personal accounts that could be viewed by a principal, parent, or
student.
• Inappropriate social media posts can have a negative affect on field experiences
or lead to premature termination from a school placement
Protect Your Brand
• As a future teacher, it is imperative that you maintain a positive public image for
the sake of your students and the communities in which you will work.
Academic Advising
228 Chambers Building
(814) 865-0488
Meet with your advisor
at least once each semester!
You and Your Advisor Will Discuss:
• Scheduling Classes
• Educational Planning: minors | studying abroad etc.
• Transferring Credits: high school credits | AP credits etc.
Schedule An Appointment Online:
• Username: PSU e-mail address (include @psu.edu)
• Password: Last 4 digits of your student ID number
Support Services on Campus
Penn State Learning
• Services: Peer Tutoring | Study Groups
220 Boucke Building, 814-865-1841
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Services: Transfer College Credits | AP Credits
201 Shields Building, 814-865-5471
The Office of Student Aid
• Services: Financial Aid | Credit Load Requirements
314 Shields Building, 814-865-6301
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
• Services: Individual Counseling | Group Therapy
501 Student Health Center, 814-863-0395
The Office of the University Registrar
Services: Academic Calendar | Enrollment/Registration Forms
112 Shields Building, 814-865-6357
Entrance To Major Requirements
3.00 GPA
Required minimum 3.00 Cumulative GPA by the end of the fall semester in your sophomore year
Pre-Service Testing
Qualifying SAT Scores:
•1550 Combined Score
•No individual section less than 500
ACT Scores:
OR Qualifying
• Composite score of 23
OR
• Combined English/Writing score 22, Math score 21
Qualifying Scores From:
•PECT: PAPA exams or
•ETS: CORE exams
Core Courses
CI 295A*
ECON
104
EDPSY
014
ENGL
015
GEOG
010
HIST 020
HIST 021
Literature
Selection
Math
Selection
(GQ)
Math
Selection
(GQ)
Work Experience
40 hours of Educational Work Experience – Documentation Form Here
PL SC
001
PSYCH
100
Scheduling Courses
When Can I Schedule?
• Your First Date to Register is based on your total credits
• Go to your eLion Page, under the “Schedule” tab, and select “Registration Calendar”
Why Can’t I Schedule This Course?
• Controls: Regulates a special population of students who can schedule this course
• Prerequisites: Requires a specified course be taken before scheduling another course
• Advisors do not have the ability to schedule you into these courses
• For more information about a specific course:
• Access the University Bulletin for course descriptions
• Call the number listed next to the course to contact the department directly
What is Late Drop?
• Dropping a course after the drop/add deadline through the 12 th week of class is called a
late course drop
• You have 16 late drop credits that may be used during your academic career
• Contact your advisor and the financial aid department before late dropping a course
How Many Math, Science and English
Courses Will I Need for My Major?
Math
Requirements
(GQ)
Science
Requirements
(GN)
English
Requirements
(GWS, GH)
ENGL 015, or 030
Math Selection
Science Selection
(any GN of your choice)
(Entrance to Major)
(any GQ of your choice)
CAS 100 A
Science Selection
(any GN of your choice)
ENGL 202
(Can’t schedule until Sem 04)
Math Selection
(any GQ of your choice)
GEOG 010
Literature Selection
(Entrance to Major)
Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 1-4)
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
ENGL 015
GEOG 010
EDPSY 014
CI 295
(Entrance to Major)
(Entrance to Major)
(Entrance to Major)
(Clearances Required)
EDUC 100S
GEOG 30, GEOG 40, or
GEOG 160
ECON 104
(First Year Seminar)
Math Selection
(GQ)
PSYCH 100
(Entrance to Major)
HIST 020
(Entrance to Major)
Science Selection (GN)
HIST 021
(Entrance to Major)
Arts Selection
(GA)
Science Selection (GN)
Health & Physical Activity
Selection (GHA)
CI 280
[Prerequisite: EDPSY 014]
HIST 001
HIST 002
Literature Selection
(Entrance to Major)
PL SC 001
Math Selection (GQ)
Health & Physical Activity
Selection (GHA)
GEOG 020
EDTHP 115 or 400level EDTHP
Academic Adjustment
• Helps you predict your
semester and cumulative GPA
based on the grades you think
you will earn in each of your
courses:
• On your eLion page, under
Grades, click GPA Prediction
• To be considered a full time
student, you must maintain 12
credits per semester
• Dropping below full-time can
affect:
• Your Financial Aid
• Athletic Eligibility
• International Students’ Visa
Status
• (EPRs) provide a warning to
first-year students with
unsatisfactory performance
(below C-level) in one or more
courses
• Seek out your advisor for
advice/ resources that can
help with academic
improvement
GPA
Prediction Tool
“Full Time”
Status
Early Progress
Reports
Spring Semester:
Looking Ahead
Field Experiences & Clearances
Minor Interests
Summer Options
Course Checksheet
Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 5-8)
Semester 5
Semester 6
Semester 7
Semester 8
HIST 400-level
Selection
SS ED 411
SS ED 412W
CI 495E
(Middle Field Experience)
(Student Teaching)
Concentration Selection
HIST 400-level Selection
CI 495C
CAS 100A
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
ENGL 202A or B
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
SPLED 400
ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/SS
ED 200 Selection
HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412
SPLED 403A
Pre-Student
Teaching
Student Teaching
Field Experiences & Clearances
C I 295
•
•
•
•
Taken semester 3 or 4
Clearances Required
No application
Location: Within
walking distance of
campus or on bus
routes
Early Field
Experience
C I 495E
Middle Field
Experience
C I 495C
• Taken semester 6 or 7,
with SS ED 412W
• Clearances Required
• Application Required:
Submit one year in
advance
• Location: Within 70
miles of Campus;
Transportation is the
responsibility of the
student
• Taken semester 7 or 8
• Clearances Required
• Application Required:
Submit one year in
advance
• Location: Usually
outside of commuting
distance; Students
must arrange their own
housing and daily
transportation
Student Teaching
C & I Field Experiences (CIFE)
173 Chambers Building
814-863-1545
Minor
Interests
A minor is an
academic
program of at
least 18
credits, or 6
classes
Qualifying for
a History
minor is builtin to the
Social Studies
Education
program.
Use Minor
Quest to begin
exploring
other minors
Most minors
require at
least 2
courses taken
at the 400level
Summer Options
The Philadelphia Urban Seminar:
Rural Bedford Teaching Seminar:
• 2-week, 3 credit, summer semester seminar
with a unique immersion experience in an
urban public school environment
• Fulfills the CI 295 (ETM) requirement
• Clearances Required, Pre-Register here
• 2-week, 3 credit, summer semester seminar
with a unique immersion experience in a
rural setting
• Fulfills the CI 295 (ETM) requirement
• Clearances Required, contact Karen Eppley
for more information
Hazelton MayMester
Taking Courses
• 2 week, 3 credit, course focused on teaching
English language learners in school and
community contexts
• Fulfills the CI 280 requirement
• Clearances Required, contact Dr. Hopkins
for more information
•
•
•
•
At Penn State
At a Commonwealth Campus
Online via World Campus
At an Outside Institution:
• Use the Transfer Course Evaluation Guide
to see if courses will transfer directly
Academic Plan: Secondary Education - Social Studies
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
*ENGL 015
*GEOG 010
*EDPSY 014
*CI 295
First Year Seminar
GEOG 30, GEOG 40, or
GEOG 160
*ECON 104
CI 280
*Math Selection (GQ)
*HIST 021
HIST 001
HIST 002
*HIST 020
Arts Selection
*Literature Selection
*PL SC 001
*PSYCH 100
Science Selection
*Math Selection (GQ)
GEOG 020
Science Selection (GN)
Health & Physical Activity
(GHA)
Health & Physical Activity
(GHA)
EDTHP 115 or 400-level
EDTHP
Semester 5
Semester 6
Semester 7
HIST 400-level Selection
SS ED 411
SS ED 412W
Concentration Selection
HIST 400-level Selection
CI 495C
CAS 100A
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
ENGL 202A or B
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
SPLED 400
ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/
SS ED 200 Selection
HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412
SPLED 403B
Semester 8
CI 495E
No add’l coursework permitted
during Student Teaching
*ETM requirement