DIGITAL ADVISING SYLLABUS:FIRST YEAR & SOPHOMORE STUDENTSMajor: 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
• 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.
Maintain a Clean Record
• 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
Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence
• 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.
Protect Your Brand
Expectations of Students in the College of Education
Academic Advising
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
228 Chambers Building(814) 865-0488
Support Services on CampusPenn State Learning• Services: Peer Tutoring | Study Groups
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions• Services: Transfer College Credits | AP Credits
The Office of Student Aid• Services: Financial Aid | Credit Load Requirements
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)• Services: Individual Counseling | Group Therapy
The Office of the University RegistrarServices: Academic Calendar | Enrollment/Registration Forms
201 Shields Building, 814-865-5471
314 Shields Building, 814-865-6301
220 Boucke Building, 814-865-1841
501 Student Health Center, 814-863-0395
112 Shields Building, 814-865-6357
Entrance To Major Requirements
Work Experience40 hours of Educational Work Experience – Documentation Form Here
Core CoursesCI 295A* ECON 104 EDPSY
014 ENGL 015 GEOG 010 HIST 020 HIST 021 Literature Selection
Math Selection
(GQ)
Math Selection
(GQ)PL SC 001 PSYCH
100
Pre-Service TestingQualifying SAT Scores: •1550 Combined Score•No individual section less than 500
Qualifying ACT Scores:•Composite score of 23•Combined English/Writing score 22, Math score 21
Qualifying Scores From:•PECT: PAPA exams or•ETS: CORE exams
3.00 GPARequired minimum 3.00 Cumulative GPA by the end of the fall semester in your sophomore year
OR OR
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)
Math Selection(any GQ of your choice)
Math Selection(any GQ of your choice)
Science Requirements
(GN)
Science Selection
(any GN of your choice)
Science Selection(any GN of your choice)
GEOG 010
English Requirements
(GWS, GH)
ENGL 015, or 030(Entrance to Major)
CAS 100 A
ENGL 202(Can’t schedule until Sem 04)
Literature Selection(Entrance to Major)
Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 1-4)
Semester 1
ENGL 015(Entrance to Major)
EDUC 100S (First Year Seminar)
Math Selection
(GQ)
PSYCH 100(Entrance to Major)
HIST 020(Entrance to Major)
Science Selection (GN)
Semester 2
GEOG 010(Entrance to Major)
GEOG 30, GEOG 40, or GEOG 160
HIST 021(Entrance to Major)
Arts Selection
(GA)
Science Selection (GN)
Health & Physical Activity Selection (GHA)
Semester 3
EDPSY 014(Entrance to Major)
ECON 104
HIST 001
Literature Selection
(Entrance to Major)
Math Selection (GQ)
Health & Physical Activity Selection (GHA)
Semester 4
CI 295 (Clearances Required)
CI 280[Prerequisite: EDPSY 014]
HIST 002
PL SC 001
GEOG 020
EDTHP 115 or 400-level 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
GPA Prediction Tool
• 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
“Full Time” 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
Early Progress Reports
Spring Semester:
Looking Ahead
Field Experiences & Clearances
Minor Interests
Summer Options
Course Checksheet
Student Teaching
Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 5-8)
Pre-Student Teaching
Semester 5
HIST 400-level Selection
Concentration Selection
CAS 100A
ENGL 202A or B
SPLED 400
Semester 6
SS ED 411
HIST 400-level Selection
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/SS ED 200
Selection
SPLED 403A
Semester 7SS ED 412W
(Middle Field Experience)
CI 495C
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412
Semester 8
CI 495E (Student Teaching)
• Taken semester 3 or 4• Clearances Required• No application• Location: Within
walking distance of campus or on bus routes
Early Field Experience
• 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
Middle Field Experience
• 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
Field Experiences & Clearances
C I 495C
C I 495EC I 295
C & I Field Experiences (CIFE)173 Chambers Building
814-863-1545
A minor is an academic
program of at least 18
credits, or 6 classes
Qualifying for a History
minor is built-in to the
Social Studies Education program.
Use Minor Quest
to begin exploring
other minors
Most minors require at
least 2 courses taken
at the 400-level
Minor Interests
The Philadelphia Urban 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
Rural Bedford Teaching Seminar:• 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• 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
Taking Courses• 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
Summer Options
Semester 1
*ENGL 015
First Year Seminar
*Math Selection (GQ)
*HIST 020
*PSYCH 100
Science Selection (GN)
Semester 2
*GEOG 010
GEOG 30, GEOG 40, or GEOG 160
*HIST 021
Arts Selection
Science Selection
Health & Physical Activity (GHA)
Semester 3
*EDPSY 014
*ECON 104
HIST 001
*Literature Selection
*Math Selection (GQ)
Health & Physical Activity (GHA)
Semester 4
*CI 295
CI 280
HIST 002
*PL SC 001
GEOG 020
EDTHP 115 or 400-level EDTHP
Academic Plan: Secondary Education - Social Studies
*ETM requirement
Semester 5
HIST 400-level Selection
Concentration Selection
CAS 100A
ENGL 202A or B
SPLED 400
Semester 6
SS ED 411
HIST 400-level Selection
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
ANTH/ECON/PLSC/SOC/SS ED 200 Selection
SPLED 403B
Semester 7
SS ED 412W
CI 495C
Concentration Selection
Concentration Selection
HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412
Semester 8
CI 495E
No add’l coursework permitted during Student Teaching