DIGITAL ADVISING HANDBOOK:FIRST YEAR & SOPHOMORE STUDENTSMajor: Secondary Education

English/ Communications 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 CoursesCAS 100A CI 295* Cluster G

Selection EDPSY 014 ENGL 015 Literature Selection

Math Selection (GQ)

Math Selection (GQ) 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 and Science 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)

Science Selection(any GN of your choice)

Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 1-4)

Semester 1EDUC 100S

(First Year Seminar)

ENGL 015(Entrance to Major)

EDPSY 014

(Entrance to Major)

Math Selection (GQ)

Science Selection (GN)

Media Selection (GA)

Semester 2PSYCH 100

(Entrance to Major)

Literature Selection

(Entrance to Major)

COMM 100, 118, 150, 205, 411, or 413W

Science Selection (GN)

Media Selection (GA)

Semester 3CI 295

(Clearances Required)

Math Selection (GQ)

CAS 100A

CI 280[Prerequisite: EDPSY 014]

Cluster “A” Selection

Cluster “F” Selection

Semester 4Speech and Oral

Performance:

CAS 211, 215, 250, 271, 280W, 375, 422, or 480;

THEA 102

Cluster “B” Selection

HDFS 239 or PSYCH 412

Science Selection (GN)

*Cluster “G” Selection

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

Computer Requirements

Summer Options

Course Checksheet

Student Teaching

Possible Academic Plan1(Semesters 5-8)

Middle Field Experience

LL ED Block

Semester 5

Cluster “H” Selection

Media Selection

ENGL 202A or B

ENGL 444

EDTHP 115 or 400-level EDTHP

Health & Physical Activity Selection (GHA)

Semester 6

LL ED 411

LL ED 420

LL ED 480

SPLED 400

Cluster “E” Selection

Semester 7

LL ED 412W

CI 495C

Cluster “C” Selection

Cluster “D” Selection

SPLED 403B

Health & Physical Activity Selection (GHA)

Semester 8

CI 495E (Student Teaching)

• Taken semester 3 or 4• Clearances Required• No application• Two-hour weekly

tutoring experience and two bus trips to schools for observations

Early Field Experience

• Taken semester 6 or 7, with LL 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

Completing all requirements for the major will qualify

students for an English

minor

Use Minor Quest

to begin exploring

other minors

Most minors require at

least 2 courses taken

at the 400-level

Minor Interests

Computer Requirements

EDUCATE requires all Secondary English

students to have a notebook computer by their Entrance to

Major semester

Faculty in the College determined that an Apple

MacBook and the iLife suite of software offers the best set of digital tools to help students

engage in meaningful teaching and learning.

Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models are highly

encouraged

Check to make sure your computer meets the

minimum specifications

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 Dr. 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

First Year Seminar

*ENGL 015

*EDPSY 014

*Math Selection (GQ)

Science Selection (GN)

Media Selection (GA)

Semester 2

*PSYCH 100

*Literature Selection

COMM 100, 118, 150, 205, 411, 413W

Science Selection

Media Selection (GA)

Semester 3

*CI 295

*Math Selection (GQ)

*CAS 100A

C I 280

Cluster “A” Selection

Cluster “F” Selection

Semester 4

CAS 211, 215, 250, 271, 280W, 375, 422, or 480

PSYCH 412 or HD FS 239

Science Selection

Cluster “B” Selection

*Cluster “G” Selection

Academic Plan: Secondary Education – English / Communication

*ETM requirement

No add’l coursework permitted during Student Teaching

Semester 5

Cluster “H” Selection

Media Selection

ENGL 202A or B

ENGL 444

EDTHP 115 or 400-level EDTHPHealth & Physical Activity (GHA)

Semester 6

LL ED 411

LL ED 420

LL ED 480

SPLED 400

Cluster “E” Selection

Semester 7

LL ED 412W

C I 495C

Cluster “C” Selection

Cluster “D” Selection

SPLED 403B

Health & Physical Activity (GHA)

Semester 8

CI 495E