Program Overview Robert Morris University offers a Secondary Teacher Certification Preparation program for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. This program provides students with the course work required for Pennsylvania state teacher certification in the following areas: Applied Mathematics Biology Business, Computer and Information Technology Communication English Social Studies

About the Program: Career Opportunities Application Procedures Admission Requirements Admission to Teacher Certification Candidacy Program Advisement Tuition Program Location

Students take a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses to fulfill academic requirements. Completion of the program requires a 16-week semester of supervised student teaching and the successful completion of all required Praxis examinations.

If you wish to pursue a Master of Science degree in either Instructional Leadership or Business Education at RMU concurrently with the Secondary Teacher Certification Preparation program, you must apply for admission to the master's degree program of choice and follow all graduate admission requirements and procedures. You also should notify the Graduate Admissions Office of your intention to pursue the two programs concurrently.

Career Opportunities
Job opportunities for teachers over the next 10 years should be excellent, due mostly to the large number of teachers expected to retire. There are currently 6.3 million teaching positions in the United States, and employment opportunities are expected to increase. In addition, over one million teachers will retire in the next five years, leaving our nation with a potential shortage of over two million teachers.

Teaching is a highly respected profession which provides a regular daily and weekly work schedule, time off each year, excellent benefits, job security and opportunities to continue your education. The salary range for teachers in the U.S. is $30,000 to $80,000 per year with an average salary of $44,367 per year.

Application Procedures
Students should submit the following credentials to the Graduate Admissions Office:

1. A completed application and a non-refundable $35 application fee. Or apply online for free.
2. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.

Admission Requirements
In order to qualify to begin studies at RMU, you must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA). If you do not meet this requirement, the program director may use other state-approved methods of calculating the GPA to determine if you qualify to begin studies. Students who then meet the GPA requirement will be permitted to enter the University on a conditional basis to begin taking courses.

Admission to Teacher Certification Candidacy
Once enrolled at the University, you will be required to submit the following items in order to be evaluated for teacher certification candidacy status:

1. Two letters of recommendation
2. Passing scores on the Praxis I (pre-professional skills test) in reading, writing and mathematics
3. All required Act 151 (33 and 34) clearances and FBI fingerprinting
4. All required immunization and health test records

In addition to these items, you will be evaluated to determine if you have fulfilled the state's academic course requirements, which include successful completion of:

• Six credits of college-level mathematics
• Three credits of college-level English composition
• Three credits of college-level English or American literature

You must meet the above outlined admission criteria prior to being officially admitted to the teacher certification candidacy and student teaching portions of the program.

Program Advisement
For more information on a specific area of specialization and have an unofficial evaluation of your transcripts, contact the appropriate program director:

Applied Mathematics:
Dr. Greg Holdan, 412-397-2421

Biology:
Dr. Maria Kalevitch, 412-397-2446

Business, Computer and Information Technology:
Dr. Donna Cellante, 412-397-3229

Communication/English:
Dr. John Lawson, 412-397-3289

Social Studies:
Dr. Kathy Dennick-Brecht, 412-397-5419

Tuition (2008-09)
Tuition information can be found at Tuition & Fee Schedules. The tuition rate includes all University fees except fees for courses that have an online component.

Program Location
Day and evening courses are offered primarily in Moon Township.