Secondary and Physical Education

Program Director: Dr. Randall Groth

Our work is guided by a conceptual framework centered on knowledge, skills and dispositions, critical for today's educators to promote student success.

Teacher education candidates in a secondary education program complete a rigorous program of study in the academic major and professional education courses. Secondary education programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for secondary school teacher certification (Grades 7-12). Salisbury University offers bachelor's degree programs leading to secondary certification in a number of liberal arts and science disciplines:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• English
• French
• History/Social Studies
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Spanish

Further information is provided on the following:

• Professional Dispositions
• Field Work in Schools
• Applying to the Major

Persons already holding an undergraduate degree who wish to teach in their subject area at the secondary level, should apply to the M.A.T. Program.

Program Director: Dr. Randall Groth

The Secondary and Physical Education Department offers bachelor’s degree programs leading to PreK-12 certification in a number of liberal arts and science disciplines. In Maryland, secondary certification covers middle school and high school, specifically grades 7-12. Students interested in teaching should consult the department chair about current teacher-shortage areas.

Persons already holding an undergraduate degree who wish to teach in their subject area at the PreK-12 level, should apply to the M.A.T. Program.

At the undergraduate level, students at SU may achieve PreK-12 teacher certification in the areas:

• Physical Education (see information below)
• Music (vocal and instrumental)
• ESOL

Students wishing to pursue PreK-12 certification must do the following:

• Have a declared major in the content area with a declared track in PreK-12 education
• Pass the Praxis Core Test by January of sophomore year or by the time 45 credits are completed
• Fulfill Admission Requirements for the Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP)
• Submit an application to the PTEP
• Take, pass, and report Praxis II prior to graduation

Program Director: Dr. Yoojin Choi

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a career immediately upon graduation in Physical Education.

We offer many opportunities for you to collaborate with professionals in local Professional Development Schools and in international settings around the world. Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) provides ample opportunity in learning knowledge, demonstrating motor skills, and teaching physical activities in various educational settings. We also offer the outdoor education minor. We are confident that students can reach their goals as long as they remain committed to personal growth and professional achievement.

Our graduates are now working as excellent teachers in PreK-12 physical education in many states. SU PETE have very successful record for passing MSDE requirements of teaching credential.

Learn about the PETE Program’s admissions requirements for the Professional Teacher Education Program.

The student Physical Education Society promotes the understanding that teaching Physical Education is more than playing games and having fun. The PE Society offers guidance to all students by inviting guest speakers from the community such as teachers, board of education employees and other members of administration to attend our monthly meetings. As a society we are very active in volunteering within the local and campus communities. We have regular participation in events such as Relay For Life, Sea Gull Century, Tim Kennard River Run, and other local races and school events. The PE Society encourages students to attend the annual MAHPERD Convention each year. As a group, we have also taken trips to National Physical Education Conventions in the surrounding areas. This student-led organization offers a great opportunity to get involved in the community, learn more about the Physical Education profession and prepare students to enter into teaching with the appropriate knowledge and confidence to be successful.

Further information is provided on the following:

• PETE Online Application (See your advisor for access to the online application)

Program Director: Dr. James Barry

The Salisbury University Home School Physical Education Program provides physical education classes for children ages four to seventeen. Home school students participate in age appropriate activities that include fitness, fundamental skills like throwing and catching and sport specific skills such as volleyball and basketball.

For more information, please contact the Dr. James Barry at jpbarry@salisbury.edu.

Register for on-campus parking at least one week before the program begins.

Program Director: Dr. Erin Stutelberg

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for initial teacher certification and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for Initial Teacher Certification.

The M.A.T. is a collaborative degree program offered by Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Students are admitted by a joint admission process and take coursework on the campuses of both universities, taught by the faculties of both institutions.

Students in this program must possess an earned baccalaureate degree and appropriate content coursework for certification in one of the following state-approved areas: agriculture, art, biology, business education, chemistry, earth science, English, French, history, mathematics, music (vocal and instrumental), physics, social studies, Spanish, or technology education.

Students apply for admission to either SU or UMES, depending upon which university offers the appropriate Maryland State Department of Education approved content area program for teacher certification.

At Salisbury University, students have two options for pursuing the M.A.T. degree.

• Option 1: a full-time, cohort-based, 16-month program which begins each January.
• Option 2: a part-time schedule, designed for applicants who cannot meet the time constraints posed by the Option 1 accelerated cohort program.

SU offers approved programs in the areas of:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Earth Science
• French
• History
• Mathematics
• Music (vocal and instrumental)
• Physics
• Spanish

Find out who the M.A.T. advisors are by discipline.

Praxis Core and Praxis II are standardized tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Salisbury University is a test site where students can take the test on paper. Students may also take the Praxis Core as a computer-based test. Learn more, find a computer-based testing location and register at ETS.

Praxis Core is required of:

• All undergraduates by January of sophomore year
• All MAT students prior to admission to the MAT program

Praxis II is required of:

• All students in order to receive teacher licensure – It must be taken prior to graduation and computer-based testing is not available

Candidates in all teacher licensure programs must complete the Praxis Core skills tests in reading, writing, and math.

All candidates should take the Praxis II during their senior year and report their scores to the university and the State of Maryland. The Praxis II specialty tests are required for the certification areas and graduation. Although Praxis II is not a graduation requirement, failing to complete all Maryland certification requirements will make you ineligible for the Maryland license and will complicate your ability to be certified and hired outside of Maryland.

It is expected that students leaving Maryland after graduation complete these requirements before graduation and apply for Maryland certification.

We recommend that you complete subject area content knowledge tests when you have completed all of your non-education major requirements. Pedagogy tests should be completed near the end of your methods courses or early in your student teaching semester.

Be sure to prepare and to register for all tests in your certification area. Find the complete listing of required Praxis II tests by state.

Praxis Core Practice Questions

• Reading test practice
• Writing test practice
• Mathematics test practice

All Praxis registration is done online via the ETS.

The University does not mail registration bulletins.

Praxis I may be completed at any Sylvan (also known as Prometric) Center at your convenience. There is a location in Salisbury:
Prometric Testing Center
240 Tilghman Road
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
410-341-4100

Test takers with disabilities can request accommodations for Praxis Core and all Praxis II tests.

Salisbury University's Student Disability Support Services may also be able to assist students requesting accommodations.

NOTE: It is important that students submit requests as early as possible to ensure receiving a decision before the test date. It will take ETS approximately two to three weeks to process your request and if you must submit documentation for review, the process may take up to six weeks, or even longer.

Free Praxis Core prep in reading, writing, and mathematics is available through Khan Academy. Visit Khan Academy Praxis Core to sign up. After taking a diagnostic pre-test on the site, you will receive a personalized test preparation plan and practice items tailored to your specific needs.