The Chemistry Education Certification has been offered at IUP since the 1960's. Since that time over 100 chemistry teachers have been trained in the program. Although we do not have contact with all of the former students, most of those who have responded have remained in the field of education. Our mission has been to provide a quality content knowledge background, to demonstrate a variety of pedagogical techniques, and to provide a supervised field experience for the candidates to attain competence in the professional role for which they are preparing.

Our teaching philosophy states:

“The science education faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania believes that the preparation of science teachers for middle/secondary school classrooms must include strong backgrounds in both pedagogy and a science discipline. As such, science education majors at the university complete essentially the same core of courses as their non-education peers do in the discipline. Each science education program at IUP follows the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association for constructivist-based instruction. Since student-centered teaching is modeled by the science education faculty in the classroom, IUP's preservice teaching graduates are used to blending cooperation, challenge, and critical exploration in their teaching. The National Research Council states such teaching effectively promotes scientific literacy for all students.” (from the IUP Science Education recruitment brochure)

Local education personnel are involved with our programs in many ways. Each year the College of Education (COE) hosts meetings and workshops for administrators, cooperating teachers, and support personnel who are involved with our student teachers. University supervisors also attend and interact at these meetings. The COE report explains in detail its mission, its work with local education entities, its collaboration with numerous members of professional education, and its reporting and admission/ advising/ monitoring procedures.

The Three Step Process is the most important document for student advising. Copies of these requirements and procedures are given to the entering freshmen, is published in the IUP Catalog, is on the COE website, and is included in the Plan of Study that is used by the students' academic advisors.

Potential changes in procedures and practices are discussed and approved/disapproved by a committee of all the coordinators of the education programs. The committee is called TECC (Teacher Education Coordinating Council) and meets at least once per month during the academic year.