Teacher Certification Program Brochure - Providence College

TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (TCP)

EVERY WEEK I HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE OF
MEETING WITH PASSIONATE PEOPLE IN ALL
WALKS OF LIFE — AND IN ALL STAGES OF
LIFE — ABOUT BECOMING A HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER.
Some are experienced business professionals who want more out of their careers.
Some are teachers who are certified in other states but are interested in teaching in
Rhode Island. Some are undergraduate students just getting started. Regardless of
their background, they all share one dream — to have a meaningful career where
they can make a difference in the lives of young people.
If you share this dream, too, please consider the Providence College Teacher Certification
Program. We not only offer one of the most student-centered and reputable
secondary school teacher training programs in New England, but also one of the
most affordable.
It’s also very easy to get started. You won’t have to deal with a lot of red tape. I will
personally meet with you to answer your questions and provide my honest opinion
of whether or not teaching high school is a good fit for you — and if our program
is the best choice.
“The School of Continuing Education staff take the time to look at what your circumstances are and
are able to advise you about the best steps to move forward. I didn’t feel like I was just another
student. I valued the fact that they helped me tailor the program to my individual circumstances.”
—JANE CORRERA, TCP GRADUATE (ENGLISH)
Bob Vachon
Coordinator, Teacher Certification Program

OFFERED THROUGH THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE
TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (TCP)
provides an alternative, innovative path to earning your
Rhode Island secondary school teaching certification.
While it’s ideally suited for college graduates who did not
major in education, the TCP also allows students without
a college degree to earn their certification while they earn
their Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies at Providence College.
IN-DEMAND PROFESSION
According to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s
Occupational Outlook for 2018, secondary school teaching is considered
a “HIGH DEMAND” occupation in R.I. It ranks among the top 50
occupations with the greatest number of annual openings.
JEANNE ROTATORI, TCP GRADUATE (CHEMISTRY)

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER THE PROVIDENCE
COLLEGE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?
FAST TRACK TO CERTIFICATION
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may have already completed many of the required content courses, which
means you can earn your certification by completing as few as six education courses and student teaching.
FLEXIBLE, CONVENIENT SCHEDULING
Unlike other teaching certification programs in Rhode Island that require you to take classes during the
day, TCP courses are conveniently offered in the evenings and online throughout the year — during fall,
spring, and summer semesters. You can choose among on-campus, online, and blended courses (which are
a combination of on-campus and online learning).
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
When you weigh the quality and reputation of the program with the affordable tuition cost at the School
of Continuing Education, the TCP provides tremendous bang for the buck.
NO RED TAPE
At the School of Continuing Education, you don’t have to wade through a lot of bureaucracy to get answers to
your questions. In fact, your point of contact throughout the program is the TCP Coordinator, Mr. Bob Vachon,
who will work with you to map out your schedule so you know exactly what you need to do, and when.
THE (P) IS FOR PROGRESSIVE
While Providence College might be nearly 100 years old, the teaching methods that you’ll learn through
the TCP are at the forefront of a 21st century education. And you will have plenty of opportunities to observe
and practice them in real classrooms — even before you begin your 12-week student teaching, since
field experiences play a major role in the curriculum.
EXPERIENCED INNOVATORS
The Providence College TCP is extremely fortunate to have a very experienced faculty made up of highly
regarded current and former teachers, principals, and superintendents. They are well connected to area
schools and know what’s working, and what’s not, in today’s classrooms.
“The best part about the program was my professors. It wasn’t just a student/
teacher relationship. It was more of a collaborative environment. They were
constantly looking for new ways for teachers to be better prepared, and they
were very keen on making sure that they provided us with the highest-quality
and most progressive education. I just found that remarkable.”
ALISON GRIECO, TCP GRADUATE (SOCIAL STUDIES)

THE ABC’S OF TCP
ELIGIBILITY
Career changers, recent college graduates, transfer students — the TCP accepts qualified students
from a variety of backgrounds. While most of our students have already earned their undergraduate
degrees, we can work with you to prepare a schedule that allows you to earn your teaching certification
and your bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies at the same time.
CERTIFICATION
The TCP leads to secondary school certification in Rhode Island in one of the following nine content
areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Italian, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, and Spanish.
The program also qualifies you to become certified in 46 other states.
III. Required Education Courses:
CODE COURSE TITLE & NOTES CREDITS
EDU 201 Educational Psychology 3 credits
EDU 207 Principles of Secondary Education (prerequisite for all other courses) 3 credits
EDU 304 The Child with Special Needs in the Regular Classroom 3 credits
EDU 402 Educational Measurements 3 credits
EDU 404 Reading in the Content Area: Strategies And Resources 3 credits
There are three components to becoming certified:
I. Content-Area Course Work:
Students must complete a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (30 credits) in their content area.
II. Required Praxis Tests:
The State of Rhode Island requires students to earn passing scores on two tests for certification:
the Praxis II Subject Assessment of Content-Area Knowledge Test and the Principles of Learning
and Teaching Test. More information is available at www.providence.edu/tcp.
EDU 410 General Methods (This is the final course before student teaching.) 3 credits
EDU 450 Student Teaching 9 credits
(You will complete a 12-week student teaching experience at an area
secondary school that meets state and national teaching standards.)
FIELD EXPERIENCES
As part of the edu 207 and 402 coursework, students will be placed for 40 hours in a classroom and
will teach two fully evaluated lessons.
As part of edu 410, students will be placed for 20 hours in a classroom to teach two fully evaluated lessons.
Other courses require a minimum of three field hours with specific assignments for each course.
The average salary for Rhode Island secondary school teachers was $64,550
in 2011, which places R.I. in the top 10 nationally, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
TOP-TEN SALARY

HOW TO GET STARTED
MEET WITH THE TCP COORDINATOR, BOB VACHON
Bob Vachon is your point of contact from start to finish. Having spent more than 32 years as a secondary
school teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Rhode Island, Mr. Vachon thoroughly knows the
in’s and out’s of the state’s teacher certification process. He will meet with you one-on-one to answer your
questions about what it’s like to teach high school students today, how to apply and register for courses,
and how you can reach your goals.
TRY BEFORE YOU APPLY
You can take up to two courses before you decide whether you want to apply to the TCP. It’s an excellent
way to see if our program is a good fit for you.
CHOOSE A CONVENIENT START DATE
Because of our rolling admissions policy, you can start taking classes year round, in the fall, spring,
or summer.
APPLY
Our application process is simple. You’ll find links to the TCP application and admission requirements at
www.providence.edu/tcp. Applicants are required to submit passing scores on the Praxis I Pre‐Professional
Skills Tests (PPST). You may be able to waive this requirement based on your SAT, ACT, or GRE scores, or
an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
“The amount of help you get from Mr. Vachon is amazing. He not only has the power
to make changes, but he’s willing to do it. He went out of his way to get me in a class
I needed — and I’ve seen him do that for a lot of students.”
FINANCIAL AID
From federal grants and loans to state and Providence College scholarships, TCP students have many
options for finding financial assistance. Your adviser can help you determine what financial aid might be
available and how to apply for it. For details: www.providence.edu/sce > Pay for School.
—MATT PAVAO, TCP GRADUATE (ENGLISH)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact the School of Continuing Education at 401.865.2487 or sce@providence.edu.

www.providence.edu/tcp
Providence College, Harkins Hall 109, Providence, RI 02918 401.865.2487