This performance-based certification program is based on Cooperative Education and Career & Technical Education Program Standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and  the DACUM Research Chart on the Role of the Work-Based Learning Teacher Coordinator [pdf]. The Cooperative Education Certification Program combines formal coursework with a supervised internship in both an area career and technical education center and a comprehensive high school.

Program Requirements

Required Coursework

Coursework requirements will depend on your educational background, current certification, and professional experience.  Refer to categories A-D below.  A 3.0 GPA must be maintained through all program coursework. 

Category A.

Candidates who hold a valid PA Vocational or Career and Technical Education Instructional I or II must complete the following course requirements:

• CTE 4324* Industry-Based Coordination Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)
• CTE 4331* Industry-Based Instructional Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)
• CTE 4285* Industry Education Capstone and Field Experience for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)

Admission to the Cooperative Education Certification Program for persons in this category encourages matriculation in the Bachelor’s Degree Program at Temple University. 

Category B.

Candidates who have a Bachelor’s Degree in education and a PA instructional certificate in career and technical education field (e.g., Agriculture Ed., Business Ed, Health Occupations Ed., Family and Consumer Science Ed., Industrial Arts Ed., Technology Ed., Business, Computer and Information Technology Education or Marketing and Distributive Education) must complete the following course requirements:

• CTE 8324* Coordination Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)
• CTE 8331* Instructional Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)
• CTE 9685* Internship in Career and Technical Education Practice (3 credits)

Category C.

Candidates who have a Bachelor’s Degree in education and PA instructional certificate outside of vocational or career and technical education must complete the following course requirements:

• CTE 8507* The Role of CTE in Workforce and Economic Development (3 credits)
• CTE 8501* Curriculum Development for Programs of Study in Career and Technical Education (3 credits)

• CTE 8324* Coordination Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)

• CTE 8331* Instructional Methods for Work-Based Learning (3 credits)

• CTE 8527* Program Planning, Evaluation, and Systems Alignment in Career and Technical Education (3 credits)

• CTE 9685* Internship in Career and Technical Education (3 credits)

Category D.

Candidates who have a Bachelor’s Degree outside of education and do not hold an instructional certificate must either complete certification in a content area that includes student teaching (see C), or complete the following sequence that ends with its own student teaching.

• CTE 8324* Coordination Methods for Work-Based Learning (3SH)
• CTE 8507* The Role of CTE in Workforce and Economic Development (3SH)
• CTE 8331* Instructional Methods for Work-Based Learning (3SH)
• TESOL 5631 Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of ELL (3SH)
• CTE 8501* Curriculum Development in Career and Technical Ed. (3SH)
• CTE 9685* Internship in Career and Technical Ed. (3SH)
• EDUC 5212* Curriculum, Teaching & Technology Ed (3SH) 
• CTE 8527* Program Planning & Evaluation in Career Technical Education (3SH)
• EDUC 5402 Child and Adolescent Development (3SH)
• SPED 5666 Inclusive School Practices (3SH)
• EDUC 5605* Models of Teaching (3SH)
• EDUC 5888* Seminar/Supervised Student Teaching (3SH) 

* These courses are delivered in a field-based or partially field-based format.

Internship Requirement (CTE 4285/9685)

Candidates who have completed the course requirements with no less than a 3.0 GPA, will be permitted to fulfill the internship requirement of the program. Submit the completed Application for Internship at least 30 days prior to the internship. Internship applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.

The applicant must provide evidence that: (1) arrangements can be made for appropriate internship activity in two school settings, a career and technical education center and a comprehensive high school, and (2) that a local Career and Technical Cooperative Education Coordinator in each school setting is willing to function in the role of cooperating teacher coordinator.  The internship will continue until all competencies associated with the Cooperative Education Certification Program have been demonstrated or verified. 

Required Praxis Testing

Candidates must present evidence of having passed the core academic skills tests:

1. Praxis 5712 - Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading
2. Praxis 5722 - Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing
3. Praxis 5732 - Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics

Cooperative Education Council of Educators (COE)

Upon completion of the internship, candidates are required to participate in a review by a Cooperative Education Council of Educators, COE. The COE provides an opportunity to discuss the internship and the candidate's understanding of the DACUM Research Chart on the Role of the Work-Based Learning Teacher Coordinator [pdf] as well as their ability in areas of leadership, sensitivity, scholarship, problem-solving, decision making, and human relations. The COE panel is composed of a practicing Cooperative Education Coordinator, a Temple Center Senior Teacher Educator, and a Temple Center Field Supervisor.  This experience provides the candidate an opportunity to present himself/herself to incumbent cooperative education professionals and, provides incumbent professionals an opportunity to gauge the preparation of a prospective cooperative education coordinator.

Program Completion and Certification

Candidates who complete all program requirements, meet other Pennsylvania certification requirements, and successfully complete the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Cooperative Education Assessment will be recommended for the Cooperative Education Certificate or certificate endorsement. 

Admission

Students may be admitted to the program in either the Fall or Spring semester. Applications will be processed upon receipt of appropriate materials.

Program admission is based on a person making a formal application and providing evidence that he/she:

1. Has demonstrated occupational competence through the successful completion of the Occupational Competency Assessment (OCA) and has a PA Vocational or Career and Technical Education II Certificate; OR
2. Has a Bachelor’s Degree and a PA Instructional certificate

Individuals seeking admission to the program must submit the following:

1. A completed CTE Program Application (online)
2. A copy of their PA Career and Technical Instructional teaching certificate(s),
3. Transcripts of all non-Temple University collegiate level work completed,
4. A copy of their PA OCA Certificate if applicable.