Necessary Clearances!!!

Clearances. They can be frustrating and there are many of them!

Here is a link to a the Penn State College of Education site that really does a great job of laying them out:
http://www.ed.psu.edu/cife/clearances 

Our main contact to make sure your Files are in order is Renee Miller (rgm13) in Ferguson 209a.  She provided the following info:

Criminal Record Check:

https://epatch.state.pa.us/   and takes you right to the on-line application, and this link will take you to the paper form to download and mail in: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4451&&PageID=458621&level=2&css=L2&mode=2

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance:

 www.dpw.state.pa.us  

On the left side of the main page click on “Find a form” , scroll down to “Other Topics”,

Click on  “Child Abuse History Clearance Forms”, or use this link:   http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms/index.htm

choose the “English Child Abuse Clearance Form”  and complete.   

Also, right below you can find the link to the Criminal Record Check form.   And don’t forget about the FBI Criminal Background Check (Fingerprints)!!!!!  On this same page you will find the link to start this process on-line.    So basically, on this one link, they can find everything they need:

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms/index.htm

2014 Cohort Class Recommendations (#psuaged14)

In the Agricultural and Extension Education (AEE) Major, we are blessed to have the opportunity to take courses from multiple areas of study as we try to prepare to have a sound technical agriculture foundation to lead our programs. Truly, the amount of agriculture we need to be familiar with can be overwhelming. It becomes critical that EVERY single class we take "matters". Every single credit should be in a worthwhile course that furthers our understanding and equips us with knowledge for the task ahead.

That being said, one person's "best class ever" is another person's "avoid at all cost". The quality of some classes can be impacted by a change in instructor. All classes listed below were 100% endorsed (IE no one said to not take any of them).  Keeping that mind, below are some courses recommended by the 2014 Student Teacher Cohort (http://teachagpsu.blogspot.com/2014/04/celebrating-17-positive-agents-of.html) .

The AEE Major & Teacher Certification requires:
- 6 credits in Plant Sciences (not including Soils 101)
- 6 credits in Animal Sciences
- 6 credits Agricultural Mechanics (or ASM)
- 14 Additional Technical Agriculture Credits.

Agricultural Mechanics (ASM Requirement)

• AEE 297B- Shop Processes for Agricultural Educators (3 credits)
• This course is taught by Dr. Ewing in the Spring on Tuesday's (4-5pm) and Thursdays (4-8pm). HIGHLY recommended by all students.
• Spring Only
• Student Endorsement: Ewing's classes are the best!

• AEE 350 - Laboratory Methods for Agricultural Educators (3 credits)
• Required Fall Course for Seniors.

Plant Science

• AGRO 28 - Principles of Crop Management (3 credits)
• Biological and agronomic principles applied to production and management of major feed and forage crops of the northeastern United States
• Prerequisite: 6 credits of biological science
• Fall Course
• Student Endorsement: Agro 28 is pretty good and hands on.

Animal Sciences

• Animal Sciences 201 - Introduction to Animal Science (4 credits)
• Scope of animal and poultry science; genetic, physiological, nutritional, and health factors in food production. 
• Fall & Spring.
• Student Endorsements: TAKE 201! The pets in society class may be beneficial if teaching a Small Animal Pet Care type class.

• Animal Sciences 207 - Animal Products Technology (2 credits)
• Composition, safety, palatability, preservation, and processing of foods from animals, impact of animal production, and handling practices on product properties.
• Fall Only
• Student Endorsement: I enjoy Ansci 207/208. Helps if you are doing much in food products.

• Animal Sciences 208- Animal Products Technology Laboratory (1 credit)
• Harvesting and processing of foods from animals; hands-on and demonstration exercises; industry procedures for processing meat, milk, and egg products. 
• Fall & Spring

• Animal Science 309 - Beef Production (4 credits)
• Application of principles of nutrition, breeding, physiology, health, facilities, and marketing to produce and manage beef efficiently
• Prerequisite: AN SC 201
• Spring Only
• Student Endorsement: Opportunity for hands on experience with animals during lab days

Other Technical Agriculture Courses

• Food Science 200- Introductory Food Science (3 credits)
• General overview and principles; food constituents and properties; quality and safety; preservation methods; processing animal and plant products.
• Prerequisite: Chem 110
• Spring Only
• Student Endorsement: a great intro to FDSC course, especially considering the growing use of FDSC curriculum at the secondary level. This course integrates the Chem and Bio classes you have to take in order to show interdisciplinary agricultural science curriculum.

Literature Course (to fulfill PDE Certification requirements)

For other courses eligible to fulfill this requirement, visit: http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/current-students/undergraduate/certification/literature

General Education Courses

• ECON 104 - Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy (3 credits)
• National income measurement, aggregate economic models, money and income; policy problems
• GS Course
• Fall & Spring

• RPTM 120- Leisure and Human Behavior (3 credits) 
• Leisure from historical and contemporary perspectives, including forces shaping leisure behavior, and relationships among leisure, the environment and social institution
• GS Course
• US Cultures (US) OR International Cultures (IL)
• Fall & Spring
• Student Endorsement: Very interesting to learn about what motivates people and what people consider "fun". Interesting how men and women are very differently motivated. Also includes a project that requires you to reflect on how you spend your day to day activities. 

PSU Bulletin of Courses: http://bulletins.psu.edu/undergrad/courses

PSU Schedule: http://schedule.psu.edu

Remember!!! This is NOT a substitute for academic advising, merely an additional resource. You should be meeting a minimum of once per semester with your academic advisor face to face to discuss your progress and how your are maximizing your education!! 

Commonwealth campus AEE teacher certification students are encouraged to correspond via email with Dr. Ewing (jce122@psu.edu) or Dr. Foster (foster@psu.edu)

Need PAPA Math Help?

A 2014 Student Teacher recommends the following website to help study for the Math PAPA Exam:

http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/education/student-academic-services/testing-resources/papa-test-content-and-prep-resources--math


Remember, for PSU Ag Ed you must:

1) Complete the PAPA's (Math, Writing, Reading), as an entry to major requirement. They should be done prior to your fifth semester.

2) Complete Three Praxis Exams prior to your eight semester, including: Fundamental Subjects, Agriculture, and General Science

3) You can have two areas on your original certification, so consider an additional content exam.

Need Organic Chemistry?

Organic Chemistry is a requirement of the AEE Major.

Some students have taken to seeking the flexibility of online courses and have found an option at Slippery Rock University.

Dr. Susan Zirpoli (susan.zirpoli@sru.edu) is the instructor and will be offering the course both in the Summer Term and Winter Term (December 17th- January 13th).

A three credit course would cost approximately $1000.

For more information: http://www.sru.edu/index/Pages/home.aspx

The International Agriculture Minor (INTAG) and the AEE Major

A minor is not required for the AEE major, but recommended if your academic plan provides opportunity for it.  There are 24 minors available from the College of Agricultural Sciences, you can read more about them at this link: http://agsci.psu.edu/futurestudents/academics/minors

One minor that we highly encourage is the International Agriculture Minor: http://agsci.psu.edu/international/undergraduates/intag-minor

The minor coordinator is Dr. Tom Gill, who can be found at:
106 Ag Admin Bldg, Office of International Programs
814-865-8309, tbg12@psu.edu

Here is how the AEE Major potentially lines up with the INTAG Minor. The minor has the following requirements (a minimum of 18 credits):

1) Two required Minor Courses: INTAG 100; INTAG 490

• INTAG 100 is already a required course for the AEE major, so this is a double dip! It is highly recommended that students complete INTAG 100 int their first 4 semesters if possible. Students at commonwealth campus can take the course online (Starting in Spring 2014)

• INTAG 490 is the capstone course for the major. It is currently (as of Spring 2014) offered only the Spring with a cap of approximately 24 students. AEE Majors should target this class during the Spring of the Junior Year. The course could count towards the 14 required "Technical Ag" Elective Credits.

2) 9 credits of your choice in three of four course categories

• The categories can be found at this link: http://agsci.psu.edu/international/undergraduates/intag-minor/international-agriculture-intag-minor-approved-elective-course

• Here are some recommended courses for each section:
• Section 1 - Socioeconomic and Communication Systems
• AEE 400 (3): Education in Agriculture in Developing Countries (no travel), Spring Semesters
• Section 2: Food, Health and Nutrition
• Food Science 105 (3): Food Facts and Fads. Note: This course can also fulfill your three required credits for GHA.
• Section 3: Plant and Animal Sciences
• An Sc 201 (4): Animal Science. Note: Already required for the AEE Major
• Soils 101, GN (3): Introductory Soil Sciences. Note: Already Required for the AEE Major
• Section 4: Natural Resources and the Environment
• CED 427w (3): Society and natural Resources. NOTE: Could be used to fulfill the college writing course requirement for all majors.

3) 3 credits of an internationally-oriented experience.

• There are many opportunities that exist every semester or that can be individually crafted to your AEE needs, including:
• Spring Semesters Even Years- AEE 499a Global School Based Ag Ed -Korea
• We hope to continue to develop contextually relevant experiences.

Please talk with your academic adviser about aligning your academic plan with the INTAG minor.

3 - 6 - 9 Exception for Art, Humanities, and Social/Behavioral Sciences

What is a 3 - 6 - 9 exception? Why would a student request one?

• Typically students take 6 credits of Art (GA), 6 credits of Humanities (GH), and 6 credits in Social and Behavioral Science (GS) to fulfill these three areas of his/her General Education requirements. 

• University policy allows for a 3 - 6 - 9 exception, as long as there are a total of 18 credits, with a minimum of 3 credits in one area, 6 credits in another area, and 9 in the third category.

• A 3 - 6 - 9 exception is a petition that can be completed for students that are interested in taking an extra course (for 3 credits) in one of three general education areas (GA - GH - GS). A student may have an interest in one of these areas; thus they choose to take an extra 3 credits in that area. Therefore, they can take 3 fewer credits in one of the two remaining areas.

An example for AEE majors.

• A student takes Sociology 001 as a GS, then they take AG BM 101 and INTAG 101 as required courses for the major (both of which can count in the major requirements, as well as GS credits). This would give the student 9 credits of GS. The student also has completed 6 credits of GH in this scenario. Since the student has 6 credits of GH and 9 credits of GS in this scenario, he/she would only need 3 credits of GA; thus, the student would be eligible for a 3 - 6 - 9 exception.

A second example for AEE majors.

• A student completes 6 credits of GS and 9 credits of GH in their program. Since he/she has 9 credits of GH and already has 6 credits of GS, he/she only needs 3 credits of GA (art) to complete the requirement to request a 3 - 6- 9 exception.

Questions, or you think you may be eligible for a 3 - 6 - 9 exception contact your advisor!

PDE 49-2 Mandate - Moodle Modules

The Pennsylvania Department of Education passed the modifications to 49-2 Teacher Certification on September 22, 2007 requiring all instructional and educational specialist preparation programs to include the following by January 1, 2011 [Read More Here: 49-2 Mandate for Students with Special Needs & ELL]

1. At least 9 credits or 270 hours regarding accommodations and adaptations for students with disabilities in an inclusive setting (instruction in literacy skills development and cognitive skill development for students with disabilities must be included); and 
2. At least 3 credits or 90 hours regarding the instructional needs of English language learners. (22 PA Code, Chapter 49, §49.13(b) (relating to policies)).

To achieve these mandates without increasing the course credit requirements for agricultural teacher education candidates (thus ensuring a timely graduation), the PSU TeachAG! program opted to utilize WFED 413 for 3 credits and to integrate competency based modules into existing AEE teacher preparation courses.

Moodle Modules are integrated into the following AEE Courses:

• AEE 100
• AEE 295
• AEE 311
• AEE 412
• AEE 413
• AEE 495

To assist you in completing these, there is are 49-2 Instructional Coaches who are certified teachers in ESL/ELL and Special Needs. They would LOVE to talk/assist and help you.

1.         Dr. Marybeth Morrison, Assistant Professor, msm11@psu.edu; Keller Building 409
2.  ·     Ms. Jennifer Nicholas, Instructor, jun149@psu.edu; Keller Building 409
3.  ·     Ms. Debra Herman, Instructor, dxh271@psu.edu; Keller Building 409
4.  ·     Ms. Cathy Thomas, Instructor (cmt133@psu.edu); Keller Building 303 

To complete the PDE 49-2 mandate, course materials for select assignments will be accessed and uploaded to: http://psucteonline.mrooms2.net/. 

You should have a student account created at the above link. The default password is moodle123+. You will have to change the password upon logging in for the first time. 

If you have difficulty logging in, please contact Cathy Thomas (cmt133@psu.edu) or Thomas Hunt (tah258@psu.edu) 

Good Luck!

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