Teaching Certificate in History
The program grants certification for teaching history in high schools to individuals holding a bachelor's degree from the Open University of Israel in the following fields: history (single-disciplinary; with a division of study in an additional field; dual-disciplinary; with an emphasis on the history of the Jewish People), humanities with an emphasis on Middle Eastern studies; humanities and social sciences with an emphasis on Middle Eastern studies; and a dual disciplinary degree including history of the Middle East and its cultures1 In addition, individuals with a BA in history (including history of the Middle East and history of the Jewish People1) from other academic institutions,2 may apply.
The study program for a teaching certificate in history includes courses in education, methodology and practical training.
Requirements for Open University of Israel undergraduate students
Undergraduate studies or supplementary studies must include at least 12 credits in the history of the Jewish people (with at least 6 credits for courses covering the Modern Age, and at least 6 credits in courses covering ancient times or the Middle Ages); at least one advanced course in history, and at least one seminar paper in a history course.
Requirements for a teaching certificate in history
|
Courses in education – 24 credits |
Level |
Credits |
|
Philosophy of Education (107653) |
Intermediate |
6 |
|
Curriculum Planning, Teaching, and Evaluation (10106) |
Intermediate |
6 |
|
Educational Psychology (10125) |
Intermediate |
6 |
|
Teaching: Art, Craft, or Profession? (10363 ) |
Advanced |
6 |
| Courses in methodology | ||
|
Teaching History: Methodology (55169)4, 5 |
(6)6 |
|
|
Research Literacy in Education (55476) |
(4)7 |
|
|
Practical training |
||
|
Practicum in teaching History (55195)5, 8 |
(10)9 |
|
|
Didactic Seminar: in Teaching History (55474) 5, 9 |
(4)7 |
|
Applicants to the program must submit a request to the Study Program Approval Committee, attaching bachelor's degree documentation and an original grade transcript, no later than the date of completion of the first course in the Teaching Certificate program (see section B above) and prior to registration for the course Teaching History: Methodology (55169).10
Acceptance to the program is contingent upon completion of a bachelor's degree, or, for students in the final year of degree studies, an average GPA of at least 75, plus fulfillment of the English requirements.
Students studying towards a bachelor's degree from the Open University must meet the following criteria in order to be accepted to the program: at least 72 undergraduate credits; GPA of at least 75, meeting the requirements in section A above; fulfillment of English requirements; and approval of both the degree and teaching certificate study programs by the Study Program Approval Committee.11Students will be notified regarding acceptance and/or supplementary course requirements (where applicable) by the Study Program Approval Committee.
Students will be granted a teaching certificate in history once they have completed all undergraduate degree requirements, supplementary courses (if required) and the study program for the teaching certificate, as approved by the committee.
Students may be exempted from a maximum of two education courses (not more than 12 credits). This exemption is granted only for prior study of courses with similar content matter and scope to those in the program. In all cases, an advanced course will be required in the framework of the teaching certificate.
Please note that the teaching certificate study program has changed since the second semester of 2012, in accordance with the instructions of the Council for Higher Education. Students who began their studies towards a teaching certificate prior to the second semester of 2012 and completed at least one of the following courses: Teaching History: Methodology (55169), Practicum in Teaching History (55195), Educational Theory (55004) prior to the second semester of 2012, will be able to continue according to the program approved for them in the past, contingent upon successfully meeting all of that program's academic requirements for the teaching certificate by the end of the third semester of 2013. In addition, as of the first semester of 2013, practical training will include the Practicum and the Didactics Seminar. Continuing students who have not completed the practical training according to the prior program (55195) by this date will be required to follow the program specified above.
For additional information/clarification, please contact avichay@openu.ac.il.
1 Graduates of these programs who have not taken at least one course in general history will be required to take supplementary courses to complete this requirement.
2 Students from other academic institutions with a bachelor's degree in history or history of the Middle East, who do not meet all of the mandatory requirements specified in section A, are required to take supplementary courses in accordance with these requirements.
3 Or the course, Educational Theory (55004), which is no longer offered.
4 For the course Teaching History: Methodology (55169), there are several prerequisites, and it is a requirement for acceptance to the professional training courses. Therefore, the courses must be taken in the appropriate order.
5 There are required meeting sessions for this course.
6 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 6 semester hours.
7 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 4 semester hours.
8Only students who have successfully completed Teaching History: Methodology (55169) will be accepted to the Practicum and the Didactics Seminar.
10 Credit is not granted for this course, but it is equal to 10 semester hours.
11 The application should be sent to the Secretariat for Study Programs for Teaching Certificates at the Open University of Israel.
12 The study program for the bachelor's degree is to be approved first, and thereafter the study program for the teaching certificate.