Undergraduate School of Education Admission
Admission to the Professional Educator Certification Track
Candidates are formally admitted to a Professional Educator Certification Track after completion of four semesters of full-time or full-time equivalent (minimum 60 credits) of college level study. There are three Professional Educator Certification Tracks: Grades PreK-4 (Early Childhood Education), Grades 4-8 (Middle Level Education), and Secondary Education.
Candidates will be admitted to the Professional Educator Certification Track based on their qualifications with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0. Content area QPAs are also reviewed for candidates in middle level and secondary education programs. There are additional program requirements when students pass the sophomore gateway to be admitted to the educator certification track. A limited number of candidates may be admitted for admission to the certification program who do not meet the minimum QPA.
Learning experiences that reflect the themes of Leadership, Diversity and Technology are infused throughout the Leading Teacher Program.
Leadership - A leading teacher is a life-long learner inspiring a community of learners to pursue continuous improvement and growth.
Diversity - A leading teacher is an advocate, creating learning experiences that demonstrate sensitivity, acknowledging students of all abilities and valuing human differences.
Technology - A leading teacher is an architect building learning environments that acknowledge and incorporate the power of technology.
Teacher candidates in the School of Education must comply with all Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements for certification. State regulations change from time to time and have precedence over University catalogs and School of Education Handbooks for minimum requirements. Teacher candidates will be notified of any modification regarding programs of study. The Office of Student and Academic Services, the Undergraduate Success Coaches, Director of Initial Certification, and the Associate Dean of Teacher Education make the program requirements and changes known to students.
Special Education
The Leading Teacher Program (LTP) provides all education majors with significant preparation in adapting instruction to meet the needs of students with learning and behavior challenges. This model reflects best practice in collaborative partnerships and the knowledge and competencies necessary for educating students with disabilities in the nation's schools. This preparation is transcripted as special education course credits (LTSP) in each of the three certification programs. Teacher candidates interested in adding certification in special education may enroll in the B.S.Ed. Dual Certification in General and Special Education. This is a Dual Degree Special Education (K-12) and General Education (PK-4, Middle Level, or Secondary) program, or they may choose to apply for the Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Special Education. Candidates may be able to start this graduate coursework while still enrolled in their UG certification program.