Catalog - Table of Index

Special Education and Elementary Education Majors

Special Education and Elementary Education Certifications

Degree BS, Special Education
Department Co-Chairs Susan Tomascik, PhD and Molly Vitale, PhD

Students majoring in special education may also major in elementary education, thus earning two certifications. Doing so may take longer than the standard eight semesters.

Both certification programs are fully approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and lead to “Instructional I” teaching certifications (CBP-HD and ELED) honored in Pennsylvania and many other states.

SPED/ELED majors must satisfactorily complete a series of field experiences that begin during the second semester of the first year and continue every semester until graduation. By graduation, our pre-service teachers will have spent at least 700 hours in community classrooms. During students’ final semester they must complete a 15-week student teaching assignment (two separate placements for about seven weeks each). One placement is in elementary education and the other in special education.

Students who successfully complete the SPED/ELED program are eligible for recommendation by the university to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for two state teacher certifications. The university’s recommendation and the successful completion of other requirements established by the state, including meeting the pass scores specified by the state on PRAXIS I and II, qualify graduates for two “Instructional I” certificates in special education and elementary education. Once certified in Pennsylvania, our graduates usually have no difficulty becoming certified in other states.

Sequence of Required Courses

First Year

First Semester	Total Credits	15	Second Semester	Total Credits	15
ENG 103	English Composition	3	ENG	Literature Core (any)	3
BIO/CHM /PHY	Natural Science Core (one sequence)	3	BIO/CHM /PHY	Natural Science Core (one sequence)	3
HIS/POL	Hist/Pol Sci Core (one seq)	3	HIS/POL	Hist/Pol Sci Core (one seq)	3
ENG	Eng Lit Core (Amer or Brit req)	3	TED 111	Intro to Education	3
PSY 123	Introduction to Psychology	3	TED 121	Educational Technology	3
TED 101	First-Year Seminar or	0	TED 191	First-Year Field	0
TED 102	Transfer Seminar	0

Sophomore Year

First Semester	Total Credits	15	Second Semester	Total Credits	17
SOC 101	Comparative Sociology	3	RLS	Religious Studies	3
PHL 100	Intro to Philosophy	3	FA	Fine Arts Core	3
MTH	Mathematics Bank I	3	MTH	Mathematics Bank II(Stats)	3
TED 231	Learning	3	TED 251	Curriculum	3
TED 241	Development	3	TED 261	Teaching	3
TED 292	Sophomore Field I	0	TED 271	Classroom Management	2
			TED 293	Sophomore Field II	0

Junior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	19	Second Semester	Total Credits	22
TED 381	Reading Methods I	3	TED 382	Reading Methods II	3
TED 384	Math Methods I	3	TED 385	Math Methods II	3
TED 353	Curriculum/Elementary	1	TED 390	Methods/Social Studies	2
TED 354	Curriculum/Special	1	TED 391	Methods/Health	2
TED 363	Methods/Elementary	2	TED 365	Methods/Learning Support	3
TED 388	Methods/Language Arts	3	TED 373	Management/Elementary	1
TED 389	Methods/Science	3	TED 374	Management/Special	1
TED 342	Characteristics MPH	3	TED 375	Management/Support	1
TED 394	Junior Field	0	TED 364	Methods/Life Skills	3
			TED 386	Art Methods	1
			TED 387	Music Methods	1
			TED 395	Junior Practicum	1

Senior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	17	Second Semester	Total Credits	12
PHL	Philosophy	3	TED 497	Student Teaching	9-12
FA	Fine Arts	3
RLS	Religious Studies	3
TED 383	Reading Methods III	3
TED 360	Children's Literature	2
TED 443	Parent Conferencing	1
TED 322	Assistive Technology	2
TED 401	Senior Seminar	0
TED 496	Senior Field	0

Education Course Descriptions (TED)