Early Childhood Education (PK-4) & Special Education (Adult Education)

Early Childhood Education B.A. with Grades PK-4 & Special Education PK-12 Certifications

The program Early Childhood Education (ECE) B.A. with Grades PK-4 and Special Education (PK-12) Certifications expands teaching career prospects. The dual certification allows program graduates to work as:

elementary educators (preschool though Grade 4)
special education teachers and learning support specialists (preschool though Grade 12)
in public and private educational institutions.

This dual major unlocks an unlimited career potential by positioning prospective teachers to enter the field with competence and confidence. As an early childhood educator, you lay the foundation for literacy and foster a love of learning in young children. As a special education teacher, you make education accessible for all students.

The program leads to a B.A. degree and the Pennsylvania Instructional Certificates Grades PK-4 and Special Education (PK-12). This teacher education program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The program with daytime classes is offered on main campus. The program with evening classes for adults is offered on the Pottsville campus.

Experience a synergy of engaging student learning environment, diverse field experiences, enriching student teaching, and inspiring mentorship by education professors and PK-4 cooperating teachers.

Estimated Program Length	2-4 years
Credit Hours	93 (may vary depending on transfer credits)
Course Length	7 weeks
Transfer Credits Accepted	75
Cost per Credit	$640*

*Tuition discount available. Ask for details!

Teaching Certifications in Pennsylvania: To become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania, a person needs to earn a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved teacher preparation program, pass a certification test, and receive an instructional certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Read more about this process. Learn more about it here.
Education Student Organizations, Awards, and Scholarships: Gain experience and build your professional network through participation in the education student organizations and service learning in various educational settings. Join the community of education majors who offer support and comradery. Make a difference in children's lives. Learn more here.

Adult Education Programs

Getting Started

Program Requirements

Academic Performance

Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
Earn Grade C or better in the required general education and professional education courses

Field Experience

Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences including:

PA Criminal Record Check (Act 34) PA Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
FBI Clearance (Act 114)
University Health Requirements
TB Screening
Certificate of completion the training Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania (Act 31)
Liability waiver

Read about the requirements for education field experiences.

Teacher Candidacy

Teacher candidacy signifies a formal admission to the teacher preparation program. Achieving a teacher candidacy status is required for taking the upper division education courses, pre-student teaching, and student teaching. Students must apply by the end of their sophomore year. Mid-degree transfer students must apply by the second semester of their studies at Alvernia University. The achieve a teacher candidacy status, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

Earn minimum of 48 credits including 6 credits of math, 3 - English composition, and 3 - American/British literature with earned Grade C or better
Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences
Apply for teacher candidacy and receive an approval from their education faculty advisor and the Education Department Chair

Student Teaching

Student teaching occurs during the last semester in the program and includes two 14-week placements in PK-4 classrooms. To be admitted to student teaching, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

Complete the required general core and professional education courses except ED 470 & ED 472 with Grade C or better
Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences

Read about:

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective students may apply to Alvernia at any time. Multiple start dates throughout the year allow accepted students to begin a program of study at an accommodating time. We continually review applications and accept students for each of the six term starts (August, October, February, March, May, and July).

Keeping on track is important throughout the process. We encourage you to work with an admission team member to submit all materials and meet all deadlines. Our dedicated team will work directly with you to identify the best options that work for you and your unique situation.

Once your application is complete, you will not have to wait long for a decision. We continually review applications and notify students as soon as a decision has been made.

To get started, visit our Adult Education Application page for a list of instructions and documents needed.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Request More Information

Program Overview

Program Mission

PK-4 Program Mission

The PK-4 Program is built on a solid foundation of the principles of child development. It focuses on the whole child as it prepares highly-qualified, highly-effective candidates to meet the many and diverse needs of young children in a global society.

Special Education Program Mission

The Alvernia University Education Department, rooted in a proud Franciscan heritage, is dedicated to providing instruction in educational theory balanced with current best practices. The Special Education Program focuses on the high leverage practices of interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusivity within a legally and ethically responsible environment, designed to foster growth in all children and adolescents with identified learning needs in our schools today.

Curriculum

93 credits (Number of credits may vary depending on transfer credits)

Required General Education Courses

MAT 105, Math for Teachers: Principles of Mathematics
MAT 106, Math for Teachers: Geometry
MAT 208, Probability & Statistics
HIS XXX (any History course)
BIO 102, Fundamentals of Biology or BIO 109, Human Biology
PSY 101, Introductory Psychology
PSY 312, Psychology of Play

Note: The University requirements are met as follows: Exploring the Natural World (6 cr.) - MAT 105, BIO 102/109; Individuals & Communities (3 cr.) - PSY 101; Human Diversity (3 cr.) - SPE 110. Other general education courses may vary depending on a selected path of knowledge.

Professional Education Courses

Year 1

SPE 110, Overview of Human Exceptionalities
ED 110, The Teaching Profession

Year 2

ED 204, Human Development & Learning
ED 209, Planning & Preparation (pre-reqs.: ED 110, ED 204)
SPE 345, Individuals Requiring Complex Supports

Year 3

ED 313, Managing Classroom Learning Communities (pre-req.: ED 209)
ED 320, Assessment & Evaluation
ED 302, Principles of Writing Instruction (pre-req.: SPE 315)
ED 370, Introduction to Inclusive Instruction for English Language Learners (pre-req.: ED 209)
ED 445, Principles of Universal Design for Learning (pre-reqs.: ED 209, SPE 110)
SPE 315, Teaching Reading/Language Arts to Students with Disabilities
SPE 335, Supporting Neurodiversity & Mental Health in Today's Schools
SPE 343, Personal Management & Technologies
SPE 410, Evaluation & Progress Monitoring with Special Needs Students
SPE 420, Secondary-age Students with Special Needs
SPE 425, Legal & Professional Practices in Special Education

Year 4

ED 403, Reading Methods for Elementary Inclusive Classrooms
ED 404, Teaching Math in the Elementary School
ED 414, Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School
ED 440, Teaching Science in the Elementary School
ED 436, Field Experience III (150-hour pre-student teaching)

(These fall semester courses are co-requisites.)

ED 470, Student Teaching (14 weeks, 2 placements)
ED 472, Student Teaching Seminar

(These spring semester courses are co-requisites.)

Note: The University requirements are met as follows: Writing Enhanced - ED 110; Senior Capstone - ED 470 & ED 472.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Field experiences, an integral part of the teacher preparation programs, include course-embedded fieldwork, pre-student teaching and student teaching.

Accreditation Statements

The Grades PK-4 teacher preparation program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. \
Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about the average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2021 was $61,350.