General Requirements of the Undergraduate Programs
Admission to the Programs
Students must submit a written application to the Education Department for provisional acceptance into a certification program after they:
Complete 27 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.80 or higher. Complete at least two courses with ED prefixes and earned grades of C or better.
Submit a TB medical clearance less than two years old.
Provide a record of Act 34, PA Child Abuse, and FBI Criminal Record Clearances.
Provide a portfolio for review demonstrating interest and/or experience in professional education and progress toward meeting required competencies.
Approval of the Education Department and any other appropriate major Depart-ment is necessary for the application to be successful. Students are evaluated at the conclusion of each subsequent semester. Students may be advised or required to withdraw from a departmental program at any time the Education Department determines such action to be appropriate. Students are required to have a provisional acceptance prior to enrolling in any 200-level education courses.
Progress in the Programs
Students must submit an electronic application to the Education Department for formal acceptance into a certification program after they:
Complete 54 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
Successfully complete at least three courses with ED prefixes.
Receive passing scores for Pennsylvania certification on the tests of background knowledge and communications skills required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education: PPST Reading, PPST Writing and PPST Mathematics.
Formally present an electronic portfolio demonstrating continuing interest, experience, and growth in professional education and progress toward meeting required Department competencies.
Approval of the Education Department and any other appropriate major Depart-ment is necessary for the application to be successful. Students are evaluated at the conclusion of each subsequent semester and may be advised or required to withdraw at any time the Department determines such action to be appropriate. Students are required to have formal acceptance in order to take 300-level education courses.
Exit from the Programs
Students seeking award of the degree in the major only (without certification) must:
Receive approval of the Education Department and any other appropriate Department(s) for completion of their degree plan.
Satisfy all requirements of the major, except the professional internship and Pennsylvania certification test results, with a cumulative/major grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
Complete an alternative internship experience of at least six credits, as approved by the Education Department.
Students seeking award of the degree in their major and certification must:
Satisfy all requirements of the major with the cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
Earn a grade of Pass in the professional internship.
Earn passing scores on the Pennsylvania specialty test(s) areas of the Praxis II series. Students completing the Early Childhood, Elementary/ Middle Level, Special Education, Music Education, Fine Arts – Art
Education, Modern Languages – Spanish Education or Secondary Education programs also must successfully complete the appropriate Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test.
Complete two Mathematics (MA) courses and two English (EN) courses, one English Literature and one English Writing. Note: MA 011 does not count toward fulfillment of the Mathematics requirement.
Formally and publicly present an electronic portfolio summarizing activities and experiences in professional education and demonstrating satisfaction of all required competencies.
Receive approval of the Education Department and appropriate major Department(s).
Arrange Praxis test score label(s) to be sent to the Education Department showing passing scores on all required tests.
Submit the application for Pennsylvania certification to the Education Department.
