Department of Education (B.A., B.S.)
Tyminski (Chair), Blouch, Coyle, DeArment, Finley-Bowman, Myers, Pitcher, Staulters, Toro
Elizabethtown College, through its Department of Education, offers several programs leading to a bachelor’s degree and Pennsylvania teaching certification. Together, the Department and College act as an agent of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the teacher certification process for students who meet all appropriate standards.Majors Offered
The Department of Education offers majors programs that lead to a Bachelor of Science degree and Pennsylvania certification in Early Childhood Education (Pre-kindergarten through fourth grade) and Elementary/Middle Level Education (fourth through eighth grade). A concentration in Special Education (Pre-kindergarten through eighth grade) can be completed in conjunction with these majors for Special Education certification. The programs in Early Childhood Education and Elementary/Middle Level Education combine strong attention to the liberal arts and sciences with the development of high professional competence. Supported by the College’s Core Program, a required emphasis, and elective course work, these major programs creatively bring together the student, the school and the curriculum. Further, the Department stresses the importance of supervised field experiences that complement on-campus courses in education.Programs in Secondary Education are available in select academic areas, including Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, and Physics
General Requirements
Admissions 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.
The Professional Internship
Throughout its programs, the Department stresses the importance of supervised field experiences, which complement on-campus course work in education. The full-time professional internship, student teaching, is the capstone experience of the various teacher education programs. During this activity, there is a developmental process at work that is designed to lead to the professional and personal growth required to enter the profession. The program faculty believes the success of this experience is enhanced when students have the opportunity to work under the supervision and mentoring of experienced College faculty familiar with their previous and ongoing development.Student teachers are placed in cooperating school districts in the local area and supervision is conducted by College faculty and experienced faculty in the field of education, such as retired education professionals, principals and superintendents with extensive supervisory experience. Requests for exceptions to this policy regarding local placement must be presented formally to the clinical faculty and staff of the Department as a group. To receive such an exception, students must convincingly demonstrate that an alternative placement would be decidedly more beneficial to their professional and personal development than completing the experience at a local site. Convenience or increased visibility for job searching is not considered important enough to earn an exception to Department’s policy regarding local placement.
Note: No courses may be taken concurrently with Education 470 (Professional Internship), Education 490 (Exit Defense of Professional Portfolio), and Education 495, 496, or 497 (Senior Seminars) without the written permission of the Education Department.
Majors Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary/Middle Level Education
Honors in the Discipline
The Education Department participates in the College Honors in the Discipline program. For more information, please contact the Education Department Chair.
