Computer Science Education
Computer Science Education
Elizabethtown College's Graduate Certificate in Computer Science Education is specialized to teach the skills and competencies needed for in-service teachers to successfully pass the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Computer Science Praxis test. The demand for educators certified to teach computer science continues to grow as the job outlook in this sector rises at both a state and national level.
This 12-credit certificate includes four online courses which can be completed in as little as one year. The certificate can also be stacked into Etown's 36-credit Master of Curriculum and Instruction (MCI) program.
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Program Formats:

Credits Required: 12
Tuition:
- $525/Credit
- 10% Alumni Scholarship
Program Outcomes
- Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
Certificate Requirements
Computer Science Education Course Descriptions
This course will provide students with an understanding of computing systems with a focus on networks and the Internet. Course topics include hardware, software, communication, cybersecurity, online privacy, troubleshooting network issues, and the social and ethical implications of digitizing information on the internet.
This course will provide students with an understanding of how data is used and stored. Students will develop skills for collecting, presenting, describing, and analyzing data sets, including inferencing and predictive modeling techniques. Students will use rich analytical tools to handle data in various contexts and develop a practical skill set to support data-driven decision-making.
This course will familiarize students with abstraction, pattern recognition, problem decomposition, number base conversions, algorithm formats, and other forms of computational thinking relevant to computer science.
This course will provide students with the foundational knowledge necessary to construct, implement, and revise computer programs. Attention will be placed on the overarching analytical and problem-solving skills needed to write and debug programs using JavaScript.
SAMPLE COURSE SEQUENCE
Application Requirements
Admissions Requirements
To be eligible to apply to a graduate certificate, you must:
- have official transcripts conferring a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (waivers can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
- have a minimum of three years of professional leadership/management experience.
- have time to devote to your coursework; in an accelerated program, time spent outside of class is considerable.
Application Process
Please feel free to contact or meet with our admissions team at any point during the application process. Our admissions counselors are not only a great resource to guide you through the process and answer questions, they are skilled at helping our applicants find the best program and options to help them reach their goals!
How to Apply: Complete the graduate application process via the online portal which will also include:
- Submitting a $25 nonrefundable application fee (Waived for Elizabethtown College graduates).
- Uploading your current resume.
- Requesting official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
- Uploading a 1-2 page essay addressing your:
- motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate
- statement of professional goals
- goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life
Our experienced Admissions staff is here to help. Fill out a brief contact form and one of our counselors will reach out to guide you on your way.

