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

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

Alvernia’s Early Childhood Education (PK-4) and Special Education (PK-12) Certifications dual major unlocks an unlimited career potential. The program prepares teachers for preschool through Grade 4 and special education teachers in public and private educational institutions. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

It is designed for adults returning to college to pursue a teaching career. The program provides flexibility for the working adult students by offering the program in an online format. Students benefit from a synergy of engaging learning environment, diverse field experiences, and inspiring mentorship by education professors and 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	$322

In This Section

Adult Education Programs

Getting Started

Program Modality

Education courses are delivered fully online with synchronous check-ins with the instructor via Zoom. In-person fieldwork, pre-student teaching (7 weeks), and student teaching (14 weeks) must be completed in the state of PA. Student teaching will take place during the final year of the program.

Pennsylvania Instructional Certification

During their senior year, students should take their certification exams, Pennsylvania Educator Certification Test (PECT) Modules 1, 2, and 3 for Grades PK-4 and appropriate Praxis exams for certification if applicable. To become a licensed PA educator, students need to complete their program, earn a passing score on certification exam(s), and submit an application for their Instructional I Certificate in the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).

National Accolades

Alvernia’s Early Childhood Education Program is among three teacher preparation programs in Pennsylvania and 23% nationwide that were ranked as “Grade A” for preparing students to teach reading by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

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:

University Health Requirements
TB Screening
Certificate of completion the training
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 �鶹��Ƶ. 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:

Teaching certifications in Pennsylvania

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 �鶹��Ƶ 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

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

Major Requirements (60 credits)

ED 110: The Teaching Profession
ED 204: Human Learning
ED 209: Instructional Planning (pre-reqs.: ED 110, ED 204)
ED 302: Literacy Instruction (pre-req.: ED 315)
ED 313: Classroom Management (pre-req.: ED 209)
ED 315: Literacy Development
ED 320: Assessment & Evaluation
ED 370: Introduction to Inclusive Instruction for English Language Learners (pre-req.: ED 209)
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 425: Curriculum Instruction PreK-12
ED 436: Field Experience III (150-hour pre-student teaching)
ED 440: Teaching Science in the Elementary School
ED 445: Principles of Universal Design for Learning (pre-reqs.: ED 209, SPE 110)
ED 470: Student Teaching (Co-Req ED 472) (14 weeks, 2 placements
ED 472: Student Teaching Seminar

Special Education (21 credits)

SPE 110: Overview of Exceptionalities
SPE 245: Individuals Requiring Complex Supports
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

(C grade or better required for all ED & SPE courses)

Related Requirements (21 credits)

Science with Lab
HIS XXX or POS XXX
MAT 105: Math for Teachers: Principles of Math
MAT 106: Math for Teachers: Geometry
MAT 208: Introductory Statistics
Social Science Course
PSY 312 Psychology of Play

(C grade or better required for all courses above)

Liberal Arts Core (54/55 credits)*: All �鶹��Ƶ students are required to complete between 31-55 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work or an associate degree may be applicable for this area and meet requirements. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits.

General Elective Requirements (as needed): A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to
earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.

Plan to take electives and courses in minor prior to fieldwork and student teaching. During senior year, students take their certification exam, the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Test (PECT) for Grades PK-4. To become a licensed PA educator, students need to complete their program, earn a passing score on certification exam(s), and submit an application for their Instructional I Certificate in the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System.

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 . MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

Graduates can teach in preschool through Grade 4 and special education (PK-12) in public and private educational institutions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032. The median annual wage for elementary school teachers was $61,690 in 2022.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment with a bachelor’s degree in special education is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032. The median annual wage for special education teachers in 2022 was $62,950.

Learn More

Read about:

Questions?

Contact:

Admissions
610-796-5187
gradandadult@alvernia.edu

Get To Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Early Childhood Education B.A. with Grades PK-4 & Special Education PK-12 Certifications, contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 610-796-5187 or gradandadult@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to department chair Lucinda Schaeffer at 610-790-1931 or lucinda.schaeffer@alvernia.edu.