School of Education

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About the Education Programs at Arcadia University

Arcadia University’s School of Education programs are guided by a core mission of fostering inclusion, equity, and social justice through teaching. Our professors are dedicated to designing meaningful and rich courses grounded in this mission and connected to essential fieldwork which is carefully mentored by classroom teachers, professors, and supervisors.  Students learn how to problem solve, innovate, and design culturally sustaining curricula through using design-thinking and inquiry practices in a STEM-centered learning environment.

At the end of undergraduate studies, our candidates will have the skills needed to design meaningful and rich learning opportunities for prek-12 students and have a sophisticated understanding of 21st Century teaching and learning.

Our graduates have received regional and statewide recognition for the work they do after graduation. Graduates of Arcadia’s Education program are currently employed or have been employed across the nation and in international locations.

Degree and Certification Programs

Bachelor of Arts with major in PreK-4

Bachelor of Arts with major in PreK-4/Special Education PreK-12

Bachelor of Arts with major in Education Studies

5 year programs: M.Ed with concentrations in Literacy Studies: TESOL and Reading; Secondary Education; Special Education; and an Individualized concentration

Minors in Education: Secondary Education, Education Studies

PA Teacher Certification Preparation Programs: Art K-12, PreK-4, PreK-4 and Special Education PreK-8, Secondary Areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, General Science, Mathematics and Social Studies 

Requirements for All Undergraduate Teacher Certification Preparation Program Candidates

Admission 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that all candidates interested in obtaining teacher certification must meet certain prerequisite requirements before they can enter a program leading to teacher certification. All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification must apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

Transfer Students Admission:  All transfer students above the level of a first-semester sophomore must apply for admission to the teacher certification preparation program concurrently with admission to the university.

Undergraduate  Teacher Certification Preparation Program Entry Requirements:

• Recommended minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at the time of application.
• No grade of “C or below” in a required certification course.
• Completed and earned grades of C or better in 6 credits in Mathematics above the MA 100   level (recommended: MA 117   and MA 118  ).
• Completed and earned grades of C or better in 6 credits in English. One course in Composition (EN 101  ) and one course in American/English Literature (recommended EN 229  ).
• Completed 48 credits.

• Meets Basic Skills testing requirements with qualifying scores and/or ACT/SAT qualifying scores.
• Background Checks: Meets background check requirements using the Castle Branch System for

•       Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)
•       Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
•       Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
•       Tuberculosis (TB) test result

Background Checks Policy

School of Education Background Checks policy requires all undergraduate students enrolled in Education courses that require fieldwork submit updated  background check documents (listed below) annually to the School of Education (by July 1st), via its online platform, Castle Branch.  

1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record (Act 34),
2. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151),
3. Federal Criminal History Background Check (FBI/fingerprint check) (Act 114), and
4. P.P.D. (TB) Test (School Health regulations, 28 PA Code, Section 23.44).
5. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (Act 126)* (renewal required every 5 years)
6. Request to Release information (FERPA)
7. School of Education Fieldwork Placement Informed Consent Form
8. All students are additionally required to report any infractions incurred between renewals. Any student enrolled in Education courses or an Education program who commits a reportable offense listed in Section 111 (e) of PA Act 24, is required to complete and return an Arrest/Conviction PDE form-6004 to the School of Education, Office of Field Experiences and Outreach (Taylor Hall, Room 203) within 72 hours of any arrest or conviction.

For full information on background checks, see the School of Education website.

Undergraduate courses exempt from background check requirement are: ED 110 , ED 203 , ED249, ED262, ED 263 , ED299, ED 360   and ED 463  .

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Preparation Program Exit Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required coursework for the bachelor’s degree and GPA requirement specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (3.0 GPA).
2. Satisfactory completion of student teaching (“B” or better) in the area of certification and the PDE 430 performance-based assessment rating form. 
3. Completion of a professional electronic portfolio.

Pathways to Study Abroad in Education

It is important that students plan for study abroad, they should consult with their Education advisers as soon as possible. 

Programs and Courses

The School of Education offers the following programs and courses for undergraduate study.

Programs

• Education Studies, B.A.
• Education, B.A., Pre K-4 and Special Education Pre K-12 Dual Certification
• Education, B.A., Pre K-4 Certification
• Program for Working Early Childhood Professionals, B.A., Pre K-4 Certification

• Education, B.A./M.Ed. Early Entry Program

• Education Minor

• Raising Expectations for Academic Learning (REAL), Certificate

• Education Secondary Certification in Social Studies

Courses

Background Checks Required for Students in Undergraduate Education Courses and Programs

Background Checks Policy

School of Education Background Checks policy requires all undergraduate students enrolled in Education courses that require fieldwork submit updated  background checks documents (listed below) annually to the School of Education (by July 1st), via its online platform, Castle Branch.  

1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record (Act 34),
2. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151),
3. Federal Criminal History Background Check (FBI/fingerprint check) (Act 114), and
4. P.P.D. (TB) Test (School Health regulations, 28 PA Code, Section 23.44).
5. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (Act 126)* (renewal required every 5 years)
6. Request to Release information (FERPA)
7. School of Education Fieldwork Placement Informed Consent Form

All students are additionally required to report any infractions incurred between renewals. Any student enrolled in Education courses or an Education program who commits a reportable offense listed in Section 111 (e) of PA Act 24, is required to complete and return an Arrest/Conviction PDE form-6004 to the School of Education, Office of Field Experiences and Outreach (Taylor Hall room 203) within 72 hours of any arrest or conviction. 

For full information for clearances,see the School of Education website.

Students registering for Education courses

All students registering for undergraduate Education courses submit required background checks to the School of Education prior to the first day of class*. Students who do not are required to drop the course prior to the end of drop/add period.

Undergraduate courses exempt from clearance requirements are: 

ED 110 , ED 203 , ED 262 , ED 263 , ED 360  and ED 463 .

• ED 110 Teaching for Learning
• ED 203 Power of Play: Improvisation and Learning
• ED 207 STEAM 1: Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning
• ED 211 Assessment and Intervention in Infancy and Toddlerhood
• ED 212 Child and Youth Development
• ED 214 Introduction to Inclusive Education
• ED 216 Teaching Literacy in the 21st Century
• ED 220 Profession of Teaching
• ED 222 Instructional Techniques in Early Childhood
• ED 226 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
• ED 249 Fairy Tales, Princesses, and Superheroes: How Media Shape Children’s Gender and Sexuality
• ED 262 Rethinking Gender & Sexuality Education in an Alter Global World
• ED 263 Arts, Mathematics, Community & Learning
• ED 299 Understanding Language Learning
• ED 301 Contemporary Issues in Education
• ED 306 Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy K-12
• ED 306S Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy: K-12
• ED 307 STEAM 2: Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning
• ED 307A STEAM 2: Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning (Birth to 5 years)
• ED 307A Lab STEAM 2 Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning (Birth to 5 years)
• ED 307B STEAM 2: Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning (6 to 10 years)
• ED 307B Lab STEAM 2 Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning (6 to 10 years)
• ED 308 Social Studies Literacies
• ED 308A Social Studies Literacies (Birth to 5 years)
• ED 308A Lab Social Studies Literacies (Birth to 5 years)
• ED 308B Social Studies Literacies (6 to 10 years)
• ED 308B Lab Social Studies Literacies (6 to 10 years)
• ED 314 Assessment of Teaching and Learning
• ED 315 Differentiated Instruction
• ED 323 Early Intervention
• ED 337 Developmental Content Area Reading
• ED 360 Public History
• ED 375 Managing an Inclusive Classroom
• ED 375S Managing an Inclusive Classroom
• ED 387 Pre-Student Teaching
• ED 389 Independent Study
• ED 394 Supporting Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities
• ED 411 Designing Learning Environments
• ED 412a Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: English
• ED 412b Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Social Studies
• ED 412c Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Mathematics
• ED 412d Curriculum and Methodology for Grades 7-12: Science
• ED 416 Student Teaching: Early Elementary
• ED 417 Student Teaching: Secondary
• ED 418 Human Development: School Years K-12
• ED 419 Undergraduate Student Teaching Practicum, Art Ed, K-12
• ED 423 Multilingual and Multicultural Assessment
• ED 459 Professional Seminar & Practicum in Special Education
• ED 463 Education Studies Capstone

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