School of Education

School of Education Faculty

Interim Dean

John Groves, Ph.D.

Faculty

About the Education Programs at Arcadia University

In order to develop into a great first-year teacher, pre-service teachers must become ignited by the idea of teaching and learning, be involved in a deep practice of the craft and science of teaching, and be carefully coached and mentored in that practice. Arcadia University’s School of Education programs are guided by this belief and the research that supports it. Our professors are dedicated to designing meaningful and rich courses that are connected to essential fieldwork which is mentored by classroom teachers, professors, and supervisors.

Arcadia University Education students will:

• Hone their teaching skills through guided practice,
• Enjoy camaraderie, idea sharing, and collaboration with other students and faculty in Arcadia’s close-knit undergraduate programs, and
• Have an opportunity to explore global learning and teaching experiences through Arcadia’s accessible and acclaimed travel abroad program.

At the end of undergraduate studies, preservice teachers 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.

Other highlights of Arcadia University’s School of Education Programs:

• More than 20 certification programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
• Extensive fieldwork and student teaching partnerships with urban and suburban schools
• Opportunities to study abroad
• Institutional grants to collaborate with faculty on research and opportunities to present at regional, national, and international conferences
• Membership opportunities in honorary societies such as Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honorary Society in Education and Phi Kappa Phi Arcadia University Honor Society
• Student memberships in state and local professional education organizations such as the Pennsylvania State Education Association

Leadership and recognition: Arcadia University has been awarded state grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Division of Special Education to train teachers statewide in inclusive practices at the Arcadia Annual Inclusion Institute and in Positive Behavior Supports for schools. The Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National Science Foundation awarded Arcadia major funding to train special educators and secondary English, social studies, science, and mathematics educators. Arcadia has been recognized and funded for its work in developing Professional Development Schools through the Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Foundation and the Philadelphia Education Fund. The Autism Certificate Program is endorsed by the Commonwealth of PA, and the Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate leads to National Board certification with successful completion of an internship and passing the national Board exam. The School of Education was also awarded a state grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop an undergraduate dual certification program in Secondary Education and Special Education.

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.

Requirements for All Certification Undergraduate 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 students who are seeking Pennsylvania teacher certification in PreK-4, Special Education PreK-8, Secondary Education Areas (Biology, Chemistry, English, General Science, Mathematics, or Social Studies), or Art K-12 must formally apply into the teacher certification program through the School of Education and meet the following prerequisite requirements.

Admission decisions are based on the Pennsylvania Department of Education state certification requirements (PA Code, Chapter 354). The following are required:

• 48 credits outside of Education
• An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Two college-level Mathematics courses
• Courses in English Composition and a course in American Literature
• Current and valid required clearances and documentation. (See Obtaining Clearances.)
• Submission of qualifiying scores on Basic Skills Assessment. (See Teacher Certification Information.)

NOTE: All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification should apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

A student who thinks his or her GPA might be below 3.0 and/or has not met all the prerequisite requirements may request to be conditionally admitted. Students completing the conditional requirements within a designated timeframe can have their application re-reviewed when they have met the requirements of their conditional acceptance. Those, students who do not meet the requirements may continue in the Education Program but will not be able to pursue certification. Students also may choose to pursue an alternative major.

Students denied admission to the School will be advised to pursue an alternative major or seek a path that may combine Education with another major.

Transfer Students Admission: All transfer students above the level of a first-semester sophomore must apply for admission to the certification program immediately after their first semester as a full-time student or after two semesters as a part-time student. At the end of that semester, their Arcadia University GPA (3.0 or higher) along with their transfer GPA will be used to determine whether they will be admitted to the School. Transfer students are not required to submit an electronic portfolio until they apply for student teaching. They are required to meet all admission standards required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Student Teaching Practicum (for all majors)

Students who have completed their entire coursework will student teach as their culminating experience during the fall or spring semester of the senior year, depending on their program. Applications for student teaching must be submitted with all required materials the semester prior to student teaching. The deadlines are early September for a spring practicum and early February for a fall practicum. Applications are available through the Office of School and Community Collaborations or by visiting the School of Education website. Admission for student teaching requires: A 3.0 overall GPA; evidence of passing basic skills tests; valid and updated clearances; good standing as a senior; and permission of the Director of Office of School and Community Collaborations.

Testing Requirements for the State of Pennsylvania

All candidates applying for Pennsylvania State Certification in PreK-4, Special Education PreK-8, Secondary Education (7-12) and Art Education (K-12) need to obtain qualifying scores on Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests in order to receive an Instructional I certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Clearances Information

The PA Department of Education requires Arcadia University to have a copy of current clearances for all students completing field experiences and Student Teaching. PDE states that students must demonstrate the professional behavior of acquiring andmaintaining appropriate clearances.

It is your responsibility to obtain ALL required clearances to file with the Arcadia University School of Education by day one of the semester. It is your responsibility to update annually as required. See the School of Education website for requirements on Obtaining Clearances. Not doing so will jeopardize your field placement and, therefore, your course completion. This will, as well, affect negatively the evaluation of your professional behavior.

It is your responsibility to retain the original clearances in a safe place and to make copies available to fieldwork sites on your first visit.

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. (Note that all practicum prerequisites must be met and the adviser’s approval received before enrolling in the student teaching.)
3. Completion of a professional electronic portfolio.

Pathways to Study Abroad in Education

Education majors are urged to consider spending a semester abroad and can pursue different options for study abroad and study away. Students who study abroad can explore global educational contexts, enhance their knowledge of the field of education through courses they take while abroad, and in some cases, develop their teaching skills through field experiences in schools.

Depending on the program, sophomore or junior year are the most convenient time for Education majors to plan to study abroad. Students are encouraged to make these decisions early in their program in order to adequately plan for appropriate course selection, and in the case of student teaching, to adequately prepare, plan and place students abroad.

Visit the University’s Web site for Pathways to Study Abroad (www.arcadia.edu/pathways). Since it is important that students plan ahead for study abroad, they should consult with their Education advisers as soon as possible and make their intentions known to the Chair of their department and the Associate Dean of International Affairs.

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-8 Dual Certification
• Education, B.A., Pre K-4 Certification

• Education, B.A./M.Ed. Five-Year Program

• Education Studies, Minor

• Raising Expectations for Academic Learning (REAL), Certificate

• Art K-12, Certification
• Secondary Education, Minor, Grades 7-12 Certification

Courses

• ED 110 Teaching for Learning
• ED 201 Teachers as Researchers and Writers
• 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 221 Critical Conversations and Fieldwork in Elementary Education
• ED 222 Instructional Techniques in Early Childhood
• ED 226 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
• ED 282 Special Education: Professional Skills for Effective Services
• ED 301 Contemporary Issues in Education
• ED 306 Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy: K-12
• ED 306S Strategies for Emergent and Content Literacy
• ED 314 Assessment of Teaching and Learning
• ED 315 Differentiated Instruction
• ED 317 The Literacies of Social Studies, Science and Language Arts
• ED 318 Developing Mathematicians: Thinking Teaching and Learning in Elementary Mathematics
• ED 319 Social Studies Methods (K-6)
• ED 323 Early Intervention
• ED 324 Elementary Science Methods
• ED 337 Developmental Content Area Reading
• ED 362 Rethinking Gender & Sexuality Education in an Alterglobal World
• ED 375 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/Special Education
• 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 443 Student Teaching Dual Practicum: Special/Elementary
• ED 443B Student Teaching Dual Practicum: Special/Secondary
• ED 459 Professional Seminar & Practicum in Special Education