PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Department of Education at Elizabethtown College has a tradition of successfully preparing teacher candidates who graduate, obtain Pennsylvania State Teacher certification and go on to secure teaching positions in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. We provide students with an opportunity to pursue the following majors:

Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education w/Special Education concentration
Elementary/ Middle Level Education
Secondary Education
PK-12 Education (Music, Spanish)
4+1-Special Education* (Please see Master's Program)

Early Childhood Education (PreK through 4th grade)

Candidates for certification in Early Childhood Education must complete a major that consists of two key elements. The first element emphasizes critical concepts and ideas important to one’s general education and academic preparation for teaching. The second element stresses a professional core organized in five areas:

Early Childhood Development
Cognition and Learning
Subject Matter Pedagogy Content (Pre-K through 4)
Assessment
Family and Community Partnerships
Professionalism

NOTE: Candidates may elect to “add-on” 5-6 certification by passing modules 2-3 of the 4-8 Praxis subject concentration exams. Students interested in this pathway should consult their academic advisors.

Elementary/Middle Level Education (4th through 8th grade

Candidates for certification in Elementary/Middle Level Education must select an emphasis in one of four academic content areas and be a generalist in each of the other three academic content areas. The academic emphasis requires completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours in one of the following four content areas:

1) Mathematics,

2) Science,

3) English/Language Arts, or

4) Social Studies

In addition to one academic emphasis, candidates also are expected to generalize in the remaining three content areas by completing 12 credit hours in each. Students also complete a professional core organized into five areas:

1.)Early Adolescent and Adolescent Development, Cognition and Learning;

2.)Subject Matter Pedagogy Content (Grades Four through Eight);

3) Assessment;

4) Family and Community Partnerships;

5) Professionalism.

Content requirements are based on national standards for Elementary/Middle Level Education as well as Pennsylvania's curriculum standards.

NOTE:

Candidates may elect to “add on” a PK-4 certification by passing the appropriate PECT exams. They may elect to “add on” an additional 4-8 content area by taking the appropriate PRAXIS subject concentration exam. Students interested in this pathway, should consult with their academic advisors.

Secondary Education (7th through 12th grade)

Programs in Secondary Education are available in select academic areas as below. Carefully designed work in the academic or interdisciplinary major, the Core program and electives qualify students for a degree appropriate to that major and for Pennsylvania certification. For specific requirements for these programs, refer to Catalog sections relating to the primary major.

Biology
Chemistry
English
Mathematics
Physics
Social Studies

PreK-12 Education

Majors and Pennsylvania certification for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade are also available in the areas below. Carefully designed work in the academic or interdisciplinary major, the Core program and electives qualify students for a degree appropriate to that major and for Pennsylvania certification. For specific requirements for these programs, refer to Catalog sections relating to the primary major or to the interdisciplinary section for the two interdisciplinary programs.

Music Education
Spanish Education