PreK-4 and Special Education (K-8) (Dual Certification)
Arcadia University prepares students for a world of increasing interdependence and complexity. Students become familiar with their discipline (Education) as well as develop many different areas of knowledge necessary to be active citizens in a contemporary and interconnected world. Students focus on acquiring knowledge and skills in their major discipline through the Professional Education Coursework and experiences as part of the Undergraduate Curriculum. In addition, students develop a broad-based understanding across disciplines through the other elements of Arcadia’s Undergraduate Curriculum (www.arcadia.edu/curriculum). This curriculum emphasizes the need for students to see themselves within a global context and to be prepared to approach the world’s diversity and complexity within a spirit of respect, cooperation and justice.
Credit Count (131 credits)
- Professional Education Requirements: Core in PreK-4 Education and Special Education. Some major courses also fulfill other curriculum requirements. (77 credits)
- Additional Undergraduate Curriculum requirements (54 credits)
Professional Education Requirements
(77 credits)
Dual Certification in PreK-4 Education and Special Education (PreK-8).
The Professional Education requirements are based on Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 354 and 49 requirements.
Professional Core in the PreK-4 and Special Education (K-8) program totals 74 credit hours, including field experiences and student teaching. Twelve of these credits, and imbedded content and +experiences in other courses, address adaptations, accommodations, and cognitive development of diverse students in an inclusive setting (PDE Chapter 49 requirements). Three credits, and imbedded content and experiences in other courses, address content requirements covering the needs of English language learners (PDE PA Code, Chapter 49 requirements).
1. Professional Education Core Courses and Fieldwork (44 credits)
- *ED110 Teaching for Learning (3 credits; meets Self and Society requirement)
- ED211 Assessment and Intervention in ECE (3 credits)
- *ED212 Child and Youth Develop. (3 credits; meets Self and Society requirement)
- ED216 Teaching Literacy in the 21st Century (3 credits)
- *ED217 The Literacies of Social Studies, Science and Language Arts
- ED218 Developing Mathematicians: Thinking Teaching and Learning in Elementary Math (3 credits)
- ED221 Critical Conversations and Fieldwork in Elementary Education (3 credits)
- ED201 Teachers as Researchers and Writers (3 credits; meets designated research writing requirement)
- **ED306 Strategies for Content and Emergent Literacy (3 credits)
- ED319 Social Studies Methods (3 credits)
- ED322 Instructional Techniques in ECE (3 credits)
- *ED324 Science Methods for Elementary Teachers (3 credits; meets Natural and Physical World requirement)
- ED323 Early Intervention in ECE (3 credits)
- **ED420 Pre-Student Teaching Experience (2 credits)
2. Special Education Requirements (21 credits)
- *ED214 Introduction to Inclusive Education (3 credits; meets Self and Society requirement)
- ED315 Differentiated Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (3 credits)
- ED375 Managing an Inclusive Classroom (3 credits)
- **ED382 Special Education Professional Skills for Effective Services (3 credits)
- ** ED384 Supporting Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities (3 credits)
- **ED385 Evidence Based Practices to Support Students with Emotional and Behavior Challenges (3 credits)
- ED423 Multilingual and Multicultural Assessment (3 credits)
3. English as Second Language Requirements (4 credits)
- *US324 ESL: Understanding Language Learning (4 credits; meets designated Writing and Global Connections requirement)
4. Student Teaching (12 credits)
- *ED416 Student Teaching, Elementary and Early Childhood Education (12 credits; meets Senior Capstone Seminar and Global Connections Reflections)
Content area courses required under PA Code, Chapter 354 (16 credits)
At least one course in Written Communication
- *EN101 Thought and Expression I (4 credits; meets Writing requirement)
One course in American/English Literature
- *EN229 Voices of America (4 credits; meets Cultural Legacy requirement)
Two courses in Mathematics
- *MA117 Mathematical Concepts I (4 credits; meets Quantitative Reasoning requirement)
- *MA118 Mathematical Concepts II (4 credits; meets Quantitative Reasoning requirement)
*Courses that also meet another Undergraduate Curriculum requirement
**Courses under development
Additional Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements
Many of the following courses will meet both the state certification requirements and Undergraduate Curriculum requirements. Courses taken in one area also can count toward a requirement in another area. Students will have free choice to select a course from a respective area in cases where no overlaps exist.
I. Curricular Experiences
1. First-Year Seminar (FYE) (1 course, 4 credits) Choose one course from this area.
2. University Seminars (US) (2 courses; 8 credits)
- US324 ESL: Understanding Language Learning (4 credits; also meets designated Writing requirement and PDE requirement)
- Choose a course from the Creative Expression Area (Recommended: US 206 The Power of Play)
3. Global Connections Experience (GC):
- A “sustained cross-cultural experience”: Can be fulfilled through certain Student Teaching contexts, study Abroad/Domestic Study away in approved sites, some forms of Fieldwork, Internships
- Global Connections Reflection Requirement (2 credits)
4. Senior Capstone Project ED 416 Student Teaching Experience (12 credits)
II. Areas of Inquiry
1. Creative Expressions (CE): (1 course) Choose one course in the arts: Art and Design, Music, or Theater (should also meet the University Seminar and Visual Literacy requirements)
2. Cultural Legacies (CL) (2 courses)
- HS117 Early U.S. History (also meets PDE requirement)
- EN229 Voices of America (also meets PDE requirement)
3. Natural and Physical World (PN) (2 courses):
- ID101 Science and Civilization I
- ED324 Science Methods for Elementary Teachers (also meets Professional Education requirement)
4. Self and Society (2 courses) Any two courses in the Professional Education core will meet this requirement.
III. Intellectual Practices
1. Global Connections Courses (GC)(2 courses)
- US324 Understanding Language Learning (also meets University Seminar and Professional Education requirements)
- Choose a course in history of cultures outside of United States History
IV. Modern Languages (0 to 2 courses)
- Level 1 Modern Language course (possible exemption based on placement exam)
- Level 2 Modern Language course (possible exemption based on placement exam)
V. Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses)
- MA117 Mathematics Concepts I (also meets PDErequirements)
- MA118 Mathematics Concepts II (also meets PDErequirements)
VI. Visual Literacy(1 course)
- Choose one course in the arts from this area: Art and Design, Music, or Theater (can meet University Seminar and Creative Expression requirements)
VII. Writing (4 courses)
- EN101 Thought and Expression I (First year, first semester, meets Professional Education requirements)
- ED201 Teachers as Researchers and Writers (3 credits taken in second year, first semester)
- US324 ESL: Understanding Language Learning (Writing designated course and also meets Professional Education requirement)
- One other writing designated course
Special Education Certification Requirements
First-year students entering Arcadia in Fall 2010 will earn Special Education certification through the dual certification program in PreK-4 and Special Education (K-8). Students in this program will be certified under the new guidelines mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
