Holy Family University School of Education

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-> Elementary Education
-> Secondary Education
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-> Pennsylvania State Certification

Course Requirements

Undergraduate Degree Programs with Pennsylvania Certification

Early Childhood Education (contact Early Childhood Curriculum Specialist)
You may seek dual certification in early childhood education and elementary education. Holy Family University provides numerous opportunities for professional and personal growth. Our outstanding faculty guides prospective teachers through a quality program of studies, with specific emphasis in the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and children in the primary grades. Courses in these programs lead to the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate, which enables you to teach preschool through sixth grade.

Program Highlights

Foundations of Early Childhood
Historical Perspectives
Integration of Child-Centered Curriculum
Observation As a Tool
Assessment of Young Children
Inclusion of Young Children With Special Needs

Elementary Education (contact Elementary Education Curriculum Specialist)
Well known for its excellent curriculum and instructors, elementary education is the most popular education program at Holy Family University. In addition to your core curriculum and major classes, you will complete a variety of field experiences in local public and parochial schools in preparation for your elementary school teaching career.

Upon graduation, elementary education majors will qualify for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate, which enables you to teach kindergarten through sixth grade.

Program Highlights

Educational Psychology
Reading & Language Arts
Computer Use and Instructional Media
Classroom Management
Teaching of Integrated Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, and Music
Student Teaching
Field-Based Practicum
Child & Adolescent Development

Secondary Education (contact Secondary Education Curriculum Specialist)
Our secondary teacher education program is designed to prepare you for a teaching career at the middle or high school level. You may specialize in art, biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, social studies, citizenship education, or social sciences.

Upon graduation from this program, you will qualify for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate. This enables you to teach grades seven through 12 or, if you specialize in language or art, K–12.

Program Highlights

Psychology of Human Development
Educational Psychology
Reading Instruction in Content Areas
Computer Education
Field-Based Practicum
Student Teaching

Upon completion of coursework, students in secondary education will qualify for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate which enables them to teach in grades seven through twelve. Language and art students are certified in grade K-12.

Special Education (contact Special Education Curriculum Specialist)
The special education program at Holy Family University prepares you for dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education. You will be taught to work effectively with students of various functional and cognitive abilities and ages in various settings from nursery school through 12th grade. From instructional and classroom management techniques to inclusionary models of teaching, our special education curriculum provides a wide array of skills and field experiences for future teachers.

Program Highlights

Assessing and Evaluating Students
Classroom Management Strategies
Student Teaching and Field Practicum

Pennsylvania State Certification
The Instructional I Certificate obtained from the state at the recommendation of any accredited institution is a temporary certification. In order to obtain permanent certification, a graduate must have three years of satisfactory teaching experience and complete an additional 24 credit hours of study at a certifying University or university. If these credits are taken at the graduate level, they may be applied toward a master's degree.

All candidates for teacher certification in the state of Pennsylvania are required to pass the PRAXIS Series of Professional Assessments for beginning teachers. These include: PPST tests in reading, writing, mathematics, listening skills, and Principles of Learning and Teaching. All K-12 and K-6 certifications also require the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge Test. Additional subject specific tests are also required.

Return to Undergraduate Admissions for information on admission requirements.

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