Elementary and Kindergarten Education, B.S. (Education)

Program Code: EKED_BS

PROGRAM CURRENTLY ON HOLD; NOT ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS
Begin Date of Enrollment Hold: September 10, 2010

Individuals interested in earning Pennsylvania teaching credentials for grades PK-4 should refer to the Elementary and Early Childhood Education, B.S. program. Individuals interested in earning Pennsylvania teaching credentials for grades 5-8 should refer to the Middle Level Education, B.S. program.

Program Description

**Please Note: Individuals interested in earning Pennsylvania teaching credentials for grades PK-8 should refer to the Childhood and Early Adolescent Education major.

This major offers teaching options in Early Childhood Education and in Elementary Education. Students successfully completing this major will have met all of the requirements for the N-3 or K-6 College Instructional I certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students must indicate their choice of teaching option at the time they make application for admission to a teacher education major. Students who are undecided at this time about which teaching option to select should contact their adviser and enroll in a field experience featuring participation in the classroom.

Early Childhood Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

Students successfully completing this option will have met all of the requirements for the N-3 Instructional I certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Special courses in both human development and education are used to integrate understanding of preschool programs with relevant theories of child development.

Elementary Education Teaching Option

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Berks, University Park

Students successfully completing this option will have met all of the requirements for the K-6 Instructional I certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education, a minimum of 129.5 credits is required for the Early Childhood Teaching Option and a minimum of 122 credits is required for the Elementary Education Teaching Option:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 0-3
Requirements for the Major 101-117

27-30 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GS, 6 credits of GQ, 6 credits of GH, and 9 credits of GN courses for both options. The Early Childhood Teaching option permits 3 credits of GHW.

See also Teacher Education Programs.

Requirements for the Major

A grade of C or better per course is required for teacher certification.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better for teacher certification
AED 303The Visual Arts in the Elementary School3
CI 295Introductory Field Experience for Teacher Preparation2
CI 495BClinical Application of Instruction - Middle Level Education3
CI 495DPracticum in Student Teaching--Childhood and Early Adolescent Education12
CI 495FProfessional Development Practicum3
EDPSY 14Learning and Instruction Keystone/General Education Course3
ENGL 100English Language Analysis3
KINES 126The Health Program for the Elementary School Child1.5
LLED 400Teaching Literacy in Early Childhood 3
LLED 401Teaching Literacy in Elementary School3
LLED 402Teaching Children's Literature3
MATH 200Problem Solving in Mathematics Keystone/General Education Course3
MTHED 420Teaching Mathematics In The Elementary Schools3
MUSIC 241Music for Classroom Teachers3
SCIED 458Teaching Science in the Elementary School3
SPLED 400Inclusive Special Ed Foundations: Legal, Characteristics, Collaboration, Assessment, and Management3
SSED 430WTeaching Social Studies in the Elementary Grades3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better for teacher certification
EDTHP 115Education in American Society Keystone/General Education Course3
or EDTHP 115A Competing Rights: Issues in American Education Keystone/General Education Course
HIST 20American Civilization to 1877 Keystone/General Education Course3
or HIST 21 American Civilization Since 1877 Keystone/General Education Course
Select one of the following:3-4
Analysis and Interpretation of Statistical Data in Education Keystone/General Education Course
Statistical Concepts and Reasoning Keystone/General Education Course
Elementary Statistics Keystone/General Education Course
Select one of the following:3
Principles of Economics Keystone/General Education Course
Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy Keystone/General Education Course
Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy Keystone/General Education Course
Select one of the following:3
Human Geography: An Introduction
Environment and Society in a Changing World Keystone/General Education Course
GEOG 122
Geography of Developing World
Elements of Cultural Geography
Economic Geography Keystone/General Education Course
Geography of International Affairs Keystone/General Education Course
Urban Geography: A Global Perspective
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better for teacher certification
Select 3 credits in literature GH3
Select 9 credits: 3 credits each (including one course with a lab) from the following GN biological science, earth science, and physical science9
Requirements for the Option
Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better for teacher certification
Select an option16.5-30

Requirements for the Option

Early Childhood Teaching Option (27-30 credits)

Available at the following campuses: University Park

Prescribed Courses
CI 495AClinical Application of Instruction - PK-41
ECE 451Instruction in Early Childhood Education Derived from Development Theories3
ECE 4523
ECE 453Parent Involvement in Home, Center, and Classroom Instruction2
ECE 4543
ECE 479The Young Child's Play as Educative Processes3
Additional Courses
HDFS 315Family Development3
or SOC 30 Sociology of the Family Keystone/General Education Course
HDFS 428Infant Development3
or HDFS 429 Advanced Child Development
HPA 101Introduction to Health Services Organization3
or NUTR 251 Introductory Principles of Nutrition Keystone/General Education Course
PSYCH 100
PSYCH 212
Introductory Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
and Introduction to Developmental Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
3-6
or HDFS 229 Infant and Child Development Keystone/General Education Course
Elementary Education Teaching Option (16.5-19.5 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Berks, University Park

Prescribed Courses
KINES 127The Physical Education Program for the Elementary School Child1.5
Additional Courses
Select one of the following:3-6
Individual Differences and Education Keystone/General Education Course
Infant and Child Development Keystone/General Education Course
Introductory Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
and Introduction to Developmental Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 3 credits in MATH or MTHED3
Select 6 credits of the following:6
EDTHP at the 400 level
ECE at the 400 level
SPLED at the 400 level
Reimagining Classroom Management
Special Topics
Special Topics
Select 3 credits in U.S. History3

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

College of Education
Advising and Certification Center

228 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0488
ed@admissions.psu.edu

Altoona

Leigh Ann Haefner
Associate Professor of Education
Hawthorn Building 229, 3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5638
lab194@psu.edu

Berks

Lauren Zuidema
Program Coordinator, Lecturer
Gaige 236
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6455
lzz40@psu.edu

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
141 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1500
lloyd@psu.edu

https://ed.psu.edu/academics/departments/department-curriculum-and-instruction

Altoona

DIVISION OF EDUCATION, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Hawthorn Building 229, 3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5638
lab194@psu.edu

https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/elementary-early-childhood-education

Berks

HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Gaige Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6455
lzz40@psu.edu