Holy Family University School of Education

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Undergraduate Programs
-> Early Childhood PK-4 Certification
-> Middle Level 4-8 Certification
-> Secondary Education Certification
-> Special Education PK-8 Certification
-> Facilities
-> Pennsylvania State Certification

Course Requirements

Undergraduate Degree Programs with Pennsylvania Certification

Elementary, Middle, & Secondary Education

Early Childhood PK-4 Education
Middle Level 4-8 Education
Secondary Education 7-12 and K-12
Special Education PK-8

Holy Family is proud to offer students a highly supportive learning environment that values their personal and professional goals. Students in our Education program thrive in our small, yet challenging learning environment. We believe in educating beyond the classroom and providing opportunities for hands-on experience, which is a key component of your college education.

Major Coursework

Early Childhood PK-4 Certification: You may seek certification in early childhood PK-4 education. Specific emphasis is placed on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and children in the primary grades. Courses and field experiences in this program lead to the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate in PK-4, which enables you to teach preschool through 4th grade. Program highlights include:

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

Middle Level 4-8 Certification: In addition to your core curriculum and major classes, you will focus on one or two subject concentrations and complete a variety of field experiences in local public and parochial schools which enables you to teach in grades 4-8 with subject matter concentration in Science, Mathematics, Social Studies or Language Arts/Reading . Upon graduation, Middle Level 4-8 education majors will qualify for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate, which enables you to teach in grades 4-8. Dual majors are available in more than one subject if coupled with science or mathematics. Program highlights include:

Concentrations I Science, Mathematics, Social Studies or Language Arts/Reading
Dual concentrations in Science/Mathematics, Science/ Social Studies, Science/ Language Arts & Reading, Mathematics /Social Studies, Mathematics /Language Arts &Reading
Educational Psychology
Reading & Language Arts
Computer Use and Instructional Media
Classroom Management
Teaching of Integrated Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, and Music
Child & Adolescent Development
Middle Level concepts, philosophy, and related field experiences.

Secondary Education Certification: 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 Education K-12, Biology 7-12, English 7-12, Mathematics 7-12, Social Studies 7-12. Upon graduation from this program, you will qualify for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate. This enables you to teach grades seven through 12. Program highlights include:

Psychology of Human Development
Educational Psychology
Reading Instruction in Content Areas
Field-Based Practicum
Classroom Management
Instruction and Technology
Student Teaching

Special Education PK-8 Certification: The special education program at Holy Family University prepares you for dual certification in Special Education and Early Childhood Education PK-4. You will be taught to work effectively with students of various functional and cognitive abilities and ages in various settings from nursery school through 8th 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 include:

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

Facilities
Built in 2004, the state-of-the-art Education Technology Center was designed for one purpose—to train teachers. The facility features the most advanced equipment, including total wireless capability, live video conferencing, and translation capabilities for conferences. Along with general-purpose classrooms, the facility also features four specialized classrooms for the teaching of reading, science and math, early childhood, middle level and special education.

Pennsylvania State Certification
The Instructional I Certificate is an initial Pennsylvania teaching certificate. In order to obtain Instructional II certification, a graduate must have hat least three years of satisfactory teaching experience but no more that 6 years and complete an additional 24 credit hours of study at a certifying 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, plus the specific certification area test(s) for each certification area. See an education advisor for specific requirements.

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