DeSales University offers an Early Childhood and Elementary Education (ECEE) major for students interested in working with children, birth through age ten, a Special Education (SE) major for students interested in working with children with low and high incidence disabilities, and a dual major in both Early Childhood Elementary Education (ECEE) and Special Education (SE). In addition, DeSales offers a four plus one, undergraduate to graduate, program for students interested in pursuing certification in Secondary Education 7-12.
Within the programs, DeSales University offers two tracks in education: (1) the professional educator program (PEP) track, leading to teacher certification in Pennsylvania, and (2) the careers in education (CEP) track, preparing students for careers related to education, but not requiring teacher certification. Further, students studying within the School of Education will progress through two phases during their degree program: the pre-professional phase and the professional phase. The entrance into the professional phase occurs, in general, between the earning of 48 credits but before the 60th earned credit.
For the professional phase of the program, students will enter either the PEP track or the CEP track.
Early Childhood and Elementary Education (ECEE)
A major is offered in early childhood and elementary education (ECEE) (pre-kindergarten through fourth grade), preparing future teachers to work in pre-school and elementary school settings. In ECEE, students may elect the professional educator program (PEP) track leading to Pennsylvania Department of Education teacher certification or the non-certification careers in education program (CEP) track for students who wish to pursue education-related professions such as work in social service agencies, non-profits, Head Start, or counseling. The decision to pursue one of the tracks typically occurs before junior year or after the completion of 48 credits. If pursing the Pennsylvania teacher certification track, a recommendation for certification will be offered upon successful completion of the program and certification requirements.
Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)
Secondary teacher education program students major in one of the following majors: biology, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, English, history, mathematics, psychology, Spanish, or theatre. Students in all subjects except theology are eligible to pursue Pennsylvania Teacher certification. Secondary students who are Theatre majors are eligible for the Theatre endorsement. Students intending to pursue secondary teacher certification take 5 courses in the undergraduate program and then transition into the graduate program for one additional year in order to complete their certification program courses and student teaching experience.
Education Minor in Educational Studies
Students from any major may add a minor in education. The minor consists of six courses and will include Education 109, Education 209, Education 218, Education 211, an elective approved by the associate dean for education, and Education 495. The minor is designed to provide the candidate with the essential skills of education including research, knowledge of diverse learners and families, instructional planning, teaching skill development, and experiences related to education in associated career fields such as social work, careers with non-profits, human services, counseling, and faith-based ministry in education.
Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Programs
The School of Education offers Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) teacher certification programs in:
- Early childhood and elementary education, pre-kindergarten-4 grade
- Secondary education 7-12 (biology, chemistry, communications, computer science, English, mathematics, social studies, social sciences, Spanish)
- Special education, pre-K-12
- English as a Second Language Program Specialist certification
- STEM Endorsement (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Theatre Endorsement (Theatre majors pursuing Secondary Education)
Dual Teacher Certification Tracks
Students in early childhood and elementary education, special education, or secondary education may pursue an additional Pennsylvania certification including English as a Second Language (ESL) program specialist K-12, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness PreK-12 endorsement, or Theatre Endorsement. The ESL program specialist, STEM endorsement, and Theatre endorsement may be completed during the undergraduate four-year program. The Secondary Education certification may be earned in a fifth year (one year post-baccalaureate.) The graduate program also offers DeSales graduate certificate in the Science of Reading that consists of four courses.
Students may also elect to major in a dual certification program with Early Childhood Elementary Education and Special Education, resulting in dual certification PreK-4 and Special Education PreK-12.
All undergraduate students who maintain a 3.0 GPA will be permitted to begin graduate studies in the second semester junior year upon acceptance to the dual-certification Track (see below). These graduate courses may lead to initial or additional certification.
Graduate Education Programs
The School of Education offers advanced teacher education programs for those seeking program specialist certificates, endorsements, or a graduate degree. In general, graduate degrees will consist of 30 or more credits at the graduate level.
Internships
The School of Education offers internships in area educational agencies, museums, social agencies, or companies for education majors and minors for positions related to the field of educational innovation or leadership. Students enroll in ED - 495 Internship in Education Credits: 3 and undertake 135 hours or more of internship under the guidance of a faculty member.
Education Program and School Learning Outcomes
Our teacher candidates demonstrate:
- Content mastery across disciplines
- Effective, creative, reflective, technology-enhanced, and data-driven pedagogy
- Professionalism in personal, collegial, and institutional settings
- Respect for the uniqueness and diverse perspectives of all learners, families, and communities
- Leadership in advocating for students and supporting their highest achievement in local and global contexts.
Phases of the Education Program
Pre-professional phase in education: 0 - 47 credits: students take pre-professional phase courses in education.
Application and acceptance into professional phase: students may take pre-professional phase courses but must declare a track during this phase. A student cannot take professional phase courses unless that student has been accepted into a track.
Professional phase: professional educator program (PEP) or careers in education program (CEP): 60 credits to graduation; students may take pre-professional phase courses and professional phase courses. Students will experience either a senior internship or student teaching in the final semester of study.
Admission into the Professional Educator Phase for Pennsylvania-Teacher-Certification-Seeking Students
To proceed into professional and advanced methods courses, students intending to major or enter a program in education must meet Pennsylvania state guidelines for future educators. A formal application to the professional educator program must be submitted to the associate dean for education upon completion of professional phase requirements, including completion of the pre-professional course sequence (or with permission of associate dean).
Professional Educator Program (Certification Track) Requirements for Acceptance
The professional educator program (PEP) is designed to prepare the education student to achieve teacher certification in Pennsylvania. Students applying to PEP must have satisfied all requirements of the track before entry. Acceptance into PEP will consist of:
- Completed, formal application for PEP (See school office for application form.)
- Completion of a minimum of 48 credits
- Completion of the Basic Skills exam requirement (a pass on ETS Core Exam modules OR PAPA modules OR SAT/ACT exemption documentation OR a combination of the above). Students who earn a grade of B or higher in both EN103 and EN104 are exempt from the Reading and Writing Basic Skills. Students who earn a grade of B or higher in both MA107 and MA108 are exempt from the Math Basic Skills.
- Transcript(s) from all colleges attended
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 2.8 for conditional admission with the approval of the associate dean for education (note: Students must meet certification GPA requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education to be recommended for certification at program completion.)
- Pre-professional education course GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Essay that responds to the prompt: “Why do I Want to be an Educator?”
- Recommendation of two faculty members
- Completion of the pre-professional course sequence (or with permission of the associate dean for edudation)
Other criteria for admission include:
- Completion of the mathematics sequence MA 107 and MA 108, with a minimum grade of C in each course and/or two college- level mathematics courses for some majors;
- Three credits/one course of college-level English composition, and three credits/one college-level course in either American or British literature, with a minimum grade of C in each of the courses;
- Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of C in each course: ED 109, ED 209, and ED 218.
Alternative Admissions Policy
Students whose overall GPA is between 2.80 and 2.99 are invited to appeal to the associate dean for education and meet the following additional requirements for admission: (1) Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of B- in each course: ED 109, ED 209, ED 218, and (2) a successful interview with the associate dean of education, receiving his/her recommendation.
*Please note: Students with a GPA below a 2.79 will not be admitted into the professional educator program or be permitted to take certification-required professional education courses. Those students can continue as intended majors until the GPA meets minimum standards or may elect to continue in the non-certification track.
Transfer Students
Transfer students who enter DeSales with at least 48 credits completed will be accepted into the professional educator program (PEP) only if they have met the requirements of the track before admission. The cumulative GPA of all institutions attended before matriculation at DeSales will be used to meet the GPA minimum requirement. If the student has not yet met the requirements of PEP, the student will enter the careers in education (CEP) track. Students will be enrolled in courses satisfying general education requirements and/or education courses designated pre-professional phase courses and/or CEP courses. After the completion of 12 credits at DeSales, the student may apply to PEP based on performance at DeSales and meeting all other PEP requirements.
Program Progression
Students who have successfully been admitted into the professional educator program (PEP) must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 throughout the program. A re-evaluation of GPA status will be conducted in the advising session during the semester before the completion of 90 credits or senior status. All education courses required for certification must be completed with a minimum grade of C. When that grade is not achieved, the course must be repeated in order to be recommended for PA Teacher certification.
Change of Track
Students may be accepted into the PEP track before earning 90 credits toward a DeSales University degree. The student must meet all requirements of PEP at the time of application. After earning 90 credits, the student will be advised to apply to the post-baccalaureate program for certification.
Admission into the Careers in Education Program (Non-Certification Track)
The careers in education program (CEP) track prepares students for a variety of careers related to education. The track does not prepare students for Pennsylvania certification, but rather builds capacity for the pursuit of careers in counseling, social work, human resources, private school teaching, and other positions that do not require teacher certification.
Acceptance into the CEP track will consist of:
- Typed, well-written personal statement of future career goals, approximately 500 words in length
- Transcript(s) from all colleges attended
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0 at time of application
- Successful completion of 60 hours of clinical field work documented in observation log copies
Students in the CEP track do not need to meet the Pennsylvania Basic Skills or Advanced Skills exam requirements. However, before earning 90 credits, the student may move from the CEP track to the PEP track by meeting all requirements of PEP.
Additional Information
Experiences in Schools
Candidates in the professional educator program participate in numerous observation and practice-based field experiences beginning in the first year through the student teaching experience. Candidates should be prepared to complete a minimum of 170 clinical field hours before student teaching. Field experiences are conducted in public and nonpublic schools within a 20-mile driving distance of the University’s Center Valley campus. The purpose of the program is to further develop, demonstrate, and assess the competencies of the certification program, thereby preparing the candidate for student teaching and eventual full-time employment as a professional educator. The field program strives to develop sensitivity and culturally responsive attitudes in working with diverse student populations: races, genders, religious beliefs, national origins, and socio-economic backgrounds. All clinical field experiences and student teaching experiences will include field-based reports, evaluation, and feedback by cooperating teachers, University supervisors, and/or peers. See the Field Experiences Guide for Students for additional detail.
Field courses are sequential and knowledge from one course is required in the next; therefore, field courses must be taken in order. Students must pass each field course with a C or higher in order to move to the next field course or student teaching semester. Students who fail to pass a field course are allowed to retake the field course one time in the next semester that it is offered, but it must be passed before moving to the next field course or student teaching.
Legal Clearances: Requirements for Observation, Field Experiences, and Student Teaching
All students conducting observations or engaged in field experiences must obtain updated legal clearances before engaging in any fieldwork or entering schools. New clearances must be obtained each year before the fall semester. It is the student’s responsibility to provide legal copies to the education office to be kept on file. Required clearances include:
- Act 114 (FBI Fingerprinting)
- Act 34 (PA Criminal History Clearance)
- Act 151 (Child Abuse Clearance)
- PDE-6004 (Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form)
- TB test (negative results required)
- ECEE students must provide proof of rubella immunization, both initial inoculation and booster.
Information about clearances is available in the School of Education office. Students wishing to complete field experience requirements in Allentown Diocesan schools must also complete training in the Protecting God’s Children program and Diocesan signature forms. Other requirements may be mandated by the school or school district at their discretion. Please see the School of Education office for changes in clearance policies.
Evening Classes
Select Professional Phase courses may be offered in the evening in an online format depending on enrollment demands.
Comprehensive Assessment Program Portfolio Requirement
All students in education must complete and submit a final semester portfolio. The CAP portfolio will be reviewed and evaluated by a committee of the faculty. Students who receive an unsatisfactory rating will be required to remediate the portfolio. See current CAP portfolio requirements on the Education Program Information Center on Brightspace D2L.
Student Teaching
All certification programs include a 14-week full-time student teaching experience for initial certification. To be eligible for student teaching, students must have been accepted into the professional educator program (PEP) and will formally apply for student teaching by October 1 (for spring placement) or March 1 (for fall placement). Students must take and pass all Basic Skills exams or have met the SAT/ACT exception requirement and must have taken and passed the Praxis II Subject Area test, PRAXIS for Special Education tests, or the PECT Tests for certification in Pre-K-4 with a satisfactory score. (See the student teaching application for details.) Students who plan to student teach must complete all aspects of the professional sequence and satisfy all major certification requirements before student teaching and practicum experiences. No other coursework is permitted during student teaching. Once candidates have completed all courses within the professional sequence and have been approved to student teach by the major chair, they are ready to student teach. Student teaching for initial certification is offered as four separate courses during the final semester of senior year within a public or nonpublic school. Candidates for certification must enroll in all four courses of student teaching concurrently. Student teaching and practicum field experiences are supervised by program faculty with knowledge and experience in the area of certification and mentored by highly qualified and trained cooperating teachers in the schools.
Students seeking certification who receive a final grade below a C in any domain of the student teaching/practicum course sequence cannot be recommended for certification. Student teachers not performing at a satisfactory level will face termination from student teaching. See the Student Teaching Handbook for conditions and details.
Professionalism and Educator Ethics
All student teaching candidates must present record-free clearances and be determined to be of “good moral character” as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, if a student teaching candidate has shown behaviors in contradiction to the PA Educators Code of Conduct, a full-time faculty committee will meet to determine student teaching eligibility. Due process as defined by the university will be followed.
Education Program Completion Leading to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Teacher Certification
Candidates who successfully complete all the requirements outlined in the degree and/or certification programs of the DeSales University education program will be eligible to receive an Instructional I certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Candidates for certification must also meet and demonstrate mastery for Pennsylvania Department of Education competencies embedded in the courses. In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s standards, policies, and procedures for the state approval of certification of professional education for the public schools of Pennsylvania, certification candidates must complete a full-time (14 weeks) student teaching field experience, and achieve at least a satisfactory rating on the PDE 430, Pennsylvania Statewide Evaluation Form for Student Professional Knowledge and Practice (refer to Student Teaching Handbook). Candidates must also be of good moral character to be recommended for certification in Pennsylvania. All certification candidates must schedule an exit interview with the director of early childhood and elementary education, special education, or secondary education at the end of student teaching. Other requirements for certification may be mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at any time.
Dual Certification / Five-Year Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policies
Undergraduate education students with a major in early childhood and elementary education or special education preK-12 may enroll in graduate courses leading to dual/additional certification in special education PreK-12, English as a second language program specialist K-12 certification, STEM, or early childhood elementary PreK-4.
Education students seeking admission into the dual-certification track will apply by October 1 of junior year (or after the successful completion of 18 courses). This application will be in conjunction with application for the professional phase. To gain acceptance, students must have a 3.0 GPA at time of application and must have taken the PAPA exams or the ETS Core exams (or must have met the SAT/ACT exception requirement per PDE) for the professional phase. A committee of the school will review applications and accept students into the dual-certification track.
Second-semester juniors (or with accumulated successful course completion of 23 or more courses) who are accepted and enrolled in a dual-certification track will be permitted to enroll in graduate coursework specific to their dual-certification track only, before attaining senior status. In addition, graduate course registration before attaining senior status will be limited to one graduate course per semester. Students must also demonstrate maintenance of the GPA requirement before enrollment in graduate courses.
Dual-certification track students will meet the under-graduate policy for overload of courses and will be restricted to enrollment in dual-certification courses only under this policy.
Undergraduate students accepted and enrolled in a dual-certification track may take up to 12 credits of graduate work before undergraduate graduation; however, a maximum of nine credits only may be applied toward a master’s degree pursued at DeSales.
TIMS (Teacher Information Management System)
All candidates for certification who have completed all program requirements, field requirements, student teaching, and teacher assessment exams will apply for certification online at the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. All information must be entered and required documentation must be submitted either online or in paper. At such time as all information has been correctly entered, candidates will appear on the DeSales University dashboard for approval. You will be notified once the certifying officer at DeSales has recommended and affirmed your application for certification.
Out-of-State Certification
Candidates seeking certification in other states should write to the teacher certification office of the state for the details of their agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, application forms, and instructions. Names and addresses of the appropriate officials should be available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
