This course seeks to inform teachers about the importance of mental health literacy in teaching students in PK-12. Mental Health issues include substance use and abuse, STDs, Risky Behaviors, Youth Violence, Youth Suicide, Anxiety, Depression, Bullying, Child Abuse and Neglect, Coping with Emergencies and Disasters, Attention Deficit (ADD/ADHD), Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia, and Affective Mood Disorder with a goal toward understanding and compassionate care of youth engaged in these behaviors (Required: 10 hours supervised or mentorship in the endorsement area.)

Research shows that to be successful in adult life, students must master not only core academics (literacy, numeracy, etc.) but also social emotional skills and a mindset that embodies a good citizen (Bock, 2015). Socio-emotional functioning of students, a non-academic component of schooling, is inextricably intertwined with academic functioning. Immaculata University’s approved endorsement program in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness PK-12 requires field experience of its students. The final course requires a culmination of 45 hours of field experience PK-12 (10 hours from each of the first two courses) and 25 hours integrated application of wellness with a portfolio of culminating supervisory or mentorship experiences.

This course will equip candidates with the ability to effectively integrate children’s literature into instruction from Pre-K through high school. Various fiction and nonfiction genres will be explored in terms of motivating students, increasing their interest in reading, and developing an appreciation for a wide variety of types of texts. Emphasis will be placed on incorporating children’s literature into core and intervention instruction to address the Pennsylvania Core ELA Standards. This course is required for reading specialist certification.

This course is designed to provide reading specialist candidates with the ability to successfully evaluate and diagnose children who are struggling with reading and writing. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of how to select, administer, and analyze date gleaned from a variety of formal, informal, and state-required assessment types, including but not limited to formative, diagnostic, progress-monitoring, summative, curriculum-based, standardized, and informal reading inventories. Candidates will develop the ability to interpret and communicate those results to school personnel and families. Students will conduct a variety of assessments and will compose a case study diagnosing the strengths and needs of a struggling learner. This course is required for reading specialist certification.

This course will focus on the study of the PK-12 literacy program. Emphasis is placed on the role of the reading specialist in developing, coordinating, and administering a literacy program at the school and district levels. Students will analyze the strengths and needs of a school’s literacy program and make recommendations for improvement. Other topics that will be explored include involvement in professional organizations; instructional schedules, tasks, and procedures; selecting materials and programs providing professional support and development.

The Special Topics in Education course will address innovations, trends, and strategies in the field of education.

This course provides a foundational and ethical exploration of artificial intelligence in education, equipping candidates with the knowledge and skills to integrate AI responsibly into teaching and learning. Students will examine core AI concepts while analyzing their impact on instructional design, teacher roles, and professional identity. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations to foster informed, human-centered decision-making in AI-enhanced educational environments. Field Experience required: 10 hours.

This course prepares educators to harness artificial intelligence to enhance instructional design, personalized learning, and assessment while emphasizing human expertise and ethics. Candidates integrate AI tools into curriculum and feedback systems, use learning analytics to inform instruction, and design inclusive learning experiences for all learners. Emphasizing AI literacy and critical thinking, the course equips educators to model responsible AI use, foster creativity, and develop students prepared for their future academic and workforce experiences. Field Experience required: 10 hours.

This course examines the role of artificial intelligence in shaping human and societal thriving, emphasizing its impact on governance, labor, cognition, and ethics. Candidates explore how AI influences creativity, decision-making, and workforce evolution while designing responsible, human-centered solutions to global challenges such as sustainability and equity. Students evaluate how AI can both enhance and challenge human well-being, agency, and collaboration in an increasingly AI-integrated world. Field Experience required: 10 hours.

This course prepares educational leaders to evaluate and implement AI-driven innovations that promote ethical, equitable, and effective technology integration across schools and districts. Candidates learn to assess AI policies, governance frameworks, and data practices; design professional learning for educators; and use AI analytics to guide instructional and strategic decision-making. Emphasis is placed on developing systemic approaches that align AI adoption with instructional goals, data privacy, and workforce readiness. Field Experience required: 10 hours.