Education
Melissa Reed, Division Chair
Kelly Doyle, Program Director—Undergraduate Education
Faculty
Joseph J. Corabi
Kelly Ann Doyle
Laura Eisemann
Sister Ann Heath
Karen Miscavage
Robert Pleis
Melissa Reed
Leah Bustraan (Certification Officer)
David W. Brennan, Emeritus
Mary D. Calderone, Emerita
Sister Carol Anne Couchara, Emerita
Kathy Nolan, Emerita
Programs Offered
Degree – Majors
Associate of Arts (AA) in Education
Associate of Arts (AA) in Social Services
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Education:
- PK-4 Certification*
- Special Education (PK-12)
- Education (non-certification track)
*May also be completed as post-baccalaureate certification – see below.
Certifications**
K-12 certification is available in the following areas:
- Business, Computers, and Information Technology (B.A.)
- Music Education (B.Mus.)
Secondary certification in the following areas:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Social Studies (History)
**May be pursued with undergraduate degrees – see above.
PK-4 Certification
Minors
Communication Disorders
Education
Education Program/Division Vision
The Education Division will foster academic excellence and professional preparation through practical and theoretical framework aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) competencies. Our outstanding faculty promote and support student achievement and preparation for global awareness by fostering academic rigor and the continued professional growth of our graduates. We are committed to our relationships with local education communities with which we partner. The Division of Education develops opportunities to apply 21st Century Learning Skills including technology, critical problem solving, and collaboration.
Education Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the teacher education programs, students will be able to:
- demonstrate competence in teaching required in their field
- manifest knowledge of the integrity and dignity demanded within their profession
- evidence understanding of the obligations, responsibilities, and standards of the teaching profession
- exhibit skills responsive to the learning process for the individual student
- display ability to address educational issues in contemporary society
- ability to adapt educational knowledge, skills, and abilities to a variety of industries, organizations, and communities outside of the traditional classroom environment.
Education Degrees
Field Experiences and Student Teaching
A fee is charged for EDU 201, EDU 202, EDU 203, and EDU 204. No refund is made to anyone who withdraws from a field experience after pre-registration has been completed. As required by Pennsylvania Department of Education, these field experiences will be diverse. They will include settings that vary in terms of type and location of schools as well as grade levels.
EDU 201-202
During the sophomore year, students observe and participate in classroom settings for one morning each week. Students are placed in multiple settings each semester. Students are responsible for their own transportation; staff works with students to coordinate carpooling.
EDU 203-204
During the junior year, students observe and participate in the classroom setting for one morning a week during the first semester. During the second semester students spend one full day a week in the classroom, typically in the same setting in which they will have their student teaching experience in the fall term of the senior year. This preliminary experience is guided and directed by the University staff in conjunction with the principals and teachers at the cooperating schools. Students are responsible for their own transportation; staff works with students to coordinate carpooling.
EDU 328 or EDU 348 Student Teaching Experience
Full-time Students
The student teaching experience is scheduled for the first semester of senior year and is a full-time, daily experience for CUS students. Applications for student teaching must be made by the date designated prior to student teaching, which occurs fall semester of junior year for CUS students.
Part time Students
Part time students may student teach either in the fall or spring. Students enrolled in part time study must make their application for spring student teaching in early September and in early February for fall student teaching.
All Students
Students are responsible for their own transportation. Students spend full time in the schools during their student teaching. During this time, the student teachers also participate in a weekly seminar conducted by members of the University staff, as well as local school district personnel. Through these seminars, prospective teachers are given the opportunity to discuss their experiences, become familiar with their professional obligations, and address current trends in curricula and instructional methods. A fee is charged for student teaching. No refund is made to anyone who withdraws from student teaching after pre-registration has been completed for this assignment.
Teacher Certification
All teacher certification programs offered at Immaculata University are reviewed and have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Graduates who have successfully completed our approved program and have been recommended by Immaculata University and have passed all PDE required tests for certification are eligible for a Pennsylvania Certificate to teach. All teacher certification Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) applications recommended by Immaculata are pending approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All part time and transfer students seeking certification should contact their designated academic advisor. Immaculata University makes every effort to help a student prepare to teach in a state other than Pennsylvania; many of our graduates have successfully completed this process. Students seeking certification in another state should consult with the Certification Officer to investigate reciprocity. Individual Certification Program guidelines by state can be found on each State’s Department of Education website.
General Requirements
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has established requirements for certification to teach in Pennsylvania. To prepare candidates to meet these requirements, Immaculata University has developed criteria for formal admission to undergraduate teacher preparation programs leading to certification. Formal acceptance is conditional upon meeting and maintaining requirements throughout the degree program.
In October 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted Act 168 (24 P.S. § 1-111.1). Specifically, Act 168 requires an assessment of basic skills to be completed by preparation candidates prior to entry into a Pennsylvania baccalaureate teacher preparation program. Students with 48 or more credit hours must achieve the following to be formally admitted to the program:
- Earn a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Meet Basic Skills Testing Requirement: Act 55 of 2022 Basic Skills Assessment Moratorium Act 55 of 2022 signed into law by Governor Wolf on July 8, 2022, requires the Secretary of Education to waive the requirement to satisfactorily complete the assessment of basic skills required under section 1207.3 and 22 Pa. Code § 49.18(c) (relating to assessment) for 3 years from July 8, 2022, through July 8, 2025. This applies to all students who enter preparation programs during this period as well as otherwise qualified candidates for licensure who make application during this period.
Please note: Upon reimplementation of PDE required Basic Skills Assessment, MATH 109 and MATH 111 may be taken instead of the Math Basic Skills test. A passing score of B is required. The minimum composite scoring method cannot be used when the Math requirement is met via MATH 109 and MATH 111. Individuals who have not been formally admitted by the time they have earned 60 credits will not be permitted to continue in education majors. The following courses are restricted to those students who have fulfilled the above assessments of basic skills: EDU 203, 204, 310, 317, 318, 319, 320, 328, 348, 352, 355, 365, 366, 384, SPED 385, 386, 388, 389. Please see the Certification Officer for more information if you have any questions.
The following are standards for retention in the program:
- maintenance of at least a 3.0 average in major area;
- maintenance of at least a B- grade in every course in the professional sequence, and
- a 3.0 average in the professional sequence.
Certification Requirements
To become eligible for PA Department of Education (PDE) certification, an Immaculata University student shall:
- Complete all Immaculata degree requirements.
- Complete Basic skills test requirements if reimplemented by PDE.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Maintain at least a 3.0 average in the specific area of certification;
- Maintain a grade of at least B- in every course taken in the professional course sequence; student teaching experience requires at least a B
- Attain at least the criterion level of 3 (good) for each of the competency areas on the checklist of the professional course sequence;
- Complete 6 (six) semester hours in mathematics
- Complete 6 (six) semester hours of English Composition.
- Complete 3 (three) credits of English Literature.
- Present evidence of having passed the PDE-prescribed testing requirements for the student’s specific teaching certification program.
PLEASE NOTE: All professional educator programs must include the components of field experiences (or prior classroom experience equivalency) and student teaching. Field experiences are on-going throughout the program, aligned with coursework, embedded in EDU 290, EDU 302, EDU 310, and EDU 384, and include varied experiences in diverse environments.
Applying For Certification
All certifications (including courses requirements) are subject to change to comply with the most current Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations and requirements. At the time of application for certification, students must be in compliance with the most current University requirements as well as PDE requirements. Students seeking Pennsylvania state certification in any specialized area are required to complete all requirements for certification including state-mandated tests and to submit completed forms to the Certification Officer at Immaculata University. along with submitting the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Applicants for the certification must be citizens of the United States. A noncitizen must declare the intent to become a citizen of the United States and possess a permanent resident visa to qualify for a teaching certificate. For more information, please contact the Certification Officer.
Teacher Certification
All teacher certification programs offered at Immaculata University are pending approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Graduates who have successfully completed an approved program and have been recommended by Immaculata University are eligible for a Pennsylvania Certificate to teach. Students not recommended for certification may appeal through the Campus Review Committee. All part-time and transfer students seeking certification should contact their designated academic advisor. Immaculata University makes every effort to help a student prepare to teach in a state other than Pennsylvania. However, the student is responsible for ascertaining and completing the requirements of that state.
Education (AA)
(Associate of Arts)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: COM 250, EDU 201, 202, 290 or 291(H), 302, 320, 331, 338, 345, 381; ENG 106, 107, 272; HIS 115 or 116; MATH 109, 111; PSY 205; SCI 106; and SOC 306.
Social Services (AA)
(Associate of Arts)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: COM 250; EDU 290, 302, 320, 381, 384; EDU 207 (15 credits in cooperative education); PSY 204 or 205; PSY 250; SCI 106; SOC 202 and 306.
Education (BA)
(Bachelor of Arts – PK-4 Certification)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: EDU 095, 201, 202, 203, 204, 290 or 291(H), 302, 310, 317, 318, 319, 320, 331, 338, 345, 348 (or two semesters 346), 352, 355, 365, 366, 381, 384; ENG 106, ENG 107 and one course (3 credits) ENG 100 - or 200-level literature (ENG 272 recommended); MATH 109, 111; PSY 205; SCI 106; and SOC 306.
Education - Special Education (BA)
(Bachelor of Arts – PK-12 Special Education Certification)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: EDU 095, 201, 202, 203, 204, 290 or 291(H), 302, 310, 317, 318, 319, 330, 331, 338, 345, 348, 352, 355, 365, 366, 381, 384; ENG 106, 107, one course (3 credits) ENG 106, ENG 107 and one course (3 credits) ENG 100 - or 200-level literature (ENG 272 recommended); MATH 109, 111; PSY 205; SCI 106; SOC 306; SPED 385, 386, 388, and 389.
Education (BA)
(Non-certification track)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: EDU 201, 202, 203, 204, 290 or 291(H), 302, 310, 317, 318, 319, 320, 331, 338, 345, 352, 355, 365, 366, 381, 384, and four courses (12 credits) in education electives; ENG 106, ENG 107 and one course (3 credits) ENG 100 - or 200-level literature (ENG 272 recommended); MATH 109, 111; PSY 205; SCI 106; SOC 306; SPED 385, 386, 388, and 389.
Education Certifications
Education - K-12 Certification
(Certification + Degree*)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: K-12 certification* is available for students in the following areas:
- Business, Computers, and Information Technology
- Music Education
K-12 Certification course requirements include: EDU 095, 201, 202, 203, 204, 290, 302, 310, 328, 330, 381, 384; one course (3 credits) ENG 100 - or 200-level literature (ENG 272 recommended); MATH 109, 111 (those pursuing a concentration in Business, Computers and Information Technology are required to take higher level mathematics courses); and PSY 324. Those pursuing concentration in Music Education are not required to take EDU 310, 330, and 381.
*Note: K-12 certification students major in the content area of their certification.
Education - Secondary Education Certification
(Certification + Degree**)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Secondary Education Certification** is available for students preparing to teach in a secondary school in the following areas:
- Biology (7-12)
- Chemistry (7-12)
- English (7-12)
- Social Studies (History) (7-12)
Secondary Certification course requirements include: EDU 095, 201, 202, 203, 204, 290 or 291(H), 302, 310, 328, 330, 381, 384; ENG 106, ENG 107 and one course (3 credits) ENG 100 - or 200-level literature (ENG 272 recommended); and PSY 324. In addition, students majoring in English or History must also take MATH 109 and 111.
**Note: Secondary certification students major in the certification content area.
Post Baccalaureate Certification
PK-4 Education
(Certification ONLY; part-time adult students only)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Post-baccalaureate certification requirements for PK-4 education include: EDU 201, 202, 203, 204, 290, 302, 317, 318, 319, 320, 338, 345, 346, 352, 355, 366, 381, 384; and PSY 205.
K-12 Education
(Certification ONLY)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Post-baccalaureate certification requirements for K-12 education include: EDU 201, 202, 203, 204, 290, 302, 310, 328, 330, 381, 384; and PSY 324.
Secondary Education
(Certification ONLY)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Post-baccalaureate certification requirements for secondary education include: EDU 201, 202, 203, 204, 290 or 291(H), 302, 310, 328, 330, 381, 384; and PSY 324.
Education Minors
Communication Disorders
(Minor)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: BIOL 207 OR BIOL 209 and 210; CHE 100 OR CHE 101 and 102 OR CHE 103 and 104; COMD 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105; PSY 208, and 324.
Education
(Minor)
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: EDU 201, 202, 290 or 291, 302, 331, 338, 345; PSY 205