Program Description
The Social Studies concentration of the Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Grades 4-8 and Special Education degree builds expertise in teaching and special education as well as history, geography and political science. The program prepares students to earn:
- A license to teach special education in PreK through grade 8
- Certification to teach in grades 4 through 8
Certification that includes Special Education may require an extra semester to complete.
Note: This is a dual certification, not a dual degree.
Delivery Mode
Traditional (on campus)
Accreditation
This undergraduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cal U's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Curriculum
The following sections include an eight-semester schedule of courses provided as a recommended framework for completing the certification programs in four years.
| Course | Credits |
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | 16 |
| ENG 101 English Composition I | 3 |
| HIS 101 U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
| HSC 115 Current Health Issues | 3 |
| MAT 120 Elementary Topics in Math I | 3 |
| PSY 206 Adolescent Psychology | 3 |
| UNI 100 First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Second Semester | 18 |
| ECO 100 Elements of Economics | 3 |
| ESP 210 Special Education Foundations and Collaboration | 3 |
| ESP 311 Assessment and Positive Behavior Interventions | 3 |
| HIS 102 U.S. History since 1877 | 3 |
| MAT 130 Elementary Topics in Math II | 3 |
| Any Approved American/British Literature Course | 3 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Third Semester | 18 |
| BIO 103 Contemporary Issues in Biology | 3 |
| EAS 100 Introduction to Earth Science | 3 |
| ELM 200 Introduction to Middle Level Education | 3 |
| GEO 100 Introduction to Geography | 3 |
| MAT 181 College Algebra | 3 |
| Any Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | 15 |
| EDU 333 Educational Technology | 3 |
| ELM 220 Instruction and Assessment in Grades 4-8 | 3 |
| HIS 200 History of Pennsylvania | 3 |
| PHS 120 Basic Physical Science | 3 |
| POS 100 Introduction to Political Science OR POS 105 American Politics | 3 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fifth Semester | 18 |
| ELM 302 Language Arts Methods Assessment | 3 |
| ELM 331 Social Studies Methods Assessment | 3 |
| ESP 312 Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Educators | 3 |
| ESP 339 Special Education Field Experience I | 3 |
| ESP 403 Assessment and Prescriptive Teaching | 3 |
| Any Approved Ethics/Multicultural | 3 |
| Sixth Semester | 18 |
| ELM 301 Reading Methods Assessment | 3 |
| ELM 311 Math Methods Assessment | 3 |
| ELM 411 Field Experience Grades 4-8 | 3 |
| ESP 407 Early Intervention Special Education | 3 |
| ESP 411 History, Theory, and Exceptionality | 3 |
| ESP 412 Evidence Based Practices | 3 |
| Senior Year | |
| Seventh Semester | 15 |
| EDU 350 Supporting English Language Learners | 3 |
| ELM 321 Science Methods Assessment | 3 |
| ESP 349 Special Education Field Experience II | 3 |
| ESP 402 Life Skills Planning and Instruction | 3 |
| ESP 414 Advanced Evidence Based Practices for Elementary Inclusion | 3 |
| Eighth Semester | 12 |
| ELM 461 Student Teaching and School Law | 6 |
| ESP 461 Student Teaching and School Law | 6 |
| Total | 130 |
Program Notes
- All ELM and ESP courses require current clearances and minimum 2.5 GPA to register.
- All courses required for certification must earn C or better.
- Admission to Teacher Education required for enrollment in ESP 412, ELM 301, ELM 311, ELM 321, ELM 411, ESP 461 and ELM 461.
- Pre-requisites for all 300 level ELM courses are ELM 200 and ELM 220.
- ESP 210 and ESP 311 are pre-requisites for all ESP courses.
- Bolded course titles indicate a block of courses that must be taken together.
Approved British or American Literature Courses
- ENG 107 Introduction to Fiction
- ENG 125 The American West
- ENG 127 Woman as Hero
- ENG 148 Horror in Literature
- ENG 150 Baseball in Literature
- ENG 155 Black Literature
- ENG 160 Introduction to British and American Literature
- ENG 203 Great Books
- ENG 301 English Literature I
- ENG 302 English Literature II
- ENG 337 Survey of American Literature I
- ENG 338 Survey of American Literature II